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Despite some wet and windy
conditions, twenty-one Dragon crews from the UK, France,
the USA and Ireland enjoyed three days of incredibly
close racing at the Dragon South Coast Championship,
hosted by the Royal Western Yacht Club, Plymouth, Devon,
from 6-8 July. Although winds at times gusted to
over 30 knots and the race committee were forced to sail
inside the breakwater for two of the three days, all
five of the scheduled races were completed and the fleet
enjoyed a spectacular, challenging and extremely closely
fought regatta.
Racing was so close
that there were four different winning boats over the
five races and the championship was only decided in the
closing moments of the last race. Ultimately,
International Dragon Class Chairman Rob Campbell from
Burnham-on-Crouch, crewed by Mark Ellis and Matt Walker,
the only team to win two races, took the regatta by just
two points from Len Jones of the Medway, crewed by Henry
Bagnall and Jamie Lea. Third place went to Louis
Urvois of France with Eric Williams from the Solent in
fourth.
 "It's the
first time I've raced in Plymouth and after two days
racing inside the breakwater it was wonderful to get
outside today as the sea conditions were so different
making for some great sailing. The competition for
the South Coast Championship has been excellent and
Plymouth's flexible race area and steady winds have made
it a great event. With the 60th Edinburgh Cup
starting here tomorrow, at the home of the British Navy,
we're looking forward to four more days of fantastic
racing." Commented the victorious Rob Campbell after
racing.
The regatta opened with winds
gusting over 30 knots and regular heavy rain squalls,
but despite this the Race Committee was able to complete
three good races on the first day. Dragon fleet
regular Nicky Wilton summed up the conditions perfectly
saying "Wet and tough. The water was coming at us
from both above and below and it's a testament to the
quality of the boats and the sailors that despite the
extreme conditions there was only minor gear failure and
everyone completed the racing safely." Day two was
a little lighter but with gusts still well into the 20s
and big seas beyond the breakwater the committee wisely
kept the boats inside completing two more
races.
Going into the final day and with
just one more race to sail, three boats were still
firmly in contention. Campbell led by 3 points
from Jones in second on 6 points with Williams third on
9 points. Conditions were particularly tricky as
the fleet sailed outside the breakwater for the first
time in 15-22 knots and with large swell left over after
the gales. At the end of the second beat things
looked good for Jones as he led with Campbell down in
ninth and Williams fourth. On the second run
Campbell stormed through, surfing fast on the big waves,
pulling up into fifth and back into the lead. For
Jones things went from bad to worse as France's Louis
Urvois, who had been pushing him hard all the way round
the course, snatched the lead on the final lap. As
the boats crossed the line it was Urvois first, Jones
second, Tim Tavinor of Essex based Dragon builder
Petticrows, third, Williams fourth and Campbell fifth
giving Campbell his overall victory.
Alongside the overall competition there
has also been a fierce battle for the Classics Trophy,
which is open to wooden boats built prior to 1972.
Again the result was only decided in the last race with
David Jephcott taking victory from Matthew Ratsey with
David Dale in third place.
The quality of
the competition at this event bodes well for the
forthcoming Edinburgh Cup, the Dragon Open British
Championship, which is also being hosted by the Royal
Western Yacht Club and runs from 9-12 July. This
is the 60th time the class has raced for the Edinburgh
Cup which was presented to the class by HRH The Duke of
Edinburgh in 1948.
Reports, full
results and photographs will be posted at www.edinburghcup08.co.uk. To receive e-mail news updates
please contact Fiona Brown on e-mail
fiona.brown@fionabrown.com.
The event is
supported by Knight Frank, Aberdeen Asset Management,
Pantaenius and Petticrows Ltd.
For further
information about the regatta please visit
www.edinburghcup08.co.uk or contact The Secretariat,
Royal Western Yacht Club of England, Queen Anne's
Battery, Plymouth, PL4 0TW. Tel. (01752) 660077,
Fax. (01752) 224299, e-mail: admin@rwyc.org, website:
www.rwyc.org
For further information about
Knight Frank please log on to www.knightfrank.co.uk/waterfront.
Journalists and
photographers wishing to attend the event should contact
Fiona Brown, Event Press Officer on E-mail
fiona.brown@fionabrown.com or Tel +44 (0)7711
718470.
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For
further information about the British Dragon Associaion please
contact:-
BDA Chairman
Owen Pay
Kate Sanderson
BDA Press Officer
Fiona Brown
Tel 07711 718470
or visit
For
further information about the British Dragon South Coast
Championship and Edinburgh Cup please
visit:-
www.edinburghcup08.co.uk
or
contact
The Secretary
Royal Western Yacht Club
Queen Anne's Battery
Plymouth, PL4 OTW
Tel 01752 660077
For further information about Knight Frank
please visit:-
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