Skandia Cowes Week is always one of the highlights of the British Dragon Association year and 2007 was no exception with incredibly tight racing amongst the closely matched group.

Cowes local Julia Bailey got the week's festivities off to an early start by hosting an informal dockside champagne launching party for her new Petticrow built Dragon, GBR720 Aimee.  This is the first boat to feature Petticrow's new option of a central console and mainsheet track layout which no longer runs the full width of the boat, allowing the crew to easily pass either side of the consol.  Developed specifically to make sailing the boat with four crew members easier the layout also benefits those sailing three up as it makes moving fore and aft about the cockpit easier.  

On the opening weekend of the regatta the Solent Dragon Fleet hosted a formal dinner at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club where local and visiting crews enjoyed sunset drinks on the terrace and an excellent three course dinner.  The after dinner speakers included Solent Fleet Captain Gavia Wilkinson-Cox and Dragon sailing legend Martin "Stavros" Payne.

Afloat the competitors experience a mix of conditions with lighter airs dominating the second half of the regatta.  Eight races were scheduled, one a day from Saturday to Saturday, but sadly lack of wind on Friday meant no racing so only seven races were completed with six to count.  2007 Edinburgh Cup (British National Championship) winner David Palmer clearly had his sights set on adding the Ganymede Bowl for Skandia Cowes Week to his cabinet but he didn't have it all his own way, and Len Jones and Julia Bailey in particular gave him a good run for his money.  Eventually Palmer got the upper hand, winning the regatta by nine points with three wins, two second places, one fourth and a discarded tenth from Thursday's exceptionally difficult light airs race.

Len Jones and Julia Bailey's battle for second place was epic and went right down to the final leg of the final race.  Eric Williams won that last race with David Palmer second, but as they approached the line all eyes were on the duel taking place between Jones and Bailey.  At the line Jones took third with Bailey fourth leaving them tied on 16 points, however, Jones had two race wins to his credit compared with Bailey's one so he took the much coveted second podium spot with Bailey third.  Williams' win in the final race leapt him up the scoreboard onto equal points with Gavia Wilkinson-Cox and on count back he just squeezed into fourth overall with Wilkinson-Cox fifth.

At the official Skandia Cowes Week prize giving on Saturday evening the Dragon Fleet was well represented and a rousing cheer went up as the prize winners took to the podium.  For eight year old Joe Bailey, the fourth member of Julia Bailey's crew and the youngest competitor in the regatta, it was a very special experience as he proudly joined his aunt on the stage to accept their prize from sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.

Another Skandia Cowes Week winner, although on this occasion not for her endeavours on the water, was Gavia Wilkinson-Cox who was the recipient of the 2007 Champagne GH Mumm Ladies Trophy, which is awarded annually for achievements in and contribution to the sport of sailing.  As well as her work with the British and International Dragon Classes Gavia spent almost two decades in sailing administration, first for the RYA and then with IYRU, the predecessor of ISAF, and since 1992 she has run the legendary Sail for Gold Ball which is hosted each Olympic year by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal and has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to support Britain's Olympic and Paralympic Team Sailors.

"This was a great Cowes Week; sunshine, good winds, exciting competition.  We were pleased to welcome visiting boats from the Burnham and Medway fleets.  It was encouraging too to witness the true versatility of the Dragon; with helms and crew spanning an age group of over 60 years, starting with our youngest crew at 8 years, three girls helming and Dragons themselves spanning a twenty year age group.  Whatever the boat, whatever the crew - we all enjoyed keen competition and a fun week on and off the water." commented Solent Dragon Fleet Captain Gavia Wilkinson-Cox.