British Dragon Association

As I write this there is a strong and very cold Northeasterly blowing with a forecast of snow showers to come. Not very encouraging for the ageing Dragon sailor. However, there are signs of life from under the covers sheltering the Aldeburgh Dragon fleet.

Most importantly, two boats that were not being sailed have now been sold to enthusiastic new owners. Hawkeye(GBR596) has been bought by Balloo Pritchard-Barrett and Sarah Curtis. She made an appearance last year and has spent the winter under Balloo’s TLC so should be much improved this season. Apache(GBR542) has been bought by Tom Gibbon and Peter Cazalet, egged on by their children keen to get their hands on a new toy. She was sighted recently passing through Aldeburgh, unrecognisable and very smart in a pale grey rather than her earlier custard yellow (so appropriate for readers of Ogden Nash) . Now all they have to do is screw the fittings back on.

News from the established members of the class is sparse. However, Nereid has returned from the fleshpots of southern France. Mike and Monique had a number of good results there and proved to their satisfaction that practice helped. A campaign is planned for the major British events as well as La Baule and Oslo. Meantime Basilisk is being “improved” which means that at the time of writing she is in little bits which look unlikely ever to get back together again. However, she is facing an energetic campaign, largely at Aldeburgh but also at La Baule and Plymouth. For the latter she has been borrowed by a team of dinghy sailors, some related to the owner, who are keen to try their luck.

The distraction of 8-metre sailing seems likely to be less this year so we hope to see more of Harkaway and Orion. It is also clear that Navaho will have to sail at Aldeburgh this year since her trailer’s habit of paddling up to its knees in tidal surges has left it feeling rather arthritic in the bearings. Meantime Kestrel(GBR207) is being enthusiastically restored and should also hit the water this year.

Aldeburgh Week (August 17-22 2008) has now arrived on the BDA calendar. It really is an entertaining, close-quarters event. We would love to see anyone who fancies something a bit different. Find out more about Aldeburgh Week at www.aldeburghyc.org.uk.

Further information about the Aldeburgh Dragon Fleet can be found at www.aycdragon.com

Patrick Gifford 25.9.07