1999-Christmas

DRAGON NEWS REFLECTIONS Christmas 1999 s some of you may know, I am stepping down as Honorary Production Editor: Janet Harber ASecretary of the British Dragon Association at the AGM in January. I Printed by: Wednesday Press have enjoyed representing you for the last three years. I hope that you will all be as supportive to Richard Jordan as you CONTENTS have been to me! I intend to now carry out all those projects which I never had time for as Chairman's Report 4 secretary. Your web site, from Mike Hayles britishdragons.org.uk, will finally become fully active because I will be Diary Dates 4 able to keep it bang up to date. I will fixtures for 2000 also be focusing on getting a class sponsor - if anybody has ideas about a BOA AGM Agenda potential class sponsor then please do not hesitate to contact me. and Dinner Details I look forward to seeing you at the ...order your tickets now 5 What goes up must come down - surely? AGM, or later in the year somewhere Your previous chairman, plus many on the water. 4-12 helpers, proving Newton was wrong Fleet Reports Owen Pay photo by Owen Pay news and pix from round the coasts Cowes Week 11-13 BDA CONTACT INFORMATION Bill Daniels was there British Dragon Association Medway Regatta 14 Chairman Owen Pay reports Mike Hayles Tel. 01799 530464 (home) e-mail: [email protected] Citron Trophy 15 British Dragon Association Northern Champs 15 Hon. Secretary Owen Pay Tel. 01256 413992 (home) 07968 396269 (mobile) Cannes & Prince Heindrik e-mail: owen_pay@ jdedwards.com Regattas 16 Dragon Association Selection Procedures 16 British lOA proposed changes Treasurer Lucilla Herrmann Tel. 0181 211 0888 (home) New Classic Dragon Rep 17 0181 211 0887 (Fax) Richard Rycroft Bt e-mail: lucilla @compuserve.com Boats for Sale 17 British Dragon Association Website britishdragons.org.uk BOA Accounts 18 Cover Photograph: HAMO THORNYCROFT Fanfare GBR 584 is the subject of this sparkling picture captured on film Marine Photography during Cowes Week by marine photographer Hamo Thornycroft. 1 Marina Walk, Cowes Yacht Haven, Sailed by Mike lssaias and Charlie Cowes, Isle of Wight Street, Fanfare won the Dragon class P031 7XJ in this year's 12-hour Round the Island Race - for The Solent fleet report Tel: +44 (0) 1983 290220 page 10. see Fax: +44 (0)1983 296742 Hamo has kindly given permission for www.yacht-photos.co.uk us to reproduce this beautiful photograph on the front cover. 3 CHAIRMAN'S REPORT bviously being Chairman does not give one perception of speed. The result was that the motion was lost, exceptional boat speed. Nevertheless I've had a most since there is an in-built bias in the voting system of one vote Oenjoyable year visiting some of the Dragon fleets, for per country and officer. There was no proposal to allow which I must thank you all. epoxy sandwich construction, which has been reviewed by In my summer review I advised that I would report back the Technical Committee;, and it was agreed that there concerning the lOA's Technical Committee's should be no changes to the basic construction rules for recommendations about hull measurements. The class's three to five years. From what I now understand, this has Chief Measurer indicated that over the last year he has spent removed the order strike by owners for new GRP boats. a considerable amount of time measuring Dragons, in The officers brought forward a proposal for selection for particular those being built by new builders to ensure that the European and World Championships from 2001 they conform to the existing class rules, for which we are onwards. The UK fleet will therefore be reintroducing a most grateful - both to him and to his employer the German selection process in 2000. Yachting Association. While this solution does not actually The BOA has put in a bid for holding the Gold Cup in the deal with the position created last year, it is probably a UK in 2004, which both the Royal Torbay and the Royal satisfactory compromise, which will only work if the builders Cornwall Yacht Club have requested to host. A decision will do not try to exploit the rules. not be taken until October 2000 as France and Portugal have Once again we had a marathon IDA annual general also bid for the event. However, we should be in a strong meeting in Ostende, and followers of European politics and position since both these countries have held the event more the EU in particular would have recognised the familiar recently than Britain. pattern-lots of discussions and many misunderstandings! Next year we are holding the Northern Area Championship There were three main areas of discussion: crew weight, and the Edinburgh Cup under the burgee of the North of wood and epoxy boats, and