The second Antiguan National Dragon Championships took place in Nonsuch Bay, on the East coast. If you are not familiar with sailing in the Caribbean in Winter, you may have trouble to believe this ( specially considering the weather in Europe right now).
Eight Dragon races were sailed over two days, in absolutely perfect conditions; steady winds between 4-6 Beaufort. Some very close racing took place between all available Dragons; nine. (There are three more Dragons on the Island, but their owners were racing in Monaco this weekend.) With a water temperature of 26 and air temperature around 30 degrees, shorts and T-shirts were all that was required. Quite a lot of training races were sailed some weekends before the event; the local sailors have really started to take Dragon sailing seriously. Although first place was never really in contention, (Poul-Richard Hoj-Jensen with an all female crew of Aleida and Francesca), after day one, the next three boats had equal points and each place was"hotly" contested. In the event, this was the score :
1. Poul, Aleida, Francesca
2. Carlo Falcone, Louis and Tommy.
3. With equal points: Sven Harder, Carlos and Jackson.
4. Karl James, Raphael and Patrick.
5. Anton Western, Michael and Kade.
6. Michael Reardon, Lucky and Valentin (akka Papa)
7, Geoffrey Pidduck, Merilita and Gavin,
8. John Bernie, Oliver and Jim.
9. Sandi Maier, Johannes and Keith.
Next weekend the Dragons will take part in the Valentines Regatta in Jolly Harbour. For more photos see
IDA Photogallery
Sophia Hoj-Jensen
Compass Point,
Browne's Bay.


