Dragon Regatta Easter 2012
Friday 6th to Monday 9th April 2012
Eighteen Dragons entered the traditional Royal Corinthian Yacht Club regatta held over Easter, including four visitors and two newcomers to the Burnham Fleet. This was a really good start to the sailing season in Burnham and the whole fleet is looking forward to great racing over the next eight months.
2011 Dragon Annual Report
Saturday 12th November 2011
2011 started on the right foot when, in January, RCYC member Tim Tavinor returned
triumphant from the Dragon World Championship held in Melbourne, Australia. Rob
Campbell, Matt Walker and Martin Makey also made the trip ‘downunder’ sailing Quicksilver
IV representing the UK and the RCYC, but it was Lawrie Smith helming Alfie crewed by Tim
Tavinor and Ossie Stewart who finally won the championship with an exciting last race. The
fleet, keen to hear the details and see the trophy in the real, congregated at the club to
welcome back the champion with a champagne toast.
This set the scene for the season
ahead…
Dragon Pub Race
Sunday 14th August 2011
The Plough and Sail in Paglesham, that well know destination of the old Burnham Week non-racing Sundays, was pretty much the finishing line for the annual Dragon pub race on Sunday 14th August. We were not required to run the final half mile to claim the prize - everyone was a winner on such an enjoyable outing.
Burnham Dragons' Party Evening
Saturday 23rd July 2011
Once again the Burnham Dragon Fleet has set a very high hurdle for party making! Following a two race Crew race series on Saturday July 23rd, won by Matt Walker in Beauty and the Beast, the fleet and friends gathered at Kay and Tim Tavinors’ house and garden for a grand summer party.
News from the Archives - 1
Monday 4th July 2011
The recent acquisition of a copy of the Winter 1937 edition of the Club Journal has highlighted the proposed introduction of the Dragon Class to the Club although there remains a mystery of whether it happened as planned. Coincidentally these facts came to light the same time as some fascinating ciné footage of Dragons sailing in Burnham in 1946 on the British Dragon Association's website.
Dragon East Coast Championship 2011
Saturday 28th to Monday 30th May 2011
With blustery wind conditions prevailing over the entire weekend of the Championships, the Race Officers Kim Allen and Edwin Buckley had plenty of opportunity to make important decisions. This first account of the Championships comes from Martin Makey.
2011 BDA East Coast - Racing Report
Saturday 28th to Monday 30th June 2011
News of the East Coast Championship continues with a racing report from Michael Holmes. "The eight races sailed were, for the most part held in breezy and demanding conditions but there were no complaints from the competitors and all agreed that it was a great weekend. With 17 competitors on the starting line, the standard was high and had a real international feel with Jørgen Schönherr from Denmark and Gordon Ingate from Australia among the competitors"
Dragon Easter Regatta 2011
Friday 22nd to Monday 25th April 2011
Seventeen Dragons were to contest the 2011 RCYC Dragon Easter Regatta. That number included Gitane (Colin Brereton), Merlin (Rob Riddell) and Mystere (James Peters) all the way from the fledgling Abersoch fleet in North Wales. All three of these boats made something of a return to East Coast waters, each having previously raced out of Lowestoft...
Good News from Oz!
Monday 17th January 2011
With the England Ashes team in the ascendancy, it was just wishful thinking that the Brits might beat the Aussies on their home waters as well! And it came to pass... Lawrie Smith, crewed by Tim Tavinor and Ossie Stewart, sailed Alfie GBR 751 into sailing history with the slimmest of margins in the final race to become Champions in the Dragon Worlds.
It's All Happening Down Under!
January 2011
It's been 25 years since an England cricket team won a Test Series in Australia, and we now turn directly from the cricket triumph to the Australian Dragon Nationals being sailed at the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club in Melbourne. Will the glory of the cricket transfer to the water? Will we give the Aussies a race for their money?
