Bluebottle Wins Dragon Class at Historic 200th Cowes Week
by Emma York 11 Aug 09:54 BST
1-7 August 2026
Dragon fleet at North Sails Cowes Week © North Sails Cowes Week
GBR192 Bluebottle has won the Dragon class at the 200th anniversary edition of North Sails Cowes Week, completing an impressive seven-race series that saw 25 Dragons compete on the Solent.
The regatta carried particular significance for the class. As Cowes Week celebrated its bicentenary, 2026 also marks the 70th anniversary of the British Dragon Association and 90 years since Dragons first raced at Cowes Week.
With one of the strongest Dragon fleets seen at the event for many years, and the third largest White Group class, the week delivered close racing, four different race winners and a typically testing mix of Solent conditions.
Owen Pay's GBR777 Furious opened the series with victory in race one, ahead of GBR682 Ecstatic and GBR831 Jerboa, before Bluebottle moved to the front of the fleet with consecutive wins in races two and three.
Martin Payne's GBR818 True Story then mounted a strong challenge, taking back-to-back victories in races four and five. Bluebottle responded in race six with her third win of the series, a result that secured the overall title with one race remaining.
With the championship already decided, Bluebottle elected not to sail the final race and used the result as her discard. Ivan Bradbury's GBR375 Blue Haze finished the regatta in style, taking a convincing victory in race seven.
After seven races and one discard, Graham Bailey, Julia Bailey, Will Bedford and Killian Boag Team Bluebottle win the Dragon class for the second year running.
True Story finished second overall on 23 points, with Blue Haze completing the podium just one point behind on 24 points.
GBR753 Fit Chick and Jerboa both finished on 26 points, with Fit Chick taking fourth on countback and leading Corinthian. GBR763 Bertie completed the top six and was second Corinthian with Furious in third.
The week provided a wide variety of racing, including starts from the iconic Royal Yacht Squadron line and committee boat starts further out in the Solent. Strong tides, changing breeze and tactical decisions around areas including the Bramble Bank ensured there was rarely an easy race.
British Dragon Association Chairman Chris Grosscurth said: "What an absolutely spectacular week of racing on the Solent for the Dragon class! It was truly fantastic to see our largest fleet in many years out on the water, bringing an incredible level of competition and energy to the start line."
"It has been equally wonderful to welcome so many new faces to the class, along with international visitors, and see them thoroughly enjoying themselves both on and off the water. A huge highlight of the week was our class social, and I want to extend my sincere thanks to the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust for hosting such an excellent class party at Commodores House. Celebrating our historic class in a venue steeped in royal and maritime heritage made for an unforgettable evening, capping off a phenomenal regatta for everyone involved."
For the British Dragon Association, the turnout provided a fitting contribution to an historic Cowes Week and an important year for the class.
The BDA's 70th anniversary celebrations continue later this month when Dragons return to Cowes for the Edinburgh Cup and International Dragon Association UK Grand Prix, bringing together a strong international fleet for another major week of racing on the Solent.