Dominant British Dragons Make Their Mark at World Cup Warm-Up
by Emma York 9 May 13:47 BST
6-8 May 2025
The road to the 2025 Dragon World Championship is heating up, and this week's warm-up event in Portugal proved to be the perfect curtain-raiser. Hosted by Vilamoura Sailing from 6th to 8th May, the event saw 25 Dragons take to the waters in preparation for the upcoming championship.
British Dragon teams wasted no time showcasing their racing prowess. Lawrie Smith's GBR815 Alfie set the pace early, dominating day one with two back-to-back victories, closely followed by Grant Gordon's GBR833 Louise Racing. Shifting wind conditions and long beats added to the drama, keeping the fleet on their toes as places changed with every leg.
GER1207 Nicola Friesen won race three, while British Dragons GBR375 Debutant and GBR192 Bluebottle secured second and third, respectively. Team Alfie continued its strong form in race four, crossing the finish line ahead of home nation teams Pedro Rebelo de Andrade's POR89 First Thing's First and Michael Zankel's POR90 Easy.
Heading into the final day, GBR815 Alfie was in a dominant position, sitting on just three points after discard calculations. However, the lack of wind on day three brought racing to an early close, confirming Lawrie Smith, Ruairidh Scott, Dave Hughes and Monica Morgan as the overall winners. British Dragons occupied multiple top spots, with GBR833 Louise Racing, GBR912 Bluebottle, GBR375 Debutant, and GBR832 Storich securing 5th, 6th, 10th, and 15th place finishes, respectively.
This warm-up event has provided invaluable venue practice for the fleet, setting the stage for a thrilling Dragon World Championship from 10th to 17th May. With over 50 Dragons from 17 nations registered, including eight British contenders, all eyes will be on Vilamoura as the battle for the title unfolds. Could Alfie's triumph here signal another championship victory for Lawrie Smith and his team?