Blue Haze leads British Dragon success in Grand Prix d'Italia Dragon Cup 2026 at Yacht Club Sanremo
by Emma York 22 Apr 08:58 BST
15-18 April 2026
Grand Prix d'Italia Dragon Cup 2026 at Yacht Club Sanremo © Raffaella Ramondetti
Seven British Dragons travelled to Sanremo, Italy, for the first IDA Grade 1 event of 2026, making an immediate impact on the international circuit with an outstanding set of results.
Representing the British fleet were Blue Haze, Bluebottle, Outlaw, Jerboa, Meteor, Fever and Send In The Clowns at the Grand Prix Italian Open Championship. This event also marked an important moment for the class, as it was the first Grade 1 event to use the newly introduced Vakaros system.
San Remo delivered typically beautiful Mediterranean conditions, with light winds and calm seas producing close, tactical and often testing racing across the five-race series. The regatta also proved a strong showcase for the depth and versatility of the Dragon fleet, with several wooden and classic Dragons taking the fight to newer GRP boats.
British crews were on the pace from the outset. GBR375 Blue Haze set the tone with a victory in the opening race, while the fleet continued to feature prominently on the leaderboard as the championship progressed. After three races, GBR402 Meteor moved into the overall lead, with GBR819 Fever sitting second after both boats recorded top-ten finishes in each of the day's races. GBR192 Bluebottle also climbed the standings impressively with a superb day on the water, posting a third and a fifth.
Although there was disappointment on the final day when there was not enough wind to start race six, five races had already been completed and the British contingent had given a superb account of itself throughout the regatta.
At the close of racing, it was GBR375 Blue Haze that secured the overall championship win. Ivan Bradbury, Lars Hendriksen and George Leonchuk delivered an excellent and consistent series, finishing only one race outside the top ten to claim the title in style.
British success did not stop there. GBR402 Meteor, sailed by Pete Cooke, Torvar Mirsky and Frederico Melo, took an excellent second overall, underlining the strength of the British challenge at the very top of the fleet.
The closeness of the racing was reflected in the final standings, with second, third and fourth places separated by just one point. ITA4 Tergeste claimed third, while GBR192 Bluebottle, sailed by Graham Bailey, Julia Bailey, Will Bedford and Killian Boag, finished a highly creditable fourth overall after another strong international performance.
Further British results underlined the fleet's depth:
9th - GBR819 Fever
16th - GBR831 Jerboa
23rd - GBR832 Send In The Clowns, also 2nd Corinthian
46th - GBR830 Outlaw
With two British boats on the overall podium, three inside the top four, and another Corinthian podium result, San Remo was hugely encouraging for the British Dragon fleet. Against a high-quality international entry, British crews showed pace, consistency and strength in depth, sending a clear message that they will again be a major force on the Grade 1 circuit this year.
More information and full results can be found here.