Recap from two days of racing at the Yanmar Dragon Gold Cup in Torquay hosted by the Royal Torbay Yacht Club.
Race one and the Børge Børresen Memorial Trophy was won by GBR 815 Lawrie Smith’s team Alfie. The race got underway on the first attempt in Torbay with three boats OCS, unfortunately all British Dragons; Jerboa GBR831, Rackham GBR610 and Electra Superglide in White GBR829.
Those sailing really well in race one and sitting just outside of the top ten were Grant Gordon’s Louise Racing GBR820, David Tabb’s True Story GBR818 and Simon Barter’s Bertie GBR763. Gavia Wilkinson-Cox GBR731, after returning to the start from an OCS made up great ground throughout the race to finish 19th just ahead of Ron James Fei Lin’s GBR633.
Read the full day one article on the IDA website, click here.
A hugely eventful race started on the third attempt under black flag that unfortunately saw British Dragons Bluebottle and Jerboa black flagged from the race.
Race officer Sturart Childerly took advantage of the change in wind direction and laid a big 2.5nm course across the bay. The shifting conditions saw a changing battle at the front with Lawrie Smith leading the fleet at the second windward mark. Shortly into the final downwind leg there was an unfortunate incident with another Dragon that saw Lawrie Smith’s team taken out of the race.
With team Alfie no longer in the race it was Michael Zankel, sailing under POR 90 who had sailed a great race and took the race two win, followed by Jan Secher SWE800 and Dirk Oldenburg SUI313.
Keeping in close contact and coming in 6th was Lousie Racing GBR820 and quickly behind them was Eric William’s Ecstatic GBR682, a great race by Eric, Katie and Rory.
Corinthian Winner of race two, and finishing in 11th place was Bertie GBR763 an excellent, well-sailed race by the team of three.
Read the day two article on the IDA website, click here.
RESULTS
For individual and overall results please click here.
The combined effort by the British Dragons sees the UK currently leading the Nations Cup. See the results table here.
There is a slight delay to racing on day three, due to the conditions with the aim of racing in the afternoon.
Keep watching the BDA Facebook Page and Instagram channel for live race positions and action from the water at the Yanmar Dragon Gold Cup 2023.
Image credit: Sportography