Dragon East Coast Championship 2026 at Medway Yacht Club

Dragon East Coast Championship 2026 on the Medway © Catherine Gore

The 2026 East Coast Dragon Championship delivered two days of close and competitive racing on the River Medway, with the full six-race series run by Medway Yacht Club over the weekend of 12-13 September. Two visiting yachts from the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club at Burnham-on-Crouch joined the eight Medway boats and were launched on the Friday by our well organised yard team with our Wise Boat Hoist.

On day one, following a briefing the fleet set off down river from the club to the race area just east of the jetty for the old Kingsnorth Power Station in Long Reach. The wind was generally in the SW and in the range of 14 - 20 knots. Tide for day one would give a flood tide for most of the planned three races but with HW at 14.20 a review of tactics might be needed.

Dragon East Coast Championship 2026 on the Medway - photo © Jon Moon

The committee boat was positioned to the north of the main shipping channel. Racing started on time with the flood time pushing the boats towards the line, so gauging the best start was key. The pin end was favoured partly with the bias but also to maximise the tide effect in deeper water to the south. It was clear from the close quarter action that there would be little separating the leading contenders. Ian Gray in Still Crazy GBR827pulled ahead of the fleet up the first beat to get to the windward mark first. He held this lead to the end after 2 laps of the windward leeward course. Whistle GBR560, helmed by Quentin Strauss, finished second with Hands Off GBR760 third and OCD GBR375 fourth. It was good to see boats taking different options on the run, some south of the shipping channel but the majority to the north. The north seemed to pay.

A similar start for race two saw Still Crazy again among the early leaders. The close battle across the fleet continued throughout the three-lap race. Mark Wade in Avalanche GBR722 eventually took the lead, keeping it until the finish followed by Whistle and Still Crazy.

Dragon East Coast Championship 2026 on the Medway - photo © Catherine Gore

Race three was another where position on the start was key. Avalanche found clear air early up the first beat, stretching the gap to record a second win. Whistle in a last challenge to improve from fourth which started with a textbook rounding of the leeward mark to overlap the two ahead and finished second. Suti GBR747 taking third. Whistle, Still Crazy and Taniwha GBR823 suffered some gear failure - Whistle fixed a fractured mast fitting for the kicker with some dyneema whilst the others had to retire.

There were only eight boats racing for the fourth and last race of day one. Hands Off GBR 720 started in the middle of the line and governed what the rest of the fleet did, shifts playing some part in the control. Three boats, including Whistle, tacked off to find the shallow waters on the north side of the reach. There was no advantage with Whistle rounding the windward mark fourth. The run was and had been all day exceedingly difficult; any increased wind from behind the fleet causing the fleet to compress, along with trying to keep out of the tide. Some tried to find shallow water to the north but patience favoured the middle ground. Hands Off took her first win followed by Avalanche second and Whistle third.

Dragon East Coast Championship 2026 on the Medway - photo © Catherine Gore

After four races Avalanche and Whistle were on equal points and Hands Off in third, some five points adrift.

On arriving ashore there was complimentary refreshments and cake, all in the afternoon sun, providing a wonderful opportunity to hear about the days good and bad moments. The day was capped off with a supper evening in the club with great food and more stories.

Day two was going to be a super showdown between Whistle and Avalanche. Hands Off, Taniwha and Suti were also in close contention with each other. Two races remained and, with the wind now more from the west and down to 10 - 12 knots, it was all to play for. There was ebb tide to get to the race area in light winds but as yesterday the flood had started in time for race five.

The windward mark was almost a mile up wind and as yesterday the start was crucial. All ten boats were back and keen to make the best of the lighter conditions. Tactics the same - best start, take the shifts, cover the opposition, do the spinnaker drop at the last moment. The fleet split either side of the beat to get as much clear air. Avalanche established the lead position up the first beat (pointing higher and footing) and led at the right time to keep Whistle behind and add a third race victory. Whistle finished close behind, Taniwha taking third.

The championship was still not decided. A bad result from Avalanche and a win for Whistle would have turned the tables. Avalanche was expecting to be sailed to the back of the fleet. The start was as frantic as previous races and with the tide three boats were called over. The technical kit allowed Whistle at the pin to judge timing to millimetres. Whistle opted to hunt the deep water to the south, keeping cover on Avalanche and the rest of the fleet. The boats that restarted benefited from a shift right in the breeze allowing OCD Suti and Repeat Offender to come back to the fleet. Whistle with clear air extended the lead with Taniwha behind and Avalanche not far away. Whistle scored her first win of the regatta. Taniwha kept Avalanche behind them for second and Avalanche third. Suti with her come back scored fourth.

The winning team Avalanche during the prize giving of the Dragon East Coast Championship 2026 on the Medway - photo © Sarah Strauss

After six races and one discard taken, Avalanche secured the 2026 East Coast Dragon Championship with eight points. Whistle was second with only one point the difference. Hands Off third on 21 points, Taniwha and Suti shared equal scores with 22 points. On countback finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

The championship was also the final event of three for the East Coast Windward Leeward Series, sailed at Aldeburgh and Burnham for the first two events. Whistle, with Quentin Strauss, securing the overall series victory.

Medway Yacht Club provided a weekend to remember, both on and off the water. Two days of top class racing with testing courses and conditions. Following the final race, the club yard team, led by Toby, quickly brought the visitors boats ashore and onto their trailers in time for the afternoon prize-giving.

Overall Results: