I am available to crew [foredeck or mainsheet position] in the La Rochelle Worlds in June 2015. An Australian who owns and races a modern Petticrows Dragon, I have almost 20 years experience in the Dragon Class, am fit and to my discredit speak English only so would prefer an English speaking Skippe...

You are correct of course, the Dragon has the most elegant lines of any sloop ever designed, But more than that, she sails as elegantly as she looks. To simply scale up the Dragon by 30% may indeed be possible, and it may well retain its elegance as well, but would it sail with the same elegance? Do...

Its bit cheeky actually, and quite possibly a long shot. Most boat owners are helmsmen and don't/won't want to crew in their own Dragon. But I am hopeful several come forward with the desire to enter a World Championship. Of course I will take maximum care of the boat, but none-the-less, it is a big...

I am Robert Alpe, President of the Australian IDA and Vice Chairman of the IDA from 'down under' seeking to enter an Australian boat the Worlds in Dun Laoghaire this August/September. Just one problem, no boat, and no interest in the large expense of shipping my Sydney based Dragon to Europe either....

For those who review this Forum, this is part of a series of papers on Dragon Class Layers and how to integrate them. While the proposer/writer is an IDA Officer, the contents are his notions/observations and are not necessarily those of the IDA or fellow IDA Officers. Beat [or at least compete agai...

Thanks for your considered comments, and yes, there was a lot to digest, so apologies are offered, but I did edit it down by about 50% from the first draft. In Palma de Mallorca for the Princess Sofia, I met up with the Porta Rico lads from the Dragon MC 2, PUR3, namely Miguel A. Casellas-Lopez, Mig...

For those who review this Forum, this is number nine in a series of papers. While the proposer/writer is an IDA Officer, the contents are his notions/observations and are not necessarily those of the IDA or fellow IDA Officers. If you wish to join into this discussion. please read and comment on Par...

For those who review this Forum, this is number eight in a series of papers. While the proposer/writer is an IDA Officer, the contents are his notions/observations and are not necessarily those of the IDA or fellow IDA Officers. If you wish to join into this discussion, please read and comment on Pa...

I have learned that the Irish fleet pays the British Dragon Association a sub to be affiliated and their boats etc. are listed in the White Book as Irish. This would suggest a precedent exists for the registered boats/fleet of any NAIDA should be entered into IDA Regatta events under the quota of th...

For those who review this Forum, this is the seventh in a series of papers. While the proposer/writer is an IDA Officer, the contents are his notions/observations and are not necessarily those of the IDA or fellow IDA Officers. If you wish to join into this discussion. please read and comment on Par...

Yesterday I wished the Forum a Happy 100th Birthday. Today I note the Number of registered participants is 114. At this rate the 200th Birthday should occur sometime next week!! :D

From little acorns doth big trees grow! I just noticed the IDA Dragon Forum now has 100 Registered participants. :twisted: Congratulations and happy 100th birthday! However wonderful it is to have 100 people register for these pages, it is only about 10% of those who could have an opinion, so I per...

Hello Mickey, Your motive of inclusivity is well understood by me and others, and is fully respected also. Your objective of class rebuliding is to be supported and applauded. If the concept of a combined association for the Americas is positively considered by a majority of North American Dragon bo...

While there is very good argument to be made to have one North American Dragon Association, your members should understand that as the class grows [it surely will], the number of entries possible to Dragon Worlds is linked to the number of registered Dragons by a country/National Association per the...

Hello Mickey, It's 7 PM Christmas evening in Sydney, and I have just toated you and other Dragoneers with a very pleasant whiskey! May your sails be filled with fair winds, your bilges be awash with [this] whiskey, and your heart filled with a continuing passion for the Dragon ... in the year ahead....

It is customary and proper to have a Dragon remeasured after a MAJOR rebuild [like replacing a wooden deck for example.] It is also advisable to do this, because if a Dragon were protested at a major regatta and found not to measure, the expense and embarrassment of the situation would surely be int...

Mickey, Could not agree more! There is a pressing need to ‘cater’ for the Classic Dragon at Regattas. A New Classic Dragon Committee concept is being discussed by IDA Officers. If implimented, part of it's charter would be to propose and introduce specific racing programs. As for the definition ...

Welcome to the new Intdragon Forum. Let us use it much more for discussions about the future of the class! The below should be considered a contribution to this discussion. Background The dragon class and the international dragon regattas have been in a very positive development during the time I ha...

Discussion Paper - Part 6 - Class Layers - Time for Change? For those who review this Forum, this is the fifth in a series of papers. While the proposer/writer is an IDA Officer, the contents are his notions/observations and are not necessarily those of the IDA or fellow IDA Officers. If you wish to...

Dear Axel, Thank you for your POST on the Class Layers discussion papers. And thank Fred and Mickey also for their quality comments. Quite honestly, you typify the person I had in mind when I was thinking about ASPIRATIONAL Dragon sailors. It is interesting that almost all of us can easily identify ...

Wise Counsel given to me ‘off Forum’ has suggested the Class Layers as I have proposed them, require modification. I would be interested in other views on this. 1: All-professional crews paid for by an organisation. These are still rare, so far as the Wise Counsel knows, and is not sure that the...

And thank you for your continued support to broaden the discussion. There are many emerging Dragon markets throughout the world, some with old fleets like North America, and some with no fleets, like South America. Your distinctly North American perspective to growth, and your contributions to the S...

It is not as complex as one might expect! :D Your experiences and views, albeit from a Dragon market with its growth potental yet to be realised, are of critical importance. How you see the class layers from the outside looking in, or the inside looking in, will greatly assist the discussion. So ple...

Discussion Paper - Part Five - Class Layers - SWOT Analysis! For those who review this Forum, this is the fifth in a series of papers. While the proposer/writer is an IDA Officer, the contents are his notions/observations and are not necessarily those of the IDA or fellow IDA Officers. If you wish t...

Mickey, I have been waiting patiently for additional comments from Dragon Sailors. It is soooo anoying when the comments only come from the active few who regularly visit and contribute to this discussion. That is not a negative reflection on contributions received to date, to the contrary they have...