85-Year old Dragon to celebrate 70th Dragon Gold Cup in Medemblik

Dragon fleet in action © Sander van der Borch

This season the post Olympic Dragon celebrates her 85-year anniversary with the 70th edition of the Dragon Gold Cup. This festive event takes place from September 7 to 12 2014 in Medemblik, Netherlands. Prior to this historic showdown, the participants may warm up from September 3 to 5 during the Tune-Up. Registration is now open.

'In 1937, the Dragon Gold Cup was introduced to unite as much participants as possible from different nationalities to race in a friendly atmosphere,' says Huib Bannier, Chairman of the Dutch Dragon Class. The Cup grew into one of the most important Championships for the Dragon. The Netherlands organized the Dragon Gold Cup already eight times earlier. The Royal Netherlands Sailing and Rowing Association Muiden (K.N.Z. & R.V. Muiden), the Royal Netherlands Sailing and Rowing Association Hollandia (K.N.Z. & R.V. Hollandia) and the Dutch Dragon Class again have the honor in this double anniversary year. 'We are very happy with that and we will do our utmost to make it a memorable event,' says Bannier.

Top location and organization

The location certainly contributes to this. For the occasion Hollandia moves to the Regatta Center Medemblik to organize the Tune-Up from there. After that event the as expected hundred Dragons from twenty countries move to the Eastern Harbour in the heart of Medemblik. For a week that will be the headquarters for the celebrating Dragon Gold Cup, organized by Muiden. In 2013 the coveted Cup went to the Ukraine, thanks to the victory of Markus Wieser, Sergiy Pugacher and Gergii Leonchuk.

From the Vischafslag, the clubhouse of Hollandia and the regatta office for the Dragon Gold Cup, until the port mouth there will only be this elegant keel boats. The quay and a pontoon in the harbour offer space for live music and a lounge corner. 'This whole two weeks the friendly atmosphere will dominate. In addition to this sportive competition at the highest level there also is a social programme that is of great importance', reacts Bannier.

For the Tune-Up there is a total of six races scheduled, two per day. During the Dragon Gold Cup the contestants according to tradition sail one long race daily, six in total. The official opening is on Sunday September 7 and on Tuesday evening there will be a party. Bannier: 'The location still is a surprise, but we're really going to unpack. No stiff ceremony, but a party. The Dragon is after all 85 years old and the Dragon Gold Cup 70 years.'

100for100 rule

To promote the inflow of young sailors, this year the so-called 100for100 rule applies. This means that a crew with a total age of less than 100 years, will only be charged 100 euro registration fee. Normally this is 650 euro for those who are on time to register and 800 euro for late decision makers.

About the Dragon

In 1929 the Norwegian Johan Anker designed the one design Dragon for three people. This now 85-year-old lady is charming, competitive and challenging to sail. Soon afterwards the Dragon sailed in many European countries. In 1948 the class got the Olympic status, which she held until the 1972 Games. In her post Olympic years the expansion continued. Also thanks to the introduction of sustainable materials. Especially in the last twenty years more and more professional sailors stepped into the Dragon, which even further increased the level of competition.

For more information and/or registration, go to the new website www.dragongoldcup2014.com

The Tune-Up and the Dragon Gold Cup are supported by partners Gaastra and the City of Medemblik.