Combined 2022 National and South West Dragon Championships to be held in Falmouth Bay
by RCYC 28 Oct 2021 10:38 BST
2-9 July 2022
Racing on the final day of the Dragon Edinburgh Cup © Lee Whitehead /
www.photolounge.co.uk
The 2022 British Open National Championships for Dragon Class boats will take place in Cornwall.
A new partnership between the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club and Falmouth Harbour Commissioners will see the fleet berthed in the town centre, with the race area on waters overlooked by spectacular Cornish scenery. Crews will compete for the Edinburgh Cup and the South West Championship in Falmouth Bay and Carrick Roads. It will be the fourth time the event has been staged by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club - the event was last in Falmouth in 2009.
There is a full week of competitive racing on the event schedule, which runs from Saturday July 2 - July 9. Teams will arrive in Falmouth for registration and craning in, followed by an opening ceremony at the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club. The South West Championships will take place in the first 48 hours, with the British Open National Championships held over the next four days. There'll be daily prize-giving, with the Edinburgh Cup presented to the winning skipper on Friday July 8. A gala event on the last day will close the competition.
Onshore, the Dragons will be craned in, and berthed in Falmouth Haven in the middle of the town. Offshore, sailors can expect to race over windward/leeward courses in the race areas. The action will be overlooked by the ramparts and guns of the historic 16th Century Pendennis Castle.
The Race Director is Robin Taylor, a veteran of previous Edinburgh/Gold Cups with extensive local and international competition experience. He said the partnership between the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club and Falmouth Harbour means the Dragon competitors will have a uniquely enjoyable week, both on and off the water. Sailing experts from all over the local area are involved, including Flushing Sailing Club and Mylor Sailing Club. Robin said: "It's an incredible honour to welcome the Edinburgh Cup back to Cornwall. There's an extensive, experienced team involved in staging and organising this event. It means crews can arrive in Falmouth knowing all they need to think about is tuning, tactics and teamwork to make their Dragons as competitive as possible."
The event is taking place outside the school holidays, meaning sailors and their supporters can enjoy Falmouth and its facilities ahead of the busiest time in the summer season. Full NOR and SIs will be made available from . Further details on www.royalcornwallyachtclub.org and www.britishdragons.org.