Please select your home edition
Edition
Barton Marine 2019 728x90

2nd Cascais Dragon Winter Series at Clube Naval de Cascais - Overall

by Clube Naval de Cascais 17 Mar 2024 23:17 PDT 15-17 March 2024

Louise Racing wins on the return to Cascais.

The 2nd Cascais Dragon Winter Series took place from the 15th to the 17th of March, organized by the Clube Naval de Cascais.

With three scheduled races for the first day of the championship and with a less encouraging weather forecast, the fleet made up of 13 dragons, from 7 nations, managed to complete the program with the wind from the south with 6 to 9 knots of intensity, sometimes with light fog.

Louise Racing, captained by Grant Gordon and supported by Olympic silver medalist Luke Patience, Faye Chatterton and Elliot Hanson, did not leave much of a margin to the other competitors by take two bullets out of the three races on the first day. The Scottish team was very happy to finish the first day in the highest place on the podium. "It's great to be back in Cascais even with the weather a little cloudy. We are glad with our results especially because we are debuting a brand new PetitCrow 6.1 that we put in the water for the first time two days ago. We are glad with the speed of the boat and the team is doing a fantastic job." commented Grant Gordon.

At the end of the opening day, the second position was filled by belgian Xavier Vanneste Herbie's team and completed by local Olympic sailors Gustavo Lima and Frederico Pinheiro de Melo. Closing the podium at the end of that day was Pete Cooke's boat with Torvar Mrisky, Peter Nicholas and Harry Durcan.

On the second day of the 2nd Cascais Dragon Winter Series, the weather forecast dictated that the only window of opportunity to host any race would to take place was very early, with the Race Committee determining that the time for the first regatta would be at 10am on Saturday. With the wind from the east quadrant and at around 7 knots, as predicted, the starting procedures for the only race held on the second day began.

In the first attempt to start, the fleet pushed its luck too much, approaching the start line too early, with the competitors being sent back in a general recall. In the second and final attempt, and this time with the U flag, four boats were disqualified due to an early start, including Grant Gordon's Louise Racing and Pete Cooke's Meteor, respectively leader and third overall at the end of the first day. of races.

The victory in the fourth race of the championship, the only one held on the second day, went to the British Blue Haze team, led by Ivan Bradburry with Lars Hendriksen and George Leonchuck. They led the regatta from the beginning until they crossed the finish line.

Lars Hendriksen explained that "We haven't been to Cascais for 5 years and we were rehearsaling a new starting technique. We try to cross the start line full speed. This is a type of start that suits us very well and from the beginning of the race where we go at full speed and remain clear and our lives become much easier. We led the race from the beginning until the end where we worked on wind shifts and the rest of the fleet. It seemed easy but it's never easy (winning the race)."

At the end of the second day, Grant Gordon's Louise Racing team remained in the lead. The Royal Yach Squadron boat maintained its position because even with the disqualification in the fourth race, due to an early start, it was saved by the discard of the worst race of the overall. In second place was race four winner, Ivan Bradburry's Blue Haze. Xavier's Herbie fell to the last place on the podium after finishing the second day's regatta in third place.

For the last day of the championship, with three races scheduled, and the 7 best teams separated by 8 points, all scenarios were possible. Unfortunately, after waiting 2 hours ashore for wind conditions to race and also after the fleet sent out, the Race Committee decided to call an end to the day and consequently the championship.

With no changes to the overall, Grant Gordon's Louise Racing thus became the winner of the 2nd Cascais Dragon Winter Series. The Scottish team was followed by Ivan Bradburry's Blue Haze and then Xavier Vanneste's Belgian boat Herbie. The first Conrinthian boat, the first amateur team, was Guy Celis' White Pearl team with Katrien Lagey and Steven Vermiere.

The next event of the Cascais Dragon Winter Series Circuit will be the His Majesty King Juan Carlos Trophy, which will take place from the 19th to the 21st of April in Cascais. The best Dragon class teams in the world are expected to compete for one of the most prestigious Dragon class trophies.

This championship had the support of the Cascais Municipality, Visit Cascais, Cascais Marina, Vista Alegre and Pettitcrows.

Full results available here.

Related Articles

Algarve Dragon Cup round 4 Preview
Continuing the journey towards the World Championship in May The 8th Algarve Dragon Cup continues with Round 4, set to take place from 14th to 16th February at the Vilamoura Sailing venue. Posted today at 11:17 am
The engine room
Without them we are lost. This is about the things aloft both ahead and behind the stick. Without them we are lost. This is not about the tiny little room under the companionway stairs. Rather, it is about the things aloft both ahead and behind the stick.Yes. The rags. Only, they are anything but for wiping up spills. They are supreme tech. Posted on 9 Feb
Yacht Club de Cannes looks forward to 2025 season
The Finn elite are set to meet for International Week After a great year in 2024, including the European Finn and 470 championships, then the famous Régates Royales, the Yacht Club de Cannes, founded in 1860 and one of the oldest clubs in Europe, is starting a new season. Posted on 6 Feb
Entries open for Cowes Week
199th edition of the world's biggest annual keelboat regatta Cowes Week Ltd is delighted to announce that entries for the 2025 Regatta are now open. Posted on 17 Jan
Dragon Prince Philip Cup overall
Richard Lynn and his team sailing Gordon win the trophy Richard Lynn and his team sailing Gordon have won the Prince Philip Cup, the Australian Dragon class championship by just one point after a nail biting final day of the series, hosted by Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club and sailed on the Swan River. Posted on 10 Jan
Dragon Prince Philip Cup Day 4
Richard Lynn clings to lead Richard Lynn and his team sailing Gordon are clinging to a one point lead at the end of the penultimate day of the Dragons' Prince Philip Cup, the class's Australian Championships. Posted on 9 Jan
Dragon Prince Philip Cup Day 3
A Classic Beauty Classic good looks, no I'm not talking about Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot or Princess Grace, I mean the Dragon class. Posted on 8 Jan
Dragon Prince Philip Cup Day 2
Richard Lynn still leads after boat busting day First and third places on a day of boat busting conditions were enough to keep Richard Lynn and the Gordon crew at the top of the leader board on the second day of the Dragons' Prince Philip Cup, the class's Australian Championships. Posted on 7 Jan
Dragon Prince Philip Cup Day 1
Richard Lynn grabs an early lead Richard Lynn and his crew sailing Gordon have grabbed an early lead at the end of the first day of the Prince Philip Cup, the Dragon Australian Championships, being hosted by the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club on Perth's Swan River. Posted on 6 Jan
Dragon Ted Albert Memorial Trophy overall
Willy Packer's clean sweep Willy Packer sailing Scoundrel made a clean sweep of the Dragon class's Ted Albert Memorial series, winning all three races, but by his own admission there was a bit of luck involved. Posted on 5 Jan
North Sails Loft 57 PodcastSea Sure 2025Rooster Wetsuit Range