To get your place in the Gold Cup, hurry up and register here. 

Check out the Gold Cup 2012 website for more information

Racing will take place in Dublin Bay on May 19-20 the schedule is as [...]]]> The 2012 edition of the Baily Bowl, organised by the Royal Alfred Yacht Club in association with the Royal St George Yacht Club, will be held in Dublin Bay on May 19-20 2012 at the Royal St George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Racing will take place in Dublin Bay on May 19-20 the schedule is as follows:

• On Saturday 19 May there will be three (3) races for all classes “back to back”. First race is scheduled at 1100 subject to weather conditions.
• On Sunday 20 May two (2) races are scheduled for all classes. First warning signal at 1100 hours.

You can download the NOR Baily Bowl 2012 here. 

New for this year is the online entry system, designed to ‘to save writer’s cramp and a stamp’ as the organisors put it.

You can Register online here

Download the document NOR here:

NOR Dragon National Championship 2012 (MS Word)

NOR Dragon National Championship 2012 (PDF)

Entries on the [...]]]> This is the Notice of Race (NOR) for the Irish National Dragon Championship 2012, held between Thursday 26 July and Sunday 29 July, in the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dublin.

Download the document NOR here:

NOR Dragon National Championship 2012 (MS Word)

NOR Dragon National Championship 2012 (PDF)

Entries on the official Entry Form with accompanying fee by 1800 hrs on Wednesday 25 July 2012. 

Sailing Instructions (SIs) shall be available at Registration which will take place in the Race Office at Royal St George Yacht Club during the following hours:

Wednesday 25 July 2012           1600 – 1800 hrs

Thursday 26 July 2012     0900 – 1000 hrs 

For further information, do not hesitate to contact Dublin Bay Dragon Fleet Class Captain Rob Johnson on email or mobile: +353 (86) 387 5017

Download the document NOR and Entry form (combined) here:

NOR Dragon East Coast 2012 (PDF)

NOR Dragon East Coast 2012 (MS WORD)

With less than 10 weeks to this years’ Edinburgh Cup, hosted by Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, and sponsored by Belfast Harbour, details have just released details of an exceptional deal by Stenaline on Irish Sea crossings for tow vehicle, Dragon / trailer and competitors.  This deal is for a limited number [...]]]>

With less than 10 weeks to this years’ Edinburgh Cup, hosted by Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, and sponsored by Belfast Harbour, details have just released details of an exceptional deal by Stenaline on Irish Sea crossings for tow vehicle, Dragon / trailer and competitors.  This deal is for a limited number of bookings only due to peak season, so book early and also get your entry in.  Full details including on-line entry, Stenaline deal, and Notice of Race are all available on the organising Club website, www.rniyc.org.

The Edinburgh Cup was last hosted by Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club in 2000, and the Club also hosted the 2010 Irish Championships, sponsored by Belfast Harbour.

A hot fleet of approximately 40 boats are expected including Poul Ricard Hoj Jensen, Tim Tavinor, Klaus Diederichs, Graham and Julia Bailey, Gavia Wilkinson Cox, and fleets from Burnham on Crouch, Medway, Cowes and Abersoch (Rob Riddell promises 8 boats!).  There will be strong representation from the Dublin Bay fleets including 2011 Edinburgh Cup Champion Martin Byrne, and regular front runners including Andrew Craig, Neil Hegarty, Richard Goodbody and Mick Cotter.

The Kinsale fleet will be making their way north as well with regular International traveller, Cameron Good heading the charge.

GRAND SLAM

2012 is a major year for Dragon Racing in Ireland with the Edinburgh Cup at Belfast Lough at the start of the season and the Gold Cup in Kinsale at the end of the season.

A 5 Championship Grand Slam series has been set up to attract all Dragoners to race their boats in Ireland this year.  The series, sponsored by Brewin Dolphin includes:

FERRY DEAL

The superb Stenaline deal also allows flexibility to arrive in Ireland prior to the UK Northern Areas / Edinburgh Cup, and leave after the Gold Cup in September.The Edinburgh Cup and Gold Cup are compulsory events to take part in the Brewin Dolphin Grand Slam, and one of the other 3 events.

“We plan to host a superb week of Dragon racing and an exciting schedule of shore side activities to satisfy the most discerning Dragon sailor!Edinburgh Cup organiser, Simon Brien commented:

Belfast Harbour have been superb sponsors and combined with the deal being offered by Stenaline, we are trying to make it as easy an

d affordable to bring your boat to Belfast Lough for the Edinburgh Cup, and we are also including several fabulous dinners, barbeques and parties within the entry fee.

To make sure you avail of the low price Stenaline ferry deal, book now, and get your entry in!”

