British Dragon Association

Trish Ford for many years sailed on the river Crouch before emigrating to Australia. Trish and John her other half, he sailed for many years with Bobby Melville in his Dragon, are still registered as members of the Burnham fleet. Look at the last paragraph there is an invitation to go and team race in Perth, It may not be practical for a pure Burnham team, but would anybody be interested in organising a BDA team?

CANEWDON WITCH AND DRAGONS DOWN UNDER!

A very competitive fleet of 25 Dragons gathered at Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club to contest the Australian National Championship for the Prince Philip Cup. Twenty local boats and 5 from interstate make the long trek across the Nullabor to Western Australia. For the first time a match racing regatta was conducted before the fleet racing – the in augural Martin Graney Match racing Regatta. Four boats contested in a double round robin with the 1st & 2nd sailing off for the trophy.
Red Baron (Tony Lynn) and Whim (Gordon Ingate) sailed off in perfect match racing conditions. There was some very tight racing when unfortunately Red Baron had to retire due to forestay failure. Gordon Ingate was the worthy winner – not bad for 80+ years old!
Red Baron was able to repair the forestay by bolting a plate through to the inside of the bow. Not very pretty but functional!
As you may know our usual sailing conditions here are a SW'ly sea breeze of 18 – 25 knots which typically kicks in after midday, bright sunshine and blue waters! Because of a cyclone in the north and a huge low pressure passing through the Bight we had anything but the ‘normal' conditions. We all thought that we would be blown off the course for the first day as a big ‘clash' of weather was forecast. Fortunately this did not materialise! But overcast skies and rain were far from the norm. For the two races on the first day. Canewdon Witch sailed with no pole lift as it decided not to work just before the race started…………. One of my crew became very good at the human pole and we finished 6th in the first race! Reality set in for the 2nd race – a 20th. Two different winners and the competition was wide open with no-one really stamping their authority yet …………… Strong winds were again forecast for the morning race the next day. They did not materialise – only max 20 knots. But it was very cold sailing out to the start – I nearly needed a beanie – unheard of in a Western Australian summer. Yet another winner hit the podium. Canewdon Witch had more problems with the pole lift which were very distracting (at least that is my excuse…) a 17th.

Finally on day three the ‘doctor' arrived for the afternoon race and the sun broke out! Yet another winner in Puff (Richard Lynn) who had been consistent up to then so took the lead overall. Stronger winds suited Canewdon Witch an 8th! Day four was supposed to be a morning race and an afternoon race. The morning started well but the wind died out and the RO eventually abandoned the race. Of course the 3 dragons that were way ahead were not very pleased …….. Sea breeze came in for the afternoon and 2 races were sailed. Finally in the second race of the afternoon Canewdon Witch hit her straps and won convincingly leading from start to finish. Not bad for an ex Burnham mud creek sailor. Kirribilli won their second race, the only boat to win two heats.

Going into the last day 3 boats could win overall. A great race win to Norm Longworth sailing Karabos – a fitting end to the Prince Philip Cup for this 80+ year old. Pu was second which secured her overall win, with Snapdragon second overall and Maalee third overall. As for Canewdon Witch we finished 10th overall. All very tight for the points from 6th overall to 13th overall – a great regatta. And even better because it was sailed in ‘not the normal' conditions so you really had to think!

How about the Burnham Fleet putting together a team to come over at Christmas / early January for a team race challenge? Can guarantee that it will be hot and sunny next January! We can provide the Dragons. Just a thought!