Dragon Prince Philip Cup at Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club - Day 3
by John Roberson 8 Jan 13:33 UTC
4-10 January 2025
Dragon Prince Philip Cup Day 3 © John Roberson
Classic good looks, no I'm not talking about Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot or Princess Grace, I mean the Dragon class. The pointy bow and long overhangs, reminiscent of the metre classes era, the smoothly sculped sheer line, the overlapping genoa and triangular mainsail, the Dragon is the sort of shape that non-sailors would draw if asked to sketch a sailing boat.
This class is one of the survivors, a boat that will never go out of style and is kept going by a dedicated band of faithful devotees. Classes of boat with the longevity of the Dragon are rare, like the Star class, both have survived being dropped from Olympic competition and thrived. Look at other former Olympic classes, who has built a new Flying Dutchman, Soling or Tempest since they were dropped from the Games.
The current Prince Philip Cup Regatta, the Australian National Championships, being hosted by the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club on Perth's Swan River, gives a few hints as to why this class keeps rocking on. There is diversity in the age of participants, age of boats, gender, sailing experience, there is incredibly close racing and a wonderful bonhomie ashore.
The oldest boat in the fleet 24 strong fleet, and the only all wooden one, is the 60 year old Aeolus, being sailed by an all female crew which includes the youngest competitor. Skippered by Jennie Fitzhardinge a devoted Dragon sailor and wooden boat enthusiast, the team includes Celina Trinh a 13 year old Optimist sailor.
Celina commented on her experience, "I enjoy a challenge and have been loving the opportunity to sail the beautiful Aeolus, while learning new skills from the experienced helm Jennie and crew Alex & Steff. I hope I can keep sailing these interesting and fun boats."
Jennie is one of three female skippers and leads one of two all female crews, while there are plenty of other women throughout the fleet. Grant Alderson is skippering French Connection with the owner, Emma Shand, on mainsheet.
At the other end of the scale is 83 year old Charles Stanton, the oldest competitor sailing on Tarakona with Hugh Howard as skipper, and by a strange quirk of coincidence happens to be the newest boat in the fleet, at just 12 years old. There are also two 79 year old skippers, Rob Campbell, whose Penny Farthing is currently in 9th place overall, and Rod Williams sailing Georgia.
Meanwhile Stephen Locke is following in the family footsteps, relating his Dragon sailing experience he said, "my Dragon sailing journey started at the age of six months in 1988 with a gentle sail across to Applecross in my father's newly purchase Solvieg AUS173. Many years later in my early 20's I again joined my father Andrew Locke and Mark Cubitt onboard Solvieg, competing in numerous state championships and the occasional Prince Philip Cup."
After several year of ocean racing Stephen came back to Dragons because of, "the love for the close racing and the technical aspect of the Dragon." With crew Christian Gallagher and John Suriano the newly refurbished Taranui is currently in 8th place in this regatta.
rfbyc.asn.au/dragon-australian-championship-2025