All details available on www.rniyc.org

The Irish Dragon fleet have probably their biggest season this year in their 85 year history. Not alone are they [...]]]> (This is an article in Irish sailing magazine Afloat, published on 8 March 2012. Go here for the full article. )

The Irish Dragon fleet have probably their biggest season this year in their 85 year history. Not alone are they hosting the Gold Cup in Kinsale but the Edinburgh Cup is to be held in Belfast Lough in July. With these two famous competitions anchoring a series which includes the British Northerns, the Irish Nationals and the South Coasts, a GRAND SLAM series has been established, sponsored by new fleet sponsor Brewin Dolphin.

Since the 80s Irish Dragon sailors have been frequent participants at overseas regattas, and in recent years they have consistently been winning major titles. Don O’Donoghue and Martin Byrne have both added their names to the Edinburgh Cup, and sailors such as Peter Bowring, Simon Brien and Andrew Craig are frequent top-scoring visitors at the top European and international events. This has helped the Irish Dragon Association to bid successfully to host the Dragon Gold Cup – the open world championship – in Kinsale this September.

Private Client Investment Managers Brewin Dolphin, who recently entered the Irish market with their acquisition of Tilman Asset Management, are continuing their recent history of sport sponsorship by backing one of sailing’s most prestigious championships – the Dragon Gold Cup – which is to be held in Ireland in September – and are also sponsoring the Grand Slam Series.

Jamie Matheson, Brewin Dolphin Executive Chairman commented:

“We are very proud to add such a great event as the Dragon Gold Cup to our portfolio. We are not newcomers to the world of sailing, having successfully sponsored the Scottish Series for the past 11 years and more recently the Commodores’ Cup. Sailing has provided us with an excellent platform to increase awareness of our brand to a wider audience and we are confident that the Grand Slam will develop this.”

With the Edinburgh Cup and Gold Cup being held in Ireland in the same season, added to the normal Irish series of championships, this Grand Slam series is already attracting the attention of many top European and International crews. The GRAND SLAM is focused on Corinthian sailors with major prizes, thanks to the support of Brewin Dolphin, and is already attracting the attention of many top European and International crews. There will also be prizes for the professional teams, pre-2000 boats and wooden boats.

After the Edinburgh Cup in Belfast Lough in July, the focus moves to Dunlaoghaire where the Royal St George Yacht Club will host the National Championship – immediately after the ISAF Worlds.

The season culminates with the Dragon Gold Cup – which is the Dragon Class Open World Championship and one of sailing’s most prestigious trophies. This is being hosted by Kinsale Yacht Club, renowned for its excellent sailing conditions and top-class restaurants and hospitality.

Cameron Good, Commodore of Kinsale Yacht Club said:

“We are striving to make it as easy as possible for sailors to participate in the Grand Slam and have negotiated discounted ferry crossing rates with Stenaline. Arrangements are also in place to tow visitors’ boats between events so that they can just fly in to participate. There are also ‘warm up’ events strategically timed before for both the Edinburgh Cup (the Northern Area Championships) and the Gold Cup (the South Coast Dragon Championships)”

Ireland is hosting two of the most prestigious events in the Dragon calendar:

The Irish Grand Slam 2012, sponsored by [...]]]> 2012 is the Year of the Dragon in Ireland

Ireland is hosting two of the most prestigious events in the Dragon calendar:

• The Gold Cup – at Kinsale Yacht Club, Kinsale, Co Cork,
• The Edinburg Cup – at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, Cultra, Co Down, NI.

The Irish Grand Slam 2012, sponsored by Brewin Dolphin, will be won by the boat with the best overall results in a series comprising the Brewin Dolphin Gold Cup, the Edinburg Cup, and one other event in the Grand Slam series.

The complete Grand Slam Rules will be published at the same time as the Notice of Race (NOR) for the first event,

the UK Northern Area Championships.

Events and dates

UK Northern Area Championships

1-3 July, Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, Cultra, Northern Ireland.

Edinburg Cup

4-7 July, Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, Cultra, Northern Ireland.

Irish Championships
D26-29 July, Royal St. George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.

Irish South Coast Championships

1-2 September, Kinsale Yacht Club, Kinsale, Co Cork.

Gold Cup

8-14 September, Kinsale Yacht Club, Kinsale, Co Cork.

Why not make a year of it in Ireland?

• Enjoy superb racing at Belfast Lough, Dublin Bay and Kinsale.
• Enjoy the legendary social programme and hospitality at all of the events.
• Enjoy the magnificent scenery, the length and breadth of Ireland.

Contact the following people for more information:

Tim Pearson

Simon Brien

Cameron Good

This year we were joined by the Squibs and the ISA J80s (or maybe we joined them!).

An opportunity to rinse the boats out with fresh lake water and compete for the Jack Craig Memorial Bell.

With mixed [...]]]> So the final event of the Irish domestic season – the Lough Derg Freshwater Keelboat  Regatta.

This year we were joined by the Squibs and the ISA J80s (or maybe we joined them!).

An opportunity to rinse the boats out with fresh lake water and compete for the Jack Craig Memorial Bell.

