Medway Dragon fleet report April 2008

The Medway Dragon Fleet has had a quiet winter on the water but active socially. In January, we had our Annual General Meeting followed by a casual supper at the club with Stewart Coltart and Don McMillan being voted to continue as Captain and Vice-Captain for the coming year. On the 1st March, we had an excellent if long day visit to Ostend. We started at 0630 from the Medway Yacht Club but regrettably, operation stack on the M20, gales in the channel and careful customs and immigration officers at the Ferry terminal led to much of the day being spent in Dover. However, we finally arrived for a delicious lunch at the Royal North Sea Yacht Club and were given a very warm welcome by Patrick Delahaye and Karl Odent. This was followed by a shopping expedition into Ostend but alas, not enough time to visit the wine cellar owned by Karl’s fiancée in Niueport down the coast. Our thanks to our Belgian hosts for giving us such a good time.

The Annual Prize Giving Dinner was held on the 15th March and had a further Belgian flavour with Eduard Wyllemann attending. We were also honoured to have two International Dragon Officials as our guests, namely the President Rob Campbell and Secretary David Dale. Entertainment came from the speeches (of course!) and the close harmony group from New College Oxford, the New Men who serenaded us to our first and second course and gave an excellent version of psalm “151” with words from the international rules of sailing.

The season point’s series was won by Julian and Clare Sowry with Len Jones and Nick Jenkins second followed by Stewart and Catriona third. We start the season with a warm up Saturday on the 19th April organised by Robin Ridsdill Smith and the point’s series starts in earnest on the 26th April. With no East Coast Dragon Championship, the season will be quieter than 2007 but probably more relaxing as a result. Happy sailing to you all.

Stewart Coltart
Captain Medway Dragon Fleet

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