Tasmanian International Dragon Championship 2021 at the Royal Yacht Club Of Tasmania - Preview
by Jane Austin 9 Jul 2021 14:39 AEST
10-11 July 2021
The beauty and elegance of the International Dragon Class will be on show on the River Derwent this weekend © Leigh Edwards
The elegance of the International Dragon Class will be on show on the River Derwent this weekend as crews compete in the Tasmanian International Dragon Class Championship 2021. The two-day regatta, hosted by the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania (RYCT), marks the return of the annual event which was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic.
The fleet will sail up to eight windward-leeward races with a maximum of five races per day, although the forecast light winds will challenge RYCT Race Officer Bill Bourn.
Multiple Australasian and Tasmanian Champion, and current World Corinthian and Masters Champion, Nick Rogers, sailing the Ridgeway built Dragon, Karabos IX, will be tough to beat on his home waters. Sandy Anderson from Western Australia, and a former Australasian Championship winner, will be sailing Plum Crazy in her sixth regatta on the Derwent with former International Dragon Association President Rob Campbell joining her crew.
While border restrictions may limit numbers, competition will be intense. Local Laser Radial young gun Sam King (Aquila), recent winner of the 2021 Sailing Champions League Asia Pacific Final, will be pitting his skills against seasoned campaigners Justin Barr (Magic), Steve Henley (Thorvalda) and Jock Young (Xanthos), while Peter Watson, the new RYCT Sailing Manager, is rumoured to be back on the water for the event sailing Mirage.
The fleet will fight it out for the Tasmanian International Dragon Class Trophy for the best performed boat on line honours, the Cuthbertson Trophy for the best performed boat on performance handicap, and the Barry Calvert Trophy for the best performed boat in the first three races.
Keep up with the results at results.ryct.org.au/drgstates21/drgstates21/series.htm?ty=89227