Germany’s Dirk Pramann has taken a narrow early lead in the Dragon class at the 2025 Régates Royales in Cannes, while four Irish teams have started their campaigns in the 35-boat fleet.
Pramann’s GER 16 crew delivered a consistent 3rd and 2nd to top the standings on 5 points. Great Britain’s Klaus Diederichs (GBR 819) follows in second on 6 points after a win and a fifth-place finish.
Third overall is Dirk Oldenburg of Switzerland (SUI 313) with 9 points, tied with Anatoly Loginov (UAE 17), who posted 5th and 4th in the opening races. Rounding out the top five is GBR 192, skippered by Graham Bailey, who won Race 2.
Ireland’s top performer so far is Daniel Murphy's IRL 226 from Kinsale Yacht Club. Murphy, with John O’Connor and Cameron Good, sits 13th overall on 28 points after a 10th and 18th.
Royal St. George’s Martin Byrne (IRL 201), sailing with Adam Winkelmann and Conor Byrne, lies 17th. They improved from 24th in Race 1 to a strong 12th-place finish in Race 2.
Monkstown Bay’s Colin Barry (IRL 217), with Ciaran McSweeney and Shane O’Connell, is 32nd after two races, while IRL 231, helmed by Iain Woolward of Galway Bay Sailing Club with Sheena Bowers and John Maddocks, sits 34th after a 31st and a DNF.
Racing continues daily through Saturday, with eight more races scheduled and plenty of opportunity for leaderboard changes.
