Dragons 2010 Australasian Championship - WA ready to battle
by Sonya Rosbotham on 23 Dec 2009
Dragons in Full Sail - 2010 Australasian Champsionships - the Dragons’ Prince Philip Cup Unknown Club Member
Western Australian Dragon sailors are ready to take on their interstate competitors and even a few Russians as they prepare to compete in the 2010 Australasian Championship's Prince Philip Cup.
Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (RFBYC) will be hosting 2010's Australasian Championship for the 8.9 metre, long keel Dragon yachts. The 2009 Prince Philip Cup was held in Sydney.
Back in July and August this year, Richard Lynn from RFBYC in his new Dragon ‘Puff EU', with crew Edgar Vitte and Ian Olson, contested the European summer regattas. At the Gold Cup in Skagen, Denmark, he managed 56th overall, memorably having a near miss with the Crown Prince Frederik who despite Lynn's best efforts went on to come 6th in that regatta. Crown Prince Frederik's mainsheet trimmer, Theis Palm, will be competing at this PPC on Lynn's crew.
In the World Championships sailed off Medemblik, Holland, ‘Puff EU' came a very creditable 20th overall with a 4th placing in one of the heats. Several other sailors who were at this regatta will be coming to contest the Prince Philip Cup 2010 at RFBYC. They are Russia's Mikhail Mouratov (18th) and Olga White (47th), Robert Campbell (IDA President) (45th), Gordon Ingate (52nd), and Wolf Breit (60th). Note: The number in brackets is their placing in the last World Championships
Twenty-nine boats will be competing on the Swan River between 2nd and 7th January 2010. Each has a small crew of 3 to 4 people.
It should be an exciting series competing for this prestigious trophy, the Prince Philip Cup (PPC). Many competitors are coming from overseas including Scott Palmer from NZ, Robert Campbell from the UK, and Mikal Muratov and his wife, Olga White, from Russia.
The WA fleet has been training with John Cassidy, hoping to be able to acquit themselves well against the panoply of stars that will be sailing in the 2010 PPC.
There will be a touch of nostalgia for the likes of former 12 metre sailors involved in the event including John Longley (crewed Australia II in the America's Cup), Gordon Lucas and Ron Packer.
Western Australia will be well represented by former National Dragon Champions Richard Lynn, Tony Lynn, Peter Bowman and Sandy Anderson.
Some other well known sailors are listed below who will be trailing the boats to Perth:
• Gordon Ingate (NSW) - Admiral Cup winner in 'Caprice of Huon', former owner and skipper of 12 meter 'Gretel 11', and former winner of PPC at the impressive age of 82
• Carl Ryves (NSW) - former Olympic representative in the Flying Dutchman class and involved in 1987 defence of the America Cup
• Andrew Yorke (NSW) - former Laser National Champ and America Cup tactician in 1987 defence of America Cup
• Andrew Crisp (TAS) - former World 14ft dinghy champion
ABOUT THE DRAGON
First designed in 1929 by a Norwegian, the Dragon became an Olympic Class between 1948 and 1972 and maintained its international popularity and remains one of, if not the largest fleet, of one design keelboat class in the world.
The International Dragon Association banned the use of exotic materials in the construction, and applied strict rules to avoid sacrificing value for a fractional increase in speed.
These tight, one design rules level the racing and make it truly attractive for all budgets to enter the completion.
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