Irish Dragon Champion Finishes Fourth in Cascais Invitational

19th March 2012

#DRAGON SAILING – Ireland's Edinburgh Cup sailing champion Martin Byrne took fourth overall at last weekend's International Dragon Match Racing event in Cascais, Portugal.

The invitation only event included Dragon National Champions from across Europe.

Weather conditions were ideal with clear blue skies and moderate breezes for the three day event which was raced inside Cascais Harbour which drew a big crowd of specators on the shore. Having topped the round robin series of racing, Byrne faced Dutch Dragon and RC44 helm Pieter Hereema in the semi final.

After a penalty to Philipe Silva, Portuguese National Champion, in the 3rd/4th place race off the Irish champion who is also Commodore of the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire finished fourth overall.

Pieter Hereema went on to win the event beating Klaus Klaus Deidericks in the final.

2012 is a big year for the Dragon class in Ireland. Not alone are they hosting the Gold Cup in Kinsale but the Edinburgh Cup is to be held in Belfast Lough in July.

Dragon sailors from over 12 countries have already entered this year's Brewin Dolphin Dragon Gold Cup, to be held at Kinsale Yacht Club from 8th-14th September.

Already, entries from Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Scandinavia, Portugal, France and the UK have entered as entries are expected from Hungary, Estonia, and further afield - from the USA and Australia - making this a truly international competition.

Participants are encouraged to register early and to book their and accommodation in this busy seaside town on the south coast of Ireland.

Entries are welcome through the specially designated website: www.dragongoldcup2012.com

The event is Sponsored by Private Client Investment Managers, Brewin Dolphin, who recently entered the Irish market with their acquisition of Tilman Asset Management.

Brewin Dolphin is also sponsoring the Grand Slam Series of Dragon events in Ireland this year which includes the Northern Area Championships and Edinburgh Cup in Belfast Lough in July, the Irish National Championships in Dun Laoghaire in August and the South Coast Championships and Gold Cup in Kinsale in September.

The Dragon Gold Cup was last held in Ireland in 1997, when the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire hosted the event.

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