With mixed teams, guest helms and short race courses in shifty lake breezes the event was going to more about fun than out and out long course championship racing.

However it still proved to be hard fought throughout the fleet with the potential for anything to happen at any moment.

Friday and Saturday were light days with the odd moderate breeze. Sunday was going to be more moderate winds.

On Friday night Denis Bergin on sir Ossis of the River with Con Murphy and Paul Burke were leading. Going into the final day Martin Byrne on Diva were leading by three points against Donal Small on Tenacious with Dave Dwyer and Eoghan O’Neill. A number of boats could have taken third place on the final  2 race day. After the first race Martin’s lead was cut to one point. So the final race was the decider. Donal got his nose ahead at the pin end in traffic and covered Diva aggressively up the first beat. Despite throwing everything at Tenacious including tacking duels and “peeling” off spectator boats, Donal Small persevered and won the Jack Craig Memorial Bell with Martin Byrne, Rick Johnson and Rob Johnson on Diva in second place. Peter Bowring, David Williams and Laura and Arthur Meaghan on Phantom came in third with two good races on the final day.

So once again a big thank you to Lough Derg Yacht Club for a very enjoyable event on and off the water. A special thank you also to their reserve race officer Claire who stood in (apparently for her first time!) and performed cooly and calmly like she had been doing it for years!

Now what was the number of that guy with the winter storage warehouse……!

You can also download them here Minutes IrDA AGM 12 August 2011 (MS Word document).

Irish Dragon Association

The 2011 AGM of the Irish Dragon Association took place

in Kinsale Yacht Club [...]]]> These are the minutes from the 2011 Annual General Meeting of the Irish Dragon Association.

You can also download them here Minutes IrDA AGM 12 August 2011 (MS Word document).

Irish Dragon Association

The 2011 AGM of the Irish Dragon Association took place

in Kinsale Yacht Club (by kind permission)

on Saturday 13 August 2011

Minutes

Attendance:

Andrew Craig (Chairman)

Tim Pearson (Secretary/Treasurer)

David Good, Peter Bowring, Martin Byrne, Sean Kingston, Donal Small, Owen O’Neill, Don O’Dowd, Cameron Good, Olaf Sorensen, Anthony O’Neill, Neil Hegarty, Frances Rhatigan, Peter O’Reilly, Simon Brien, Henry Kingston.

Apologies were received from Mick Cotter, Iain Finnegan, Paul Maguire, Rick Johnson, Richard Goodbody, David Clarke, Michael & Susan Halpenny, Frances Lynch, Paddy Bishop and Kathy Gillan.

1.   Accounts for 2010 are to be circulated to the members by email. The Secretary explained that because expenses had been successfully reduced in recent years it was now possible to reduce the annual subscription for 2012 by €20. This was proposed by the Secretary, seconded by the Chairman, and passed by the meeting.

The subscriptions for 2012 will therefore be:

·         Dublin Bay Dragon Fleet €200

·         Kinsale, Belfast Lough €130

·         Glandore, Ree, Derg €90

Members are reminded that it is compulsory for any Dragon and its owner(s)/helm to be registered with their national association before that boat can enter a Dragon class race.

By paying the fee the named Dragon and its owner or owners and crew become registered with their national association (the Irish Dragon Association) and the International Dragon Association. The fee also includes membership of the British Dragon Association (and in the case of Dublin Bay Dragons it includes membership of the Dublin Bay Dragon Fleet).

2.  The following officers of the Irish Dragon Association were re-elected (Proposed Peter Bowring, seconded Cameron Good):

§   Chairman – Andrew Craig

§   Secretary/Treasurer – Tim Pearson

3.   Dates for 2012 were discussed and agreed as follows:

4.   Edinburgh Cup / Gold Cup updates. Simon Brien proposed a once off Grand Slam Trophy and prizes for 2012 in order to capitalize on the fantastic line up of events for next year and this was accepted unanimously. A committee of A Craig, S Brien, H Kingston and T Pearson to draft a format to include promotion, rules, prizes and sponsors and circulate to the membership. Simon Brien to have finalised a ferry deal in September, based on entering Ireland via Belfast in June and leaving via Cork/Rosslare in September 2012.

The Gold Cup is still seeking a title sponsor. Any help, connections, etc to Cameron Good.

5.   AOB. A lengthy discussion about promoting the class took place, both to bring in younger members as crew, and to find prospective new owners. Many familiar topics and some novel and unusual suggestions were brought forward, including: Under 25 prizes, Corinthian prizes, trying to find ways to dispel the High Cost of Entry myth, the high cost of sails, the weight limit for crew (the IDA have a moratorium on discussing this at their agm for 3 years), developing a Presidential role that could better promote the class, and not sailing on Sundays so we can have a bigger party on Saturday.

The meeting ended with agreement that the class should continue to pin its hope on the early discovery of the Elixir of Eternal Youth.

Give Will a call if you need new crew – he needs no further introduction to how to make the Dragon go fast.