Dragons return to Cowes

Aberdeen Asset Management South Coast Championship to take place this weekend

The 2009 Dragon South Coast Championship, supported by Aberdeen Asset Management, returns to Cowes, Isle of Wight, this weekend where Dragons have raced competitively for over 60 years. Hosted by the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club the championship will be run over three days from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July.

The event has been timed to coincide with the Household Division Yacht Club Regatta, which is run from the Royal Yacht Squadron and racing has been scheduled to allow teams to compete in both events. Two South Coast Championship races are planned for the afternoon of Friday 24 July allowing time for travellers to reach the island. One race is planned for the morning of Saturday 25 July, after which the teams can then take part in the Household Division Yacht Club Regatta where Dragons race alongside 8 Metres, 6 Metres, Darings, Etchells, Swallows, Sunbeams, Flying Fifteens and XODs. Finally up to three further South Coast Championship races are planned for Sunday the 26 July, with a mid afternoon finish and prize giving to enable visitors to travel home.

The local Solent Dragons will be joined by several teams from other fleets including International Dragon Association Technical Committee Chairman Mike Hayles sailing Neried from Aldeburgh, Len Jones sailing Rumours from the Medway, Chris Hunt sailing Flawless from Falmouth and Richard Davies sailing his recently launched Flotation.

Among the local favourites hoping to ensure that the visitors don't get their hands on the trophy is the ever-wiley Eric Williams - fresh from victory aboard his son's Folkboat in the Round The Island Race - whose knowledge of the Solent is second to none. Solent fleet rivals Supremacy, helmed by Solent Class Chairman Richard Cullen, and Njord, owned by British Dragon Association Chairman Owen Pay and his wife Josy Roberts Pay, are expected to continue their ongoing battle. Julia Bailey will also be putting in an appearance, and will no doubt be hoping to be the first woman to claim the South Coast title, and Col Tony Singer will be racing his beautifully varnished Cavalier adding an extra touch of glamour to proceedings.

With racing taking place in the central Solent under the experienced command of Principle Race Office Robert Lamb and his team the fleet is looking forward to some highly competitive racing and to enjoying the excellent sailing and social facilities that Cowes has to offer. The Dragon South Coast Championship Dinner will take place at the Royal Corinthian's beautiful harbour side clubhouse on Saturday evening with the final prize-giving taking place at the club on Sunday afternoon.

The British Dragon Association would like to thank sponsor Aberdeen Asset Management for its most generous support of this event. Aberdeen Asset Management PLC is an international investment management group, managing assets for both institutions and private individuals from offices around the world.