Dragon (keelboat)

Dragon is the name of a class of boat, which was constructed in 1929 by the Norwegian Johan Anker as an inexpensive unit keelboat with a simple open cabin. The dragon is recognized by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF ) and International keelboat class and was sailed in the years 1948-1972 as Olympic class. When racing the kite sailed as a three-man boat.

He was replaced as Olympic keelboat class after 1972 from the Soling, but this has the spread of the Dragon not done any harm.

History

End of the 1920s, sailing developed into a popular sport. Due to the economic situation marked by poverty is a need for cheap boats originated. Therefore, the Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club (GKSS ) wrote in 1928 " to-build in a series, low-cost unit boat for Youth," a design competition for from. It was called " a relatively fast, reasonably large, sea-going and elegant keel boat ". Of the four applications submitted the draft of the Norwegian Johan Anker was selected because the boat was very elegant, fast, safe, and above all cheap to make ( under 1,600 Skr. Mahogany ). The class was in the same year by GKSS (Sweden), kdy (Denmark) and KNY (Norway ) approved. The name dragon is said to come from a literal translation of the Norwegian name " anchor" into Swedish ( " dragging" ). The ISF corrected the supposed typo and called the boat class from now on "Dragon" ( Dragon ). Between 1930 and 1939 the shipyard anchor Jensen A / S built about 40 dragons. In February 1940, the shipyard was liquidated. Johan Anker, the " Artist of the lines " died in October 1940. Two of his co-workers introduced the shipyard until 1949 on.

1946 receives the dragon after approval by Iryu (now ISAF) the status of an Olympic class boat. At the Olympic Games in Munich, Germany / Kiel (1972 ) was last sailed the Dragon class. After many Dragon sailors sold their boats and the early death of this class was prophesied. The loss of the Olympic status could the popularity of the dragon but only briefly break. As early as 1973 pass the Danish boat builder Børge Børresen the first CSF - dragon from the stack. Every single piece of wood dragon was measured and weighed, then the transfer of the weight distribution of the original wooden boat on a GRP construction was completed in a complex computing process.

Succeeded restored wooden yachts, like the built in Abeking & Rasmussen 1956 GER 150 " ONYX ", are still victorious at regattas.

Early 2004 are registered with the International Dragon Association over 1500 kites from 26 countries. It assumes, however, that the actual number of existing dragon around is double. In Germany, there are 1090 registered boats the largest dragon fleet, followed by England (280 ), the Netherlands (128) Austria (99 ) and France (95). Average annual 50 dragons to be rebuilt.

Construction

Initially open, the long keel was closed cabin quickly became popular tour boat, equipped with double berth, wardrobe and Cooking including cutlery drawer. The rapid spread of this unit class, especially in Scandinavia, Germany and after 1935 the British Empire promoted an active racing life. The highly regulated building codes ( one-design ) were gradually adapted in the 1930s for racing purposes and the boat received a spinnaker and a genoa. End of the decade, the boat did not have much more than the hull with the first draft together. 1946 essential aspects of construction have been changed: the sail was raised, the modified rig and the mast shifted 40 cm forward. By 20 increased to 26.6 m² sail area the dragon is a boat with excellent sailing characteristics. The boats with the new rig will be as "A dragon " refers to ( older rig = B - dragons). The cabin was replaced with the original small weather protection.

Regatta and Races

The dragon is often referred to by sailors as "king class " because he was often olympic sailed from 1948 to 1972 members of European royalty from Scandinavia and Spain, where he is very popular today. At the 75th Anniversary Regatta Dragon - with the participation of members of the royal families of Spain, Denmark, Greece and Bavaria took part - met in October 2004 in Saint- Tropez 269 kites from 29 different nations.

247121
de