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Dragon:
Sleek, elegant, high-performing keelboats. Olympic champions,
choice of Royalty and popular in 26 countries around the world. The
International Dragon has an illustrious past, says Vanessa Bird "Once
you've sailed a Dragon, you won't want to sail anything else,"
says Richard Rycroft, who looks after the classic section of the British
Dragon Association. He may be biased, given his position and the fact
that he's sailed one for over 12 years, but many people would be hard-pressed
to disagree. Uffa Fox realised their potential, writing in 1937 that
"The Dragons have the qualities sought for in one-design classes.
They will continue and prosper."
It's difficult not to be mesmerised by the Dragon's sleek, graceful
lines, their generous overhangs and their powerful rig. The Dragon
is a pure racing thoroughbred: the sailing man's Bugatti, and it is
their good looks coupled with their supreme performance which has
sustained their popularity for over seventy years.
They were an Olympic class from 1948 to 1972 and, unlike many Olympic
classes which once withdrawn from the Games have slipped into relative
obscurity, the Dragon has grown in popularity. There are now 1,619
boats registered with the National Dragon Association — and this
applies only to the ones which race, there are countless other cruising
Dragons around the world not registered — sailing in 26 countries.
The Dragon was originally designed as a cruiser. The Göteborg
Yacht Club in Sweden, held a design competition in 1929 to find a
boat that young people could afford for weekend cruising on the Scandinavian
lakes and fjords. The competition was won by Johan Anker, a champion
12-Metre helmsman, designer and partner in the Anker & Jensen
yard in Norway, who drew a small, bermudan sloop-rigged keelboat which
had long overhangs, a short coachroof and small accommodation for
two. The class quickly became established in Norway and across Scandinavia,
and in 1935 the first Dragon, Anita, was brought to the Clyde. Interest
was sparked, which coincided with the Clyde Yacht Club seeking a new
small boat to competitively race. The McGruers yard built six, and
four years later 120 Dragon certificates had been issued. Interestingly,
Anker insisted that, in recognition of the British war effort towards
Norway, no British Dragon builder would have to pay a designer's royalty.
In 1946 the class was adopted by the RYA. Three years later it was
renamed the International Dragon.
In 1948 Bluebottle, a Dragon built by Camper & Nicholsons and
paid for by members of the Island Sailing Club, was presented to the
Duke of Edinburgh as a wedding present. Although the Duke was not
able to sail her much, Bluebottle was campaigned successfully by a
series of sailing masters, most notably in 1956 when she took the
bronze at the Melbourne Olympics.
Construction of the Dragon's hull comes under close scrutiny. Although
the class is not officially a one-design, all scantlings must be strictly
adhered to, to prevent quality being compromised in favour of speed.
Wooden Dragons are extremely well built — carvel-planked, either
caulked or close-seamed, from pine, larch or mahogany, or cold moulded.
The only real change to the design reduced the small coachroof to
a cuddy. In 1972 Borge Borresen developed the glassfibre specifications
for the hulls and production started. Composite boats (GRP hull, wooden
deck) are allowed, but have to be approved first.
Now, mixed fleets of wooden and glassfibre Dragons race all over the
world and the class has gone from strength to strength. Racing is
often extremely close, as the boats are so well matched. Infinitely
adjustable controls, plus the latest technology to control mast bend
and sail shape in all winds, mean that the Dragon can be sailed by
three people of all abilities.
Fiery facts
World Dragons?
In Germany there are 410 Dragons; 183 in Sweden and 157 in the UK.
A bigger Dragon?
Anker built himself a larger Dragon — Stor Draeken. She was 35ft
3in.
A real scorcher?
Beware converting a basic Dragon to racing rig — it will cost
a small fortune.
Fast and fiery?
Synthetic sail cloth was allowed into the class in 1957; alloy spars
in 1971.
Rampaging rot?
Raced hard, genoas need replacing at least once a season.
Weak spots are cracked ribs at the turn of bilge and rot in the bottoms
of the frames that butt onto the floors. Garboard seams may need recaulking
between stem and front of keel — Dragons can slam in a seaway.
Fiercesome price?
A McGruers' Dragon in 1936 cost £220.
New cold moulded Dragons cost £60k; GRP £35k. Classic
boats: £3,000-£4,500. Top-notch wooden racers: £7,500-10k.
Early GRP: £10-75,000
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| Dragon |
29ft (8.8m) |
18ft 6in(5.7m) |
6ft 4in (2m) |
3ft 11in (1.0m) |
290sqft (27m2) |
Johan Anker |
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