finally, selection. Ireland Yacht Club, where you can be sure to receive a very While the class decided on limiting the crew weight, there warm welcome, as the hospitality of the Irish is legendary. I was an underlying feeling that this should not have been can strongly recommend to you to attend both these events. necessary but for the professionalism which is creeping into I would like to thank Peter Orlord for all his efforts in trying the class. On this point, there is a desire to do something but to keep the Abersoch fleet going over the years but with his there is a degree of uncertainty as to what. ISAF and the move to Lymington there was no alternative but to disband RY A have both produced papers on professionalism but the the fleet. The Fleet generously donated a trophy. Peter has proposals seem to be impractical. For the crew weight limit, assured me that next year Zara will be sailing in the Solent. we in the BOA can decide whether to write out this particular Simon Holt, who took on the challenge of the Classics at rule from our regatta rules. There will be a vote at the AGM. the request of John Thornton, has decided to go offshore My concern is that there will now be pressure to optimise the racing. We all owe him a considerable debt for his efforts. crew weight at 285 kilos, with the resulting effect of Dick Rycrolt of Burnham has volunteered to take on this eliminating some of the lighter crews -wives, girl friends and task. To help him on his way, the Classics Championship will daughters. held simultaneously as part of Burnham Week. On the subject of banning wood boats, the technical Both our Hon . Secretary Owen Pay and our Hon. committee and the officers of the IDA argued very strongly Treasurer, Lucilla Herrmann are retiring at the end of their against the proposition on the basis that the cold-moulded terms and I' m sure you will all join me in thanking them for construction allowed for limited production runs- its original the excellent work they have done on behalf of the British intent, and in their view, was not proven to be faster. The Dragon Class. larger fleets argued in favour on the basis of cost and Mike Hayles On the Windermere start-line - photo by Brian Leach 2999 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Burnham Easter Regatta Cowes Week (Cowes) (Burnham-on-Crouch) July 29th - August 5th April 21st - 24th Burnham Week British South Coast Champs and Classics Championship (Cowes) April 28th- May 1st August 26th - Sept 2nd GBR A British East Coast Champs Scottish Keelboat Weekend (Lowestoft) May 27th - 29th (Edinburgh) September 15th -17th British Northern Area Champs (Cultra) June 11th - 12th Edinburgh Cup (Cultra) THE RNLI BALL 2000 June 13th- 17th December 7th The Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, Medway Regatta London (Medway YC) July 6th - 9th Enquiries: RNLI Office Tel : 020 7839 3369 4 THE BRITISH DRAGON RSSOCIRTION NOT I CE OF AGM The Annual General ANNUAL DINNER meeting of the Association FRIDAY JANUARY 14th will be held at the Royal The Annual Dinner will follow the AGM Thames Yacht Club, at 2000 at the Royal Thames Yacht Club. Knightsbridge at 1845 on Tickets must be booked in advance. Friday 14th January 2000 Please return the form below to Owen Pay with a cheque for £30.00 per head (made out to the British Dragon Association) AGENDA to arrive no later than Tuesday 11th January. Please inform Owen of any special dietary 1 . Apologies for absence requirements and 2. Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising PLEASE BOOK EARLY Dress : Reefers or Lounge Suits 3.To receive and adopt the accounts for the year ended 31st October 1999 4. Chairman's Report MENU 5. Election of Officers - Chairman, Vice Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Auditor Potted Smoked Fish, Tomato and Dill Vinaigrette 6. 1DA Report 7. Proposed Subscription Changes. The committee proposes Pan-fried Breast of Cornfed Chicken, Basmati Rice the following increases in the BOA annual subscription: Scented with Cardamon and Citrus, Asparagus Sauce 1) Overseas members to £20 (increased from £1 0) Chef's selection of Vegetables 2) Associate members paying cheque/cash £15 (increased from£10) Baked Ricotta and Pistachio Cheesecake 3) Boat-owning members to £40 for members using Direct with a Chocolate Sauce Debit and £45 for members paying cash/cheque (increased from £20 with £15 additional publicity levy). The Direct Debit discount will be extended to fleets which pay Coffee and Dark Mints subscriptions promptly (by 31st March)- at the Treasurer's discretion. The Irish Dragon Association has already agreed to an increase from £6 to £10 at their AGM.

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