BDA Chairman Patrick Gifford gives us his thoughts on the current state of the British Dragon Association and asks for your input on the Class.  Click here to read Patrick's thoughts and have your say.

The 2010 Edinburgh Cup was declared a resounding success by all and with 32 teams from three continents competing was perhaps the most competitive fleet ever assembled for the event.  The Solent laid on sunshine and wind like we haven't seen in years, ashore Regatta Chairman Col Tony Singer and his team kept the sailors royally entertained and on the water Klaus Diederichs
and Poul Richard Hoj-Jensen took it down to the wire with a match race of epic proportions on the final day before Diederichs was finally declared the overall winner. 

Here are the links for our coverage of the event - Official Press Reports - IDA Blog Coverage - YouTube video footage and interviews - Fi's Photos - Mike Austen's Photos (Aberdeen Photographer) - Video Interview With Klaus Diederichs

 

 

Aldeburgh Week (22-27 August) remains one of the great traditional British regattas and competition in the Dragon fleet is always fast and furious with racing in the river plus lots of lovely parties and plenty for visiting friends and family to do.  Why not make the most of this amazing weather join the Aldeburgh Fleet for a slice of seaside fun?  Click here for the Aldeburgh Week website.

 

With all rope runners now legal in the Dragon Class Petticrows explain how the new system should be set up and give us some great top tips on retrofitting the new system to an existing Petticrows Dragon.  Click here to read their article.

 

Here are the dates for the key British Dragon Association events in 2011.  This year's events were a huge success with record turnouts all round so mark your calendars now so you don't miss out on all the fun.

East Coast Championship - Burnham - 28-30 May

Northern Championship - Abersoch - 10-12 July  
 
Edinburgh Cup - Abersoch - 13-16 July

South Coast Championship - Cowes - Date TBC

Further details of all the events will be published in due course on www.britishdragons.org

 

Congratulations to Joergen Schonherr, Tim Tavinor and Katie Cole on an impressive win at the very well attended Dragon East Coast Championship hosted by the Medway Yacht Club.  It was great to see so many boats out on the water (26 altogether) and to watch such great racing.
Click here for our official press report.
Click here for our informal video report.

 

The Abersoch Fleet pulled out all the stops to host a fantastic Dragon Northern Championship.  The weather gods were smiling, the local fleet turned out in force and the Irish and Southern UK sailors joined them for a weekend of terrific sailing and partying.  Tim Tavinor took the trophy home and we're looking forward to being back there for the Edinburgh Cup next year.  Click here for the full report.

 

 

For 2011 the British Dragon Association AGM and Dinner will be moving venue.  Although this will be the 55th BDA AGM, for the first time the event will be held at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.  It will take place on Friday 14 January 2011.  Please mark the date in your diaries and further details will be published on www.britishdragons.org in due course.

 

Fran Gifford, daughter of our illustrious Chairman Patrick, grew up sailing in the family Dragon at Aldeburgh but now she's taking on a whole new challenge as she attempts to sail around Britain in a Wayfarer in support of the RNLI and Shining Light.  To support Fran and find out all about her adventures Click Here.