Abersoch Dragon Fleet
2011 – 2012 Update

A momentous 2011 season, a mouth watering 2012 soon upon us!

Racing results 2011 Northern’s & 2011 Ed Cup

Northern Championship Results courtesy of bestforsailors

Northern Corinthians Results

Edinburgh Cup Results Coutesy of bestforsailors

Edinburgh Cup Corinthians Results

Background

International Dragon’s are a dream of a boat for helm and crew to race – they look beautiful, are sensual to race, and when ashore after racing.... there is no party like a Dragon Party!

My advice is – if you ain’t got one, go out and buy one.

The Abersoch Dragon fleet is about to kick off it’s fourth season – the first three have been a really good laugh - very well supported & exciting racing with intensely supported après race de-briefing sessions at the South Caernarfonshire Yacht Club bar.

Joining the rapidly expanding Abersoch Dragon fleet is made easy – the Abersoch fleet comprises of second hand, sensibly priced, yet immaculate Dragons. Most vessels are syndicated in ownership, embarrassingly easy on the wallet, and able to deliver far too much fun to those involved.

In the last eighteen months we’ve had the pleasure of getting to know the Irish and English Dragon fleets and teams - a great bunch of people, expert in the art of racing sail boats and celebrating life!

2011 – What was that all about?

South Caernafonshire Yacht Club hosted the 2011 British Dragon Association Northern Championship & The Edinburgh Cup. We achieved a near 100% turnout by the Abersoch fleet, in all 43 teams competed from around the globe, and the honours were fought for and won in our stunningly scenic Tremadog bay!

The Irish shared their warmth and camaraderie with us, and as always their charm was matched by their love of competitive sport, they walked off with all the lollipops – Simon Brien’s ‘Team Kin’ representing The Royal Northern Irish YC as Edinburgh Cup Corinthian Champions, and Martin Byrne’s ‘Team Jaguar’ representing The Royal St George YC deservedly became the 2011 Edinburgh Cup champions – quite extraordinary.

Let’s look at the Abersoch fleet, and how we are working at developing our boat speed;

2009 season, as a group of enthusiasts new to International Dragons, we were all about acquiring boats, developing a fleet, finding our bearings – a steep and totally enjoyable learning curve! Chris Taylor’s team on GBR 655 Phantom were the team that caught the fleet’s eye with their flashes of real speed.

2010 saw an increase in boat numbers to nine. Importantly the stand out team was GBR 699 Gitane - Col Brereton and Dr. Neil Brown illustrating what happens in terms of improving performance against the remainder of the fleet when you not only sail well, but you invest thought, time and elbow grease in preparing and optimising your hull and rig. As the season wnt on their competitive edge became an insurmountable challenge for the fleet.

2011 gave us a twelve boat Abersoch Dragon fleet, new comers included GBR 508 Atalanta - George Davies and Jamie Uren (son of the late English Rugby cap Dick Uren), Ian McMillan with the Seattle built GBR 573 ‘Thunder’, and Nick Jordon’s GBR 759 Sanuk, a team fast tracked into speed thanks to guidance from the fabulous visiting coach STRAVROS. Team Gitane’s influence in terms of ‘get your hull in order or else’, was a central influence in ensuring a respectable performance by the Abersoch fleet at the Edinburgh Cup championship.

GBR 590 Mystere’s team, Jamie Peters & Dave Cumming’s is the leading light in developing the Abersoch Fleet’s speed, with the greatest emphasis on mast & rig tune, plus squeezing every advantage available from a correctly set mainsail. Their effort resulted in them out performing the Abersoch fleet, and gaining a truly respectable result in the Edinburg Cup.

Jamie Peters, a sharp cookie on the water, took great care to study the Burnham fleet during the Abersoch Dragon fleet’s Easter visit to the Royal Corinthian shores - Mark and Amanda Wade were the perfect hosts. Jamie noted, on the wind, the fast Burnham boats had mast position, shroud position and rig tension to deliver a straight (no rake) mast, gaining maximum power for the full length of the mainsail leech, their booms bang centre, leech pretty straight, and the mainsail powered from the full length of the leech all the way back and right into the heart of the mainsail – pretty obvious I guess!

The outcome is power from the headsail, speed and pointing performance with a perfect main.

2012 Season – Everything to look forward to........

The Abersoch fleet will;

Continue to bathe in the ludicrously enjoyable pleasure of racing Dragons.
Increase our competitiveness.
Increase fleet numbers – prospective new comers please talk Rob Riddell, Abersoch fleet Captain at the earliest stages whe considering acquiring a vessel.
Ensure new comers get up to speed with our help very quickly, and have the absolute time of their wonderful lives shore side.

The highlight of the year will be supporting The Royal Northern Irish Yacht Club’s hosting of the Northern Championship 1st to 3rd July, and Edinburgh Cup 4th to 7th of July.