| Dear Mandy,
Welcome to the first edition of the new British Dragon Association
quarterly E-newsletter sponsored by Petticrows Ltd. The BDA E-newsletter is
being introducing to help spread the word about UK
Dragon sailing as far and wide as possible. At the
bottom of this message you will see a "Forward
E-mail" link so please use this to send the
e-news to all your crew members and other sailing friends and encourage
them to use the "Join Our Mailing List" link in the
right hand column to sign up for
future editions (they can also sign up at www.britishdragons.org).
Before I go any further I
should introduce myself. My name is Fiona Brown
and I've been working with the Dragons
periodically as Press Officer for the Edinburgh Cup 2006
and 2007 and the 2006 Europeans in Cowes.
Having really enjoyed those events I was delighted when
Rob Campbell asked me if I would be interested in
working with the BDA on a more regular basis as Class
Press Officer.
In this first edition of the BDA E-news we've
got a round up of stories from autumn 2007 together
with a look ahead to 2008 and a fascinating
informal interview with BDA Chairman Rob Campbell.
We've also got the all important details about the BDA
AGM and Annual Dinner (see feature article right)
together with information about how to book
your tickets for the dinner.
I hope you enjoy this first edition of the BDA
E-newsletter. It's your newsletter and to help
ensure it meets you needs we want
your feedback so please let me have your ideas for
articles and send me news and pictures when ever you
can.
In closing I'd like to thank
Petticrows Ltd for their generous sponsorship of
the new e-newsletter. Their contribution has
helped to make the e-news possible and we are
extremely grateful for their ongoing support of the
BDA.
Good winds and fast sailing and I very much look
forward to getting to know everyone in the coming
months.
Fi
Fiona Brown
BDA Press Officer
Tel +44 (0)7711
718470
|
| The Chairman Speaks |
Fi Brown speaks to BDA Chairman
Rob Campbell about what makes him tick and how he sees
the future of the BDA.
|
| Rob Campbell Elected IDA
Chairman |
|
At the International Dragon Class AGM in October
our very own Rob Campbell was elected Chairman of the
IDA. Rob takes over from outgoing Chairman Rupert
Fischer with immediate effect and will stand down as BDA
Chairman at the AGM in January (see details
right). |
| 2008 Edinburgh Cup & South
Coasts |
 In 2008 the Dragon Edinburgh
Cup and South Coasts will both be hosted by the Royal
Western Yacht Club, Plymouth. The South Coasts
will run from 6-8 July and the Edinburgh
Cup from 9-12
July. The Edinburgh Cup 2008 web site will be
launched in early December.
|
| 2008 Events
Calendar |
 Both
the BDA and the IDA are finalising the 2008 Events
Calandars as I write so follow the links below to
find out the latest information.
|
| Aberdeen Dragon Worlds
2007 |
 The thirteen strong British
contingent at the Aberdeen Dragon Worlds in Dublin had a
fantastic event with Len Jones and his crew of Claus Hoj
Jensen and Jamie Lea taking the bronze medal and Gavia
Wilkinson-Cox winning the first race. Mike Holmes
brings us a British perspective on the event.
|
| Volvo European
Championship 2007 |
Two British boats made the long journey out to
Helsinki, Finland for the 2007 Volvo Dragon European
Championship. Patrick Gifford reports on the joy
of making new Dragon sailing friends amongst the mainly
Nordic fleet and on the highs and
lows from the race course.
|
| Russians Invade
Burnham |
 Late October saw Russian Dragon
sailors invading Burnham for the annual Anglo-Russian
team racing event. As always it was a fun event
with much international good will. Despite some
tricky conditions the Royal Corinthian Burnham team
eventually won by 3 to 1.
|
| Local Fleet News |
 Check out what's happening in
your fleet:
|
| Ben Hancock New Solent Fleet
Captain |
The Solent Dragon Fleet held its AGM and a Annual
Prize Giving Dinner on Saturday 19 October at the Royal
Corinthian YC. At the AGM Gavia Wilkinson-Cox
handed over the Fleet Captaincy to Ben Hancock and a
wide range of class topics were
discussed. A report will be published
on the Solent Fleet web site in due
course. |
The Dragon is one of the most beautiful and
prestigious keelboat classes in the world and with
more than 1400 boats racing in at least 26
countries around the globe it is also one of the
largest.
Designed in 1929 the Dragon quickly became
a leading international class and remains a world
leader .
Although an historic class the boats
now being built are constructed using the very
latest high technology materials and methods and
around 50 new boats are launched each year. Careful
class rule management has helped to ensure that a
well maintained classic boat can still race
competitively against its modern counterpart and
all major championships include special trophies
for classic Dragons.
The Dragon class
was established in Britain during the 1930s and
fleets rapidly formed along the south and east
coasts, in Scotland and Ireland. Currently over
130 crews compete regularly in British Dragon
regattas and the British Dragon Association has a
membership of more than 500. Visit www.britishdragons.org for more
information. | | |
| |
| Our Sponsors |
|
| BDA AGM &
ANNUAL DINNER |
 |
|
The British Dragon Association AGM
and Annual Dinner will take place at the Royal
Thames Yacht Club, Knightsbridge, London on Friday
11 January. The AGM will begin at 18.45
and will be followed by dinner at 20.00.
The evening will also include the
presentation of the Citron Trophy, which is presented
annually to the top performing helmsman.
Tickets for the dinner are available at
a cost of £40 each and can be purchased by contacting
Kate Sanderson, 111 High Street, Burnham on Crouch,
Essex, CM0 8AH or e-mail admin@britishdragons.org.
Cheques should be
made payable to British Dragon Association or by direct
bank transfer to British Dragon Association, Lloyds TSB,
Account No 03090827, Sort Code 30-00-08. If paying
by bank transfer plesae confirm the number and names of
your party by e-mail to Kate on admin@britishdragons.org. |
 |
|
BDA
Contacts |
|
For further information about the British
Dragon Association plesae contact:- |
|
BDA
Chairman
Rob Campbell
Mobile 07974
204441
BDA
Secretary
Kate Sanderson
BDA Press Officer
Fiona Brown
Tel 07711 718470
or
visit
|
| |
