Regatta Date:

May  25^th – 27^th

The Medway Regatta was held over three days over the May Bank Holiday. Nine dragons enjoyed some quality racing: eight windward leeward courses and one round the cans to finish on Monday.

The series was dominated by Fit Chick GBR 753 (Simon Raw, Tim and Theresa Wilkes, Steven Harris). They won six of the races and would have won a seventh but for being adjudged OCS in race six. This caused a one point difference between them and OCD GBR 675 (Harris, Brealy, McKenzie) going into the last race due to there being no discards.

But Fit Chick won the start in the final race and defended their lead to win comprehensively and leave OCD second overall. This long race round the cans was held in ideal conditions on Monday with a steady Westerly wind and two good beats against the tide next to Thames Port. There were gains to be made by going further into Stangate Creek and crossing the spit at its shallowest point.

Saturday’s races were held in a light NW wind at the end of Long Reach near the jetty. There were two competing winds here: a NW and W which made for some difficult tactical decisions, particularly on the runs against the tide later in the day.

The Classic Beauty

Royalist GBR 455 (Dawe, Gagg, Shepherd), a classic dragon was very competitive and gained a second place in Race three and thirds in Races one and seven. This was the only classic dragon competing though.

Sunday had stronger Force four Westerly winds and four good races in Long Reach left all crews happy but tired. Race seven and eight were particularly interesting given that the beats gave opportunities for boats on the right hand side to make gains even though they were out in the stronger tide unlike the first two races.

Molly  GBR 588 (Schupp, Staniland, Thompson) won the Vintage Trophy and were second in Race two. Gandalf GBR 726 (Hannant, Porter, Hammond) were 3^rd overall with five second places.

Thanks go to Richard Stone and his team on the committee boat Absolute Diamond for faultless race management.

Race report: Medway Dragon Fleet Captain, Chris Brealy

Photo credit: Richard Janulewicz
If you would like to see more images from this year’s Medway Regatta or to purchase your favourite, visit Richard’s website and regatta gallery here >>>

This year’s Haulfryn Edinburgh Cup in Abersoch now has 28 entries and rising!

The home South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club (SCYC) Dragon fleet will be joined by visiting Dragons from Ireland, Turkey and all four corners of the country.

Following the two-day Northern Championship, Abersoch will see local experts race together against regional champions, past national champions; Martin Payne, Julia Bailey and Martin Byrne and current reigning champion Graham Bailey in the Haulfryn Edinburgh Cup.

The four day British national event, now in its 71st year remains a championship with a great deal of history. It has always been difficult to win and revered by those who have won many other competitions and events.

The Edinburgh Cup has successfully been held in Abersoch at the SCYC in 1962, ’69, ’76, ’82, ’88, 2011, 2016. And now this July.

2018 Winner Graham Bailey – Aimee

2011 Winner Martin Byrne – Jaguar Sailing Team

Don’t miss out on taking part in this year’s Nationals, enter now!