Online entry opens for Kinsale Yacht Club Dragon Gold Cup 2024

Kinsale Yacht Club Dragon Gold Cup 2024 sponsored by Astra Construction - Dragons racing off Kinsale © Robert Bateman

The Notice of Race has been published and Online Entry is now open for the Kinsale Yacht Club Dragon Gold Cup sponsored by Astra Construction Services Ltd, which will be held in Kinsale from 6 to 13 September 2024.

Sixty plus teams are expected to participate in the prestigious Dragon Gold Cup, which was first presented to the International Dragon Class by the Clyde Yacht Clubs Association (then known as the Clyde Yacht Clubs Conference) in 1937, with the aim of bringing together competitors from as many countries as possible to compete in a friendly spirit. Over its 87-year history the Dragon Gold Cup has continued to combine a world class racing programme with outstanding camaraderie and hospitality.

The Irish in general and Kinsale in particular are renowned for their hospitality, and so it comes as no surprised that this will be the third time that Kinsale Yacht Club has hosted the Gold Cup, the first in 1977 and again in 2012. As always, the club will be pulling out all the stops and the organising committee, chaired by Maeve Cotter, looks forward to welcoming Dragon sailors from upwards of 20 nations around the globe for what promises to be an exceptional week.

Registration and equipment inspection will take place from Thursday 5 to Friday 7 September and on Saturday 7 September there will also be a warmup race to allow competitors to familiarise themselves with Kinsale's outstanding open water race area. Championship racing will be run from Sunday 8 to Friday 13 September.

The Dragon Gold Cup is famed for being one of the most challenging inshore keelboat regattas in the world. Although the Race Committee may adjust the programme if races are lost, just one race per day is scheduled and the races are run over a very large windward/leeward course with leg lengths of two miles or more. In addition, there is no discard in the series scoring, so every place counts, consistency is all and even a minor gear failure or tactical misstep can have devastating consequences for a team.

The boats will race as one fleet, but in addition to the overall Gold Cup prizes, which are open to all entrants, there will also be prizes for the top Corinthian, all amateur, crews.

Online Entry is now open with a special Early Bird entry fee of €850 for those who enter by no later than 30 June 2024. From 1 July the entry fee will be €950 and entry will close on 26 August 2024. Competitors wishing to enter the Corinthian competition must submit their full crew lists with confirmation of the World Sailing ID and valid G1 categorisation for each crew member by 7 September 2024. The entry fee includes craning in and out, trailer parking, berthing, and tickets to the Gold Cup Gala Dinner and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for all members of the crew.

• Online entry
• Notice of Race
• Official page
• Facebook