INTERNATIONAL DRAGON ASSOCIATION The International Dragon Association Newsletter The Annual General Meeting Minutes page 4-5 Class Rule Changes page 6 Fixture List pages 14 & 15 75th Anniversary Celebrations page 16 Regatta Reports page 17 - 20 News from Around the World pages 21 A white knuckle ride at the Worlds 2003 – Photo: Glenn Wills Pictures from left to right:: Worlds 2003 – Photo: Luca Villata, lucavillata.com Europeans 2003 – Photo: David Branigan Gold Cup 2003 – Photo: Ellen Ekels Winter 2004 IDA Newsletter 2004 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE PRESIDENT: H.M. King Constantine Dear Dragon Friends the many new and younger members I meet As I write this in the dark of a Swedish afloat and ashore who are all enjoying their VICE PRESIDENTS: December I am looking back on what for Dragon sailing. I think much of this appeal is H.R.H. Prince Henrik of Denmark most of us, (in Europe anyway), has been due to our builders, all of whom are producing Borge Borresen one of the finest Summers we can fast boats which are easier and more OFFICERS: remember. The year 2003 enjoyable to sail and CHAIRMAN: will be remembered for finished to an increasingly Thomas Olrog (Sweden), endless sunshine, fair high standard. Kragenasvagen.9, 18165 Lidingo, Sweden winds and calm seas, (well This year has seen the Tel Office: +46 8 670 8520 mostly!), giving memorable departure from the IDA of Fax Office: +46 8 670 8550 sailing at our major two stalwarts of the Class, E Mail: [email protected] Championships, National Jorgen Bonde, and Gunter VICE CHAIRMEN: Championships and Club Ahlers. Jorgen has come to Louis Urvois (France) events throughout the the end of two terms as a 68 Addison Road, London W14 8JL, UK World. Vice Chairman where his Tel Office: +44 (0)207 605 6980 Fax Office: +44 (0)207 605 6989 Starting in Hobart in experience has been of E-Mail: [email protected] January the Worlds were a great value. I look forward great success and those to seeing him trimming his Rupert Fischer (Germany) who went from Europe personalized yellow spinnaker Tel Home: +49 8176 92185 were rewarded with Thomas Olrog in the future, free from his Gold Cup 2002 Fax Home: +49 8176 92184 fantastic sailing in a series, IDA responsibilities! Gunter, Mobile: +49 172 8911132 which saw light and shifty breezes to winds after many years as an International Measurer E Mail: [email protected] gusting in excess of 35knots. The hospitality and the last five as our Class Measurer, has and organization of the hosts was at the decided to take a well-earned retirement from TREASURER: highest level, as is usual in this part of the the role. He has made a major contribution to Andrew Craig (Ireland) world, and congratulations to the winners of the Class in this position and is known Tel Home: +353 1 285 8057 the Royal Hellenic Cup, Dieter Schoen, throughout for his impartiality and wide Tel Office: +353 1 662 6210 Andreas Huber and Vincent Hoesch from experience of the intricacies of the Rules and Fax Office: +353 1 704 8712 E-mail: [email protected] Germany. the construction of our boats. He will be much The Irish hosted our European missed by us all, but we wish him well in his SECRETARY: Championships in Kinsale and the generosity retirement. David Dale (U.K.), of their hospitality ashore was matched by the In looking ahead to 2004, we have the 2 Leelands, Lower Pennington Lane, Lymington, Hants SO41 8EY, UK challenging conditions afloat of the unusual Gold Cup in Falmouth, England, I am told a Tel/Fax Office: +44 (0)1590 689 704 weather pattern for the time of year. However, wonderful place to sail, and I am sure it will be E-Mail: [email protected] they were no problem to Fred Imhoff and his a great event. The Europeans are in Tallin, and crew of Richard van Rij and Rudy Den Outer the organizers presented to the AGM in TECHNICAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: who, despite gear failure, turned in excellent October where they assured us all of the Graham Bailey (U.K.) results to take the Virginie Heriot Cup by a organization and facilities. They are confident Tel Office: +44 (0)207 320 9172 Fax Office: +44 (0)207 320 9111 comfortable margin. of a strong entry and we should, if we can, E-Mail: [email protected] The Gold Cup in Holland saw a fleet of 94 support this developing Fleet with their first boats sailing in 2 fleets and some excellent major Dragon Regatta. Finally, this year, we ASSISTANT SECRETARY: racing in generally light and sunny conditions. have the Anniversary Regatta in St Tropez in Jill Hayward (U.K.) As always