BDA Chairman and keen Dragon racer Simon Barter is looking forward to the upcoming British Dragon Nationals in Edinburgh. We got to know him a little better and who his money is on to lift this year’s coveted Edinburgh Cup trophy.

I started sailing aged five with my father in an Enterprise on a small reservoir in the midlands called Cransley Sailing Club. Then went the traditional route of Optimist, Mirror, Enterprise and 505.

My father’s family is from the south coast of Cornwall and every summer as I was growing up we would tow the boats down to Cornwall and compete in the local regattas, I would say Falmouth was my favourite place to sail.

I bought GBR 763, Bertie in 2013 so in our first season we had the Edinburgh Cup and Worlds in Weymouth.

I have always enjoyed one design racing and the Dragon is such an enigma, subtle changes can make huge differences in performance but the principle reason I joined the Dragon class rather than another one design was the friendliness of the competitors and the ability to come ashore and always be confident that a good time will be had.

I love learning about new venues and my experience of the hospitality Scottish sailing clubs is excellent. It will be a very special event with the support of Bailey Gifford and the Britannia Trust it is going to be an Edinburgh Cup to remember, not least because Bluebottle has been returned to her former glory and will be competing for the first time for many years.

National championships are always special because you get to judge your performance against the best of each local fleet. The history and Royal association makes the Edinburgh Cup one of a kind championship. I also think the longer races gives more opportunities for place changes to concentration is key.

It is very difficult to predict but we do know that Graham and Julia Bailey will be racing Bluebottle so they would be very fitting winners this year.

You can follow the progress of Bertie and all other Edinburgh Cup entrants taking part this year by following our Facebook Page >>>

Find out more about the Edinburgh Cup here

Ahead of the 2021 Scottish Championships and Edinburgh Cup in Edinburgh we chat to passionate local Dragon sailor and BDA Scottish Fleet Captain, Cathy Ogden.

The first boat I sailed in was a Mirror dinghy as a Royal Forth Yacht Club cadet in the early 1970s. My dad wanted my younger brother to have a sport and decided to join us both to the cadet section and bought a Mirror dinghy. I loved it and my brother hated it.

After university I returned to Edinburgh and I was asked to crew on Kis, then K418. When the Edinburgh Cup and Gold Cup were run on the Forth in 1985 I crewed both events and became a regular from then.

Now I sail a 1986 Borresen Dragon GBR 508, now named Kismet. It was first owned by Rob Brown, who is our Race Officer for the Edinburgh Cup this year. Sheena and I bought her when she came up for sale as we had admired her in Largs in 2015.

Favourite places to sail, if it’s cruising, I love Scotland’s West coast. So many anchorages to nose into and lots of tidal challenges. When the weather gives you a break it can be hard to beat.

The things I love the most about Dragons are how they glide through the water and behaves well in almost everything that is thrown at it. I like it most when I don’t get a bucket of cold North Sea water dropped down the neck.

For anyone thinking of entering the Edinburgh Cup this year Edinburgh is a fantastic city to visit. Lots of history, culture, good food and all in a small, easy accessible city. The sailing area is fantastic, just outside the harbour entrance, so no long sails at the start and end of your day. The view of the hills to the North, the bridges to the West, Islands to the East and the iconic City skyline to the South make it an experience just being on the water.

The Edinburgh Cup championships gives us the chance to see lots of Dragons racing and trying to learn how they are making them go so fast! The social side and chatting to other crews who are also smitten is fun.

The Scottish all-ladies team of Sheena, Moira, Fiona and myself all plan to be on board for the event. There are a few kilos to spare despite the lockdown excesses.

You can follow the progress of Kismet and all other Edinburgh Cup entrants taking part this year by following our Facebook Page >>>

Find out more about the Edinburgh Cup here