THE INTERNATIONAL DRAGON CLASS
The International Dragon Boat - or simply “The Dragon” – was designed by Johan Anker in 1929 as an entry for a competition run by the Royal Yacht Club of Gothenburg to find a small keelboat for simple weekend cruising among the islands and fjords of the Scandinavian seaboard. The original design had two berths and was ideally suited for cruising in his home waters of Norway. The boat quickly attracted owners, and within ten years, it had spread all over Europe.
The Dragon's long keel and elegant metre-boat lines remain unchanged, but today, Dragons are constructed using the latest technology to make the boat durable and easy to maintain. GRP (glass-reinforced polymer) is the most popular material, but new and old wooden ships regularly win major competitions while looking as beautiful as any craft afloat. Exotic materials are banned throughout the boat, and strict rules are applied to all construction areas to ensure a level playing field.
The key to the Dragon's enduring appeal lies in the careful development of its rig. Its well-balanced sail plan makes boat handling easy for lightweights, while a controlled development process has produced one of the most flexible and controllable rigs of any racing boat. Around 1,400 Dragons are registered worldwide in 28 countries, and the extremely busy regatta schedule is a testament to the boat's enduring popularity.
The Class regularly attracts 70-80 boats at the World Championship, held every odd year. The European Championships are held every even year.
The Gold Cup, which can only be held in certain specified European countries, is unique in that all six races count without discard. It is held annually and has attracted over 100 entries, usually starting in one fleet.
Resources for further reading:
the Dragon Class AT THE ROYAL HONG KONG YACHT CLUB (RHKYC)
Mostly taken from “Eastern Waters Eastern Winds, a history of the RHKYC”
Published in November 1993 by the RHKYC.
Opening Regatta 1932
Just two years after being designed by John Anker for the Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club, the Dragon class was announced in Hong Kong. At the Yacht Club's Annual General Meeting on 4 November 1931, members were informed that a very reasonable fee would be charged for the building of each boat and that "full particulars could be obtained from Mr H.S. Rouse, and a circular would be sent to members during the coming week."
The Opening Regatta for the 1932/33 season occurred under perfect weather, featuring bright sunshine and a freshening wind. Almost the entire fleet of the Yacht Club, comprising nearly 60 boats, was out in full sail, creating a spectacular sight, as noted by the South China Morning Post. Attention was drawn to the new Anker Class yachts, built by the Hongkong & Whampoa Dock Company at Kowloon Docks, which were making their debut. Eight of these yachts raced swiftly along the water's edge, completing a five-mile course. Joss, helmed by Mr. Karsten Larssen, finished first, with Sohel, captained by Commander W.G. Cowland, coming in close behind. By season's end, 11 'A' boats were active in Hong Kong, while two had been sent to other locations - one to a Tsingtao owner and the other to the Governor of British North Borneo.
Revival of Racing after WWII
By 1939, the racing fleet consisted of 18 'A' Class boats, making up half of the club's fleet, but none survived the Second World War. After the war, sailing boats became scarce, and racing initially ceased. However, the return of the Dragon Class, a key part of the pre-war fleet, generated excitement at the Club. While their hulls closely resembled the pre-war Anker or 'A' Class, the new Dragons featured a modern rig and sail plan, capable of carrying genoas. These boats were built by the Hongkong Whampoa Dock Company, overseen by Captain Krogh-Moe of Thorensens, an experienced pre-war 'A' Class owner. The Dock Company offered favourable terms, allowing for the construction of six Dragons at £5,000 each, with a seventh yacht donated to the Club. The new Dragon owners formed an enthusiastic association to discuss Class-related issues and communicate their views to the Sailing Committee. By the start of the 1948/49 season, ten Dragons were ready for an active racing programme, which included seven races for the Commodore's Cup, five for the Corinthian Cup, seven for the Championship Cup, and various sweepstake races in between. When not racing, Dragon owners became keen cruising yachtsmen, sailing their boats through the beautiful waters of the colony. They often cruised together as a Class, enjoying lively evenings moored side by side in Port Shelter and Tolo Harbour, including trips to Macau.
Chang Dragons and the World Championship 1987
In early 1987, Lowell Chang and Nick Burns from the Dragon fleet took part in the World Championships in Geelong, near Melbourne, Australia. While they finished mid-fleet, excitement surged when one of two fibreglass Chang Dragons—built by Lowell in Hong Kong and specially transported to Australia for this event—claimed the World title, helmed by Valdemar Bandolowski of Denmark, a two-time Olympic Soling Gold Medallist. The first fibreglass Dragon in Hong Kong, D18, was launched in early 1986 at the Yacht Club. Designed for Lowell's wife, Phyllis, this vessel marked a significant innovation, moving the original wooden Anker design into a modern era. During the World Series, Borge Borrensen, known as the "guru" of the Dragon Class, conducted a detailed examination of the two Chang boats using an ultrasonic meter and measuring tape. "Despite his thorough investigation, Borrensen found no rule violations in the Chang Dragon," Lowell Chang remarked later. "Though I was disappointed with my own performance, I was incredibly proud that we in Hong Kong managed to create a precisely spec’d Class boat that won the World Championship on its first attempt.”