Len Jones, my long time Antigua Hobie partner, is a Dragon fiend. His boat 'Rumours' is based with the Medway fleet but travels to a number of the international events. Rumours is a pretty consistent Cowes winner in the Dragon class. But competition  in the Open is hotter still. Poul Richard Hoj-Jensen is a hard man to beat. And the Russians are coming...

The 33 strong fleet at the 2010 Dragon Edinburgh Cup, supported by Aberdeen Asset Management and hosted by the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Cowes, put on a fabulous show in stunning conditions as they completed the first two of their six race series for the British Open Dragon Championship.

With hot sunshine, a good south westerly breeze of 10-17 knots and what Andrew "Noddy" Norden, bowman for reigning Dragon World Champion Poul Richard Hoj-Jensen, described as "without doubt the strongest Edinburgh Cup fleet I've ever seen", it was unquestionably some of the best racing the Solent has witnessed in a long time.

In the Corinthian Division for the all-amateur crews the Solent's Eric Williams, sailing GBR682 Ecstatic with Rory Paton and Joanna Richardson, is leading overall from Solent Fleet Captain Richard Cullen aboard GBR669 Supremacy, crewed by Alex Dobson and Matthew Hill, with Falmouth's Chris Hunt, crewed by Mark Dailey and Simon James sailing GBR741 Flawless, third.
 
One team who's day looked pretty good until they got ashore and checked the results was that of French National Champion Louis Urvois, sailing FRA365 Ar Prim with Gwen Chapalain and Jean S Ponce.
With the forecast offering more sunshine and good winds, this time from the south, we look all set for another great day of racing tomorrow. The regatta continues until Saturday with a total of six races scheduled. In addition Friday afternoon will see the lunatics taking over the asylum in the Edinburgh Cup Crews Race, a traditional highlight of the regatta.
 
Overall Top Five After Two Races
1. Danish Blue - Poul Richard Hoj-Jensen, GBR
2. Fever - Klaus Diederichs, NOR
3. Alfie - Lawrie Smith, GBR
4. Murka 7 - Olga White, RUS
5. Gorgeous Worgeous - Jamie Lea, GBR
 

Photos by Fiona Brown, www.fionabrown.com. Click on image for photo gallery.