2027 Hong Kong Dragon World Championship – Only 6 Months to Go!
Hong Kong, 21 May 2026
We have reached the six-month countdown to the first-ever Asia Pacific Dragon World Championship, a perfect time to celebrate how far we have come and what lies ahead!
What a journey it’s been already!
Hong Kong is one of the class’s great originals. Our fleet was founded in 1932, making it the third-oldest fleet worldwide, the oldest in the Asia-Pacific, and the oldest one-design fleet at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. For decades, the Worlds rotated across Northern Europe, the Americas, Southern Europe and Australasia. Since 1991 (Canada), the pattern has mostly been three Europe-based events followed by an Australian World Championship.
We first proposed hosting about ten years ago. Then COVID hit. Entries fell, budgets tightened, and long-haul travel became a major concern. The 2023 Americas slot went to Turkey, but Hong Kong stayed the course. At the 2023 AGM in London, we argued strongly for supporting outlying fleets and for maintaining the IDA’s truly global status. We were delighted to be awarded the championship. With the logistics package approved at the Starnberg AGM in October 2024, our mission became clear: deliver a world championship outside Europe and demonstrate that the Dragon is thriving worldwide.
In autumn 2025, we opened Expressions of Interest, and the response was immediate. Numbers climbed rapidly, peaking at 99 when the official entry list opened. We now have 88 confirmed boats from 21 nations, making this the largest Dragon World Championship in history. Along the way, we have expanded hotel allocations, increased trailer and pontoon capacity, and strengthened the social programme.
The ripple effect is already clear. Asia-Pacific fleets have been re-energised, a new China Dragon Association has been formed, and conversations with other nations are underway. A new builder in China has begun production, and those boats will be on the start line in November. This is a powerful reminder of why a global class matters.
Looking ahead, the outlook is very positive. With the China fleet developing and more Asia-Pacific countries viewing the Dragon as the ideal step up from dinghy racing, the class is gaining real momentum. In Hong Kong, we continue to invest in team racing to reduce shipping costs by competing in host-country boats. Our nearest fleet is currently in Japan, around 2,000 km away, so innovation like this is essential.
As the final World Championship before our 100th Anniversary, we are honoured to welcome the fleet to Asia’s Pearl of the Orient, racing in the Eastern Waters we proudly call the home of the Dragon in Asia.
This event has been made possible through the support of our Asia-Pacific friends in Australia, Canada and Japan. We are sincerely grateful for the help, advice and enduring friendship that have brought us to this moment.
QUICK LINKS:
FOR SHIPPING REGISTRATION - Deadline is June 30 2026. Proceed promptly if sending your boat from overseas.
FOR TEAM REGISTRATION- The window is closing soon, as we are approaching the maximum capacity of 100 boats.
IF YOU INTEND TO BOOK A CHARTER BOAT - Please message the coordinator for boat availability.
The 2027 Hong Kong Dragon World Championship Podcast
Put together by Hong Kong Corinthian Dragon sailor Kevin Denney, this podcast is a high-energy series for Dragon sailors and enthusiasts in the run-up to the 2027 Hong Kong Dragon World Championship. Each episode brings you on board with top sailors, owners, and experts as they open up about what really drives performance: smart preparation, sharp tuning, winning starts, big-fleet strategy, and a resilient racing mindset. Expect clear, practical conversations, hard-won lessons, and ideas you can take straight back to your own Dragon so you can go out, push harder, and enjoy racing more than ever.
About the Podcast
This podcast is a focused series for Dragon sailors and enthusiasts ahead of the 2027 Hong Kong Dragon World Championship. Each episode brings together top sailors, owners, and experts to share their thinking on performance: from preparation and tuning to starting tactics, fleet strategy, and racing mindset. The conversations are clear and practical, designed to help you sail your Dragon faster and enjoy racing more.
Featured Episode: Graham Bailey and Blue Bottle
Whatever you do, do not miss the episode with Graham Bailey. He lifts the lid on racing Prince Philip’s legendary Dragon Blue Bottle and shares the hard-won secrets behind his big-fleet success.
Four-time Edinburgh Cup winner and Dragon Worlds bronze medalist Graham Bailey joins Kevin to talk about Blue Bottle, Prince Philip’s 1948 wooden Dragon, which was restored and raced back to a Cowes Week 2021 win after 60 years away from competition. Graham explains what carries over from modern GRP Dragons to a vintage wooden hull, why he limits rig loads, and how he tunes Blue Bottle by feel, from rake and shroud tension to mast step position and sheeting geometry.
He also sets out his three pre-start priorities, explains how GPS-based RaceSense starts have changed his approach, and outlines the four-person crew roles that underpin his simple rule: start well, avoid early tacks, and go fast. It is full of insight for anyone aiming for big-fleet racing and looking ahead to the 2027 Hong Kong Dragon World Championship.
Links to your favourite podcast app: