In 1950 about nine Dragons were imported from Norway and Holland 

 for Woods Hole and Long Island Sound owners, but did poorly, especially 

 in the light airs of the Sound. During that year the Pacific International 

 Yachting Association gave a tryout to a Dragon in competition with seven 

 other boats, from which they hoped to select a good weatherly sailer which 

 wouldn't cost over $3000 without sails, and which could be fitted out for 

 cruising. The Dragon was selected by the committee but the decision was 

 reversed by the general membership. Despite this unfavorable decision the 

 Dragon class gradually developed in widely separated places, including 

 New Orleans, Louisiana; San Francisco Bay; the Los Angeles area; Puget 

 Sound, Washington; Annapolis, Maryland; Detroit, Michigan; Wisconsin, 

 etc. There is a large fleet in Canada, and Dragons have made good head- 

 way in Argentina and Uruguay. 



The organization of the American International Dragon Association has 

 helped considerably in American Dragon development. Garrett Horder 

 (1030 Washington Bldg., Seattle 1, Wash.) is Secretary. The International 

 Dragon Association, of which Sir Gordon Smith is President (44 Walton 

 St., London S.W. 3, England), is the over-all international class association. 



In the i960 Olympics at Naples, Italy, the winner in the Dragon class 

 was Crown Prince Constantine of Greece, another bit of evidence that 

 royalty is interested in Dragons. King Baudouin of Belgium also sails a 

 Dragon. Eugene Walet, the United States representative, who is a fine 

 sailor but with little experience in Dragons, came in tenth. Perhaps with 

 all the glamour attached to the Dragon class, they will spread sufficiently 

 in the United States to provide a wider basis of experience among our 

 sailors. This is most likely, however, in areas where the breezes are strong 

 and the waters rough. 



Importers or builders of Dragons in the United States can be located 

 through class officials or yacht brokers, as can the names of foreign builders. 

 Construction is of wood; fiber glass is not permitted. The American price 

 with sails is $6300 for new boats; old ones can be bought for $1000 up. 

 In Finland and possibly elsewhere in Europe, Dragons can be bought, it 

 is reported, at considerably less. 



VITAL statistics: L.O.A. 2.^' 2,^2'; waterline i8'8''; beam &^'; 

 draft (keel) s'li"; sail area 235 sq. ft. (spinnaker allowed); weight 3800 

 lbs.; racing crew permitted, three. 



58 THE SAILBOAT CLASSES OF NORTH AMERICA 



