Dragons on the Solent

Edinburgh Cup and Aberdeen Dragon European Championship come to Cowes in 2006

This season will see a festival of Dragon sailing on the Solent as Cowes hosts both the Edinburgh Cup and the Aberdeen Dragon European Championship. The Edinburgh Cup will be run by the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club with racing from Saturday 27 to Tuesday 30 May. The Aberdeen Dragon European Championship will be run by the Royal Yacht Squadron with racing from Monday 5 to Friday 9 June. For those seeking some pre-event practice the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club is hosting the British South Coast Championship between April 28 and May 1.

The Aberdeen Dragon European Championship is sponsored by the global fund management group, Aberdeen Asset Management. “The Dragon Class has a long, rich history and we are very pleased to be playing a part in a whole new chapter as sponsors of this summer’s Aberdeen Dragon European Championship,” said Martin Gilbert, Aberdeen’s CEO.

Up to 50 entries are expected for the Edinburgh Cup with the fleet swelling to around 80 boats for the Aberdeen Dragon European Championship. Double Olympic Gold medalist Poul-Richard Hoj-Jensen of Denmark will be defending his Edinburgh Cup title, hoping to take the trophy for a fourth time. Poul’s son Claus Jensen is the reigning European Champion and will also be in Cowes to defend his crown. Those challenging the Jensens include British Dragon Class Chairman and six times Edinburgh Cup winner Rory Bowman, Isle of Wight based husband and wife team Graham and Julia Bailey and Simon Brien from Northern Ireland who won the Edinburgh Cup in 2000.  The Danes will be fielding one of the strongest visiting fleets with Frank Berg, who recently won the French Open Championship, and double Olympic Gold medalist Valdemar Bandolowski joining the Jensens. Alongside her duties as Regatta Chairman local girl Gavia Wilkinson-Cox is planning to give the boys a run for their money following her recent successes on the Mediterranean winter circuit.
 
The majority of boats will be based at Cowes Yacht Haven for both regattas and the organisers are also planning an excellent après sailing programme. Ian Lallow will head up the Race Committee as PRO for the Edinburgh Cup whilst for the Aberdeen Dragon Europeans RYS Rear Commodore Yachting, John Grandy, will be PRO. The International Jury will be chaired by Ireland’s Tony O’Gorman.

Solent ferry operators Wightlink are offering special rates to competitors for crossings on their Portsmouth/Fishbourne and Lymington/Yarmouth routes, details of which are available from www.rys.org.uk .

Those wishing to receive press releases and images or press representatives who would like to attend the events should contact Event Press Officer Fiona Brown on E-mail fiona.brown@fionabrown.com or Tel +44 (0)7711 718470.

For further information about the Edinburgh Cup please visit www.rcyc.co.uk or contact Louise Morton, Secretary, Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, The Parade, Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK, PO31 7QU.  Tel +44 (0)1983 293581, Fax +44 (0)1983 294385, E-mail louise@rcyc.co.uk .

Further information about the Aberdeen Dragon European Championship is available from www.rys.org.uk or contact The Secretary, The Royal Yacht Squadron, The Castle, Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK, PO31 7QT.  Tel +44 (0)1983 292191, Fax +44 (0)1983 200253, E-mail mail@royalyachtsquadron.org

For further information about the Dragon South Coast Championship please visit www.ccyc.org.uk or contact Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club, 39 Birmingham Road, Cowes., Isle of Wight, PO31 7BH, Fax +44 (0)1983 281464.

Aberdeen Asset Management manages investments for individuals and institutional investors alike. Although the company’s headquarters remain in Aberdeen, Scotland, its offices and fund managers can now be found across more than 20 locations around the world. The Group has experienced rapid expansion since 1983, through organic growth and acquisition, and is today one of the UK’s largest independent fund managers. Quoted on the London Stock Exchange, Aberdeen Asset Management manages just over £71.6 billion (as at end of December 2005) in a range of retail and institutional funds for clients worldwide.

Aberdeen’s sponsorship portfolio incorporates a number of events, institutions and individuals, including golf’s Senior British Open Championship and the 1999 Open Champion, Paul Lawrie.