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Dragons are Set for Edinburgh Cup and Centenary Celebrations at South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club

18th June 2024
The 76th Edinburgh Cup, the British Dragon Association National Championship will be hosted by South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club
The 76th Edinburgh Cup, the British Dragon Association National Championship will be hosted by South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club Credit: Rick Tomlinson

The coastal village of Abersoch is set to host a major event in the world of keelboat racing: the 76th Edinburgh Cup, the British Dragon Association National Championship. This year's championship holds special significance as it coincides with the centenary anniversary of the South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club (SCYC), promising an unforgettable celebration of sailing heritage and competitive spirit.

From 7th July 2024, the pristine waters of Cardigan Bay will come alive as 25 Dragons from Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, and Japan converge to compete for the coveted national championship title and the illustrious Edinburgh Cup trophy. The event will span four days of racing, showcasing the stunning International Dragons and sailors from around the globe.

The Edinburgh Cup, a prestigious fixture in the sailing calendar, has a storied history with Abersoch and the SCYC. The club has had the honour of hosting the championship numerous times: in 1962, 1969, 1976, 1982, 1988, 2011, 2016, and 2019. This July, the tradition continues, underscoring the club’s commitment to excellence and its pivotal role in the sailing community.

This year's championship holds special significance as it coincides with the centenary anniversary of the South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club (SCYC) Photo: Rick TomlinsonThis year's championship holds special significance as it coincides with the centenary anniversary of the South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club (SCYC) Photo: Rick Tomlinson

Current reigning Edinburgh Cup Champion Lawrie Smith will be heading to North Wales with the aim of retaining the title. He is joined by previous Edinburgh Cup champion Martin Byrne, and current Edinburgh Cup Corinthian Champions Jono Brown and Chris Grosscurth, along with many national and regional champions.

In addition to the main event, the Edinburgh Cup will be preceded by the two-day British Dragon Association Northern Championship, setting the stage for an exciting week of top-tier sailing competition.

Published in Dragon
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The Dragon was designed by Johan Anker in 1929 as an entry for a competition run by the Royal Yacht Club of Gothenburg, to find a small keel-boat that could be used for simple weekend cruising among the islands and fjords of the Scandinavian seaboard. The original design had two berths and was ideally suited for cruising in his home waters of Norway. The boat quickly attracted owners and within ten years it had spread all over Europe.

The Dragon's long keel and elegant metre-boat lines remain unchanged, but today Dragons are constructed using the latest technology to make the boat durable and easy to maintain. GRP is the most popular material, but both new and old wooden boats regularly win major competitions while looking as beautiful as any craft afloat. Exotic materials are banned throughout the boat, and strict rules are applied to all areas of construction to avoid sacrificing value for a fractional increase in speed.

The key to the Dragon's enduring appeal lies in the careful development of its rig. Its well-balanced sail plan makes boat handling easy for lightweights, while a controlled process of development has produced one of the most flexible and controllable rigs of any racing boat.