there was some very close racing October. Chris Dicker is doing a superb job Berrycroft, Tye Lane and Jorgen Schonherr, Axel Waltersdorph and organizing the event and with the current Walberton, Arundel, West Sussex BN18 OLU. UK Anders Kaempe were the overall winners this entry level, Patrons and Honorary Patrons Tel/Fax: +44 (0)1243 555931 year. This was a particularly good result since onboard, his Race Management team and E: Mail: [email protected] Jorgen, though very experienced in other excellent local support in St Tropez. I am sure Classes over the years, has only recently taken this will be a "not to be missed" event. IDA WEBSITE: up Dragon sailing. Congratulations also to Finally, may I wish you good and http//:www.intdragon.org winners of the many National Championships successful sailing next year, wherever that may RULES AND PLANS: and domestic Dragon events during the year, be, I look forward to seeing you at a number Available from the Assistant Secretary. New a number of whom I have enjoyed racing of the events, and of course St Tropez in price as of 01 January 2004) against . As I have competed at many of these October. Rules £15 regattas I get a real sense of the continuing Thomas Olrog Chairman IDA Plans 1-7 £100 or £25 each strength of the Class and am encouraged by Plan 8 (hard copy) £120 Plan 8 (on disk) £300 (Prices include postage) Copyright and Liability No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the Please send all general correspondence publishers. Some of the articles and opinions in this Newsletter may not represent the official views of to the Assistant Secretary. the International Dragon Class. The publishers do not accept liability for their accuracy. 3 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2003 The Annual General Meeting 2003 A Summary of the Minutes The AGM was held at Office de Tourisme, Jardin and the future of the Class in general. that our Secretary David is doing an de l'Ambassade du Tourisme, St -Tropez, France The Owner’s Meeting at the Gold Cup excellent job and playing a full part in trying on Saturday 11th October 2003 at 11am. There was successful with many participants to resolve some of these and keeping us all were 26 present with 16 countries represented. active in discussions about current Class on course. I do not believe that it will be any issues, a number of which are on today’s less busy during the next Jubilee Year. 1. Chairman’s Report Agenda. To sum up; I find that we generally have The past year has again been full of well- As many of you know a situation stability in the Class and our goal is to organised Dragon racing around the World. developed at the Europeans as a result of maintain this, even though there might be The Worlds in Hobart, the Gold Cup in which our Chief Measurer Gunter Ahlers difficult decisions to be made during the Medemblik and the Europeans in Kinsale felt he had to resign from his post. The issue coming years. I have a strong feeling we were all excellently organised and was over interpretation of Rule 3.25, which must allow some Rule Changes here and thoroughly enjoyed by the many is on the Agenda of this meeting. The there to keep up the popularity of the Class. competitors who took part. On behalf of Officers and Class in general very much We may also have to consider eventual the Class and the Officers, I would like to hope that we can find a way to resolve this changes in material and production thank the Organisers of these events and difficulty and to keep Gunter on board as methods for the builders to be able to fulfil their supporting teams ashore and afloat for Chief Measurer, where his knowledge, authorised future emission demands from their very professional work. Other major experience and approach to Class Rules, as European Health and Environmental European Regattas, National well as to all who own, sail and build authorities. My feeling is that we are Championships, local regattas and events Dragons can still be used and valued. looking forward to a very busy year to all reported strong fleets and excellent Gunter has a long association with the IDA. come. racing. Having attended many of these He is one of the most important mainstays Patrick Delahaye (Belgium) asked if the events myself this year, I am pleased to and we hope very much that we will be able Chairman could expand on his reference to conclude that the Class is healthy and in a to resolve the issue favourably with Gunter future changes in Rules, Materials and good state with up to a hundred who is highly respected throughout the Production.