The success of the Russian Dragon fleet on the international Dragon scene has continued to grow during 2009 with Russian Dragon sailors venturing not only to Europe but also to Australia and Antigua.

Mikhail Mouratov (Murka) took third place in the Prince Philip Cup, 2009, Sydney, Australia. He followed this up by taking second place to Poul Hoj-Jensen (Compass Point) in Antigua Sailing Week, 2009, followed by Anatoly Loginov (Rendezvous) in third place.

Russian Dragon Sailors are increasingly basing themselves in Europe during the Winter season. The only sailing on Lake Pirogovo in winter is ice sailing - for those seeking a real adrenalin rush! During the 2008/2009 Winter Season many Russian Dragon sailors based themselves on the Mediterranean in Cannes, achieving increasingly improved results for the start of the summer season.

Noteworthy results during the 2009 season included Anatoly Loginov’s (Annapurna) first place in the Primo Cup, Monaco followed by podium finishes in the Dragon Gold Cup, Skagen and the Grand Prix Petit Navire, Douarnenez and top ten placings in the World Championship, Medemblik, the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia, Palma de Mallorca and the Dragon Grand Prix, Kiel, Germany. Other Russian Dragons are also consistently and increasingly taking top ten placings in all major Dragon regattas.

This outstanding success during 2009 left Anatoly Loginov at the top of the revived International Rating List, less than a point ahead of Tommy Muller (Sinewave) from Germany. In all, there were four Russians in the top twenty-five of the International Ranking List - Anatoly Loginov in first place, Mikhail Mouratov in tenth place, Olga White (Murka) in fifteenth place and Alexander Shmidt (Stasya) in twenty-first place.

2010 has been characterized by the increasing number of Russian owners taking the helm both in Russian and international regattas. Their increasing success must be the envy of many professional helmsmen. Russian results have certainly not suffered as a result.

Russia now has two grade 2 regattas - the Open Russian Championship and the Silver Cup, allowing stay-at-home sailors to obtain points towards the International Ranking List.

In 2009 both these events, plus the Banker’s Cup were held at the Pirogovo Yacht Club north of Moscow. In 2010, we hope that the Open Russian Championship will again be held in St Petersburg, helping to attract more St Petersburg Dragon sailors into the Russian fleet.

For the winter season 2009/2010, many Russian Dragons will be moving to Cascais in Portugal, attracted by the varied and reliable sailing conditions, a regular winter regatta schedule and fantastic Portuguese hospitality. They say that Portuguese sounds very much like Russian. Unfortunately, it’s all Portuguese to me! With many Russians consistently training in such varied conditions we await the results in 2010!

The conclusion from the 2009 season - hard work and practice make perfect! Congratulations to Anatoly Loginov for his first place on the International Rating List after only three years of seriously helming a Dragon or any other yacht for that matter! We wait to see what hard work and training do in 2010 for the Russian Dragon fleet.

The website, www.russiandragon.ru continues to report on Russian Dragon success and will continue to do so in 2010. Your comments, announcements and articles continue to be most welcome.

Happy Dragon Sailing!