Solent Dragons hold Annual Dinner at Royal Yacht Squadron

On Saturday 15 November the Solent Dragon Fleet held its AGM and annual prize giving dinner at the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes. Attended by 33 fleet members and guests, the group enjoyed pre-dinner champagne before a delicious dinner on the platform, and the evening was declared a resounding success.

Special thanks must go to Colonel Tony Singer, our RYS host who helped to coordinate the evening, and to Josy Roberts-Pay for her sterling work in gathering the troops and organising the trophies and prize giving.

In his after dinner speech Solent Fleet Captain Ben Hancock thanked everyone for coming to support the fleet and reminded them of the great programme the Solent Class has arranged for 2009 including the South Coast Championship (of which more below) before inviting Mrs Peter Lloyd to join him on stage to present the prizes.

Among the 2008 prize winners were:-

• Class Champion, W D Citron Plates (Mid and Late series) - Njord - Owen & Josy Pay
• The Ganymede Bowl (Cowes Week winner) and Jubilee Challenge Trophy - Aimee - Graham & Julia Bailey
  
• The Sandpiper Trophy (Early Series) and Bailey Bowl (Champagne series), 2nd overall season - Norbert - collected by Lisa Guy
• The Jubilee Trophy 1999 (Summer Series), 3rd overall season - Supremacy - Richard Cullen and Kieth Skelsey
  
• Phantom Trophy - Kedron - Gary Grimshaw
  

And special prizes were awarded for:-

• Oldest Boat Competing - Aurora - Adrian Green
  
• Oldest Helm Competing - at 84 Peter Cullen, on Supremacy
• Dragonfly Trophy - for contribution to the class - Gavia Wilkinson-Cox
  
• The Jubilee Trophy 1999 (Summer Series), 3rd overall season - Supremacy - Richard Cullen and Kieth Skelsey

In fine Solent tradition, the Class Champion cup and Ganymede Bowl were promptly filled with champagne by the winners and passed around the tables.

Tony Singer purses up

The Pays & Baileys

Ben Hancock, Class Captain

Mike & Rachel Issias