Deauville expands

New classic boat event to be staged in 2007

Yesterday, Philippe Augier, Mayor of Deauville, Bernard Gorgeu, President of the Club and Manfred Ramspacher, Director of Sirius Evenements announced the launch of the classic version of Deauville International Week, Deauville Classic Week. This will also play host to the International Dragon French Open over 4-7 July 2007.

After the inaugural Deauville International Week in 2006, this new event is indicative of the strong desire to develop watersports in this Norman town. In reality Deauville is simply reviving its nautical history, since the town was a great centre of watersports long before and after World War II, when a parade of J class yacht on the race zone was regular sight (including Virginie Hériot and her 6 m JI) and numerous large international competitions were held there for the Dragon, Requin, 8 and 6 m JI. In fact up until the 1970s, Deauville was the primary base for the French Dragon fleet.

Many are longing to see these fabulous modern and wooden craft moor alongside the quays in the vast numbers they once did!

Classic yachts have experienced a strong revival over the past few years, one only has to e witness the 250 or so craft present at the Dragon's 75th anniversary gathering in Saint-Tropez. Since then the various Dragon events elsewhere in France and Europe have been experiencing increasing success.

Combining elegance and top competition, tradition and modernism, the Dragon class is perfectly consistent with the town of Deauville. The geographical location of the town is also an advantage in a highly international series with considerable presence in Northern Europe.

Organised by Sirius Evénements and the Deauville Yacht Club, in collaboration with the French Association of the International Dragon Series (AFSID) presided over by Xavier Rouget Luchaire, and with the support of the Town of Deauville, the International Dragon Open in France sincerely hopes to host both national and foreign crews.

The Notice of Race will be presented during the General Dragon Class Meeting on 9 December 2006 at the Paris Boat Show.