The Dragons Celebrate Season 2010
Saturday 20th November 2010
After a cold but mercifully short race on Saturday 20th November, the Dragon fleet dusted down their dinner jackets for the annual Dragon Dinner, the key social engagement of the season, eagerly anticipated on so many levels.
RCYC dominates Medway Eastern Area Championships
Saturday 29th to Monday 31st May 2010
During our Easter Regatta in Burnham, several visitors from the Medway invited us to their 'patch' on the second May Bank Holiday weekend, and set us a challenge to beat their entry number to us. So, first blood to us, twelve Dragons from Burnham travelled over to the Medway for the three day event and we had a blast.
Easter Regatta
Friday April 2nd to Monday April 5th 2010
March 29th, and it is the week of the Dragon Easter Regatta. I am fielding questions from entrants, " Will we be sailing? The forecast is looking so bad!" I begin to pray, if not for a pleasant weekend, at least for winds to allow us to take to the water!
Dragon End of Season Dinner
Saturday 21st November 2009
The elements were battering the clubhouse as ninety Dragons sat down to their end of season dinner. Fortunately Woody had chosen a hearty menu with roast beef, beautifully cooked by Dean, to fortify us. End of season honours were shared this year between Quicksilver IV, Beauty & the Beast, Scorpio and Avalanche. There was consternation from the "Beast" (Rob Campbell) when the stats revealed his partner in the boat, "Beauty" (Katie Cole) had won more races than him in the season!
Burnham Dragon Fleet Newsletter
Thursday 16th April 2009
Download the latest Burnham Dragon Fleet newsletter, which includes an in-depth report on the 2009 Easter Regatta. "The comparison with last year could not be greater. Admittedly the event was being held a month later, which meant we were not subjected to a snow storm and did not suffer the loss of two days racing due to high winds. It was quite the opposite; the concern was the lack of wind!"
Have you sailed a Classic Dragon?
Wednesday 18th February 2009
I was delighted and honoured to be asked to become the BDA Secretary at the recent AGM. One of the tasks the committee has set itself is to build up the BDA archives as we are fearful much interesting and important historical information about Dragons and the class may become forgotten.
RCYC sweeps the board at the Dragon Gold Cup
29th August - 5th September 2008
With First, Second and Third places taken by three British boats, the event was described on the official website as being "absoluto domínio britânico". However, not only were those places held by British boats, they all hailed from the RCYC! Danish Blue, Jerboa, and Quicksilver III also carried off the Nations Cup.
Andrew (Noddy) Norden sent this report.
'Champagne Sailing' at the Gold Cup
29th August to 5th September 2008
This exciting event with a historical result for the Corinthian has inspired some fascinating journalism. You may have read Noddy's report but you should now read this one from Jonathan Hill, giving a slightly different perspective. "Cascais is noted for 'champagne sailing', sunny with plenty of warm wind - shorts, polo and oilies..."
Danish Blue's success in Majorca
March 2008
Following on from his recent victory in the first Antiguan Dragon National Championship, Poul Hoj Jensen teamed up with Tim Tavinor and Noddy to successfully defend their 2007 Mediterranean Cup win in Calanova, Majorca from the 6th -9th March. Nineteen crews entered; however, Danish Blue had victory secured with a race to spare.
Dragon Easter Trophy 2008
21st - 24th March 2008
While away on holiday a month ago, soaking up the sun, I commented to a South African that we hardly ever see snow in the SE of England and, so far this year, have not even seen a flake. I should have kept quiet; what a sting in the tail winter had for us!
J. Lauritzen Dragon Championship
25th November to 1st December 2007
If you are reading this on a gloomy, grey, January day and feel greatly in the need for sunshine, even at second hand, then let Andrew Norden's report cheer you up. Noddy and Tim Tavinor have been chasing the sunshine in Danish Blue.
Campbell wins and gets plastered!
26th, 27th & 28th May 2007
Literally!
Rob Campbell received the East Coast Silver Salver 2007 for his winning performance in the East Coast Dragon Championships on the Bank Holiday Monday and a plaster cast on his right forearm on the Tuesday, having sustained an injury in the last race.
NRV Dragons challenge RCYC
11th, 12th & 13th May 2007
The weekend of 12th and 13th May saw the arrival of familiar faces from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV) for the annual team race in Dragons against the RCYC. A visiting youth team from the Alster Piraten were also in attendance for what is hoped to be an annual team race with the Corinthian Otters.
Dragon Easter Trophy
6th to 9th April 2007
Twenty-one boats, including six visitors, competed on the River Crouch for the Dragon Easter Trophy. The event was sponsored by Bolle, Musto, Lonton & Gray, Mailspeed, Rice & Cole and Forrester Hyde.
It's Clanger Time!
18th November 2006
It's that time of the year when the Dragon sailors meekly turn up to dinner just to have their various sailing sins revealed to a curious world! Although the Dragon Fleet must contain some of the most experienced sailors and racers in the country, it's surprising what they can get up to when the heat of competition takes hold.
RCYC Dragon Sailors visit Moscow
7 - 10th October 2006
Our flight from Heathrow to Moscow's Domodedovo airport took three hours and there we were met by Anastasia and Ekaterina who is a leader in the Yngling Olympic Sailing Challenge. Our party numbered 21 and with our luggage we just managed to fit into the Taxi-Bus provided by our hosts..l.
Dragon Team Racing in Hamburg
15th & 16th July 2006
For the fourth year we have held a team match with 'Norddeutscher Regatta Verein', with the current score before this year 2-1 to NRV. Such an event was originally talked about in the 1980's but never took place. It was during a discussion with Rob Campbell at an overseas regatta, that the event finally came to fruition and has been sailed annually ever since, alternating between Hamburg and Burnham.
Jubilee wins her class
Saturday 3rd of June
Jubilee wins the Round the Island Race 3rd June 2006. How apt that Jubilee, the 75th Anniversary Lottery Dragon, should win her class in the 75th Round the Island Race.
Hoj - Jensen wins the Edinburgh Cup
27th -30th May 2006
Congratulations to Poul-Richard Hoj-Jensen who has won the Edinburgh Cup, crewed by Chris Brittain and Andrew Norden. This is the fifth time Poul-Richard's name will be engraved on this trophy which is in fact the open British Dragon National Championship, but the 2006 event will probably be remembered for strong conditions and plenty of incident amongst the 35 competitors from six nations.
Amok Sinks
29th May 2006
It was on the Monday of the 2006 Edinburgh Cup that the conditions got really nasty. Sullen skies, lumpy seas and sudden squalls made sailing conditions difficult and in one exceptional squall, Amok dived!
Quicksilver III quashes competition
Easter Weekend
The Dragon Eastern Championships 2006, hosted by the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, quickly became a two way fight for first place that was only resolved in the last race of the Easter weekend event.
Happy birthday, Rob
29th October 2005
Everybody seemed extraordinarily friendly that day, waving and calling to Robert Campbell as he sailed his Dragon Quicksilver before the start of the race. It was some time later that he glanced up at the sails and read the message...
Skullduggery and the connivance of friends and a local sail maker resulted in an announcement read by the entire Burnham waterfront. Here's to you, Rob!
Rob's comment, "I know who to murder for this - Rachel Young and Gerry Gray!"
The Commodore at Cannes
Regates Royales 25th Sept - 1st October
Acknowledging himself to be a 'middle-of-the-fleet' man, Commodore Makey surprised himself and delighted many by finishing second in the recent Regatta at Cannes.
Dragons' Easter Regatta 2003...
Friday 18th April 2003
Although the Dragon Fleet has been slowly building its strength with various practice races, the aim is to be ready for the first major race event of the season, the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend. This year's event attracted a record entry of thirty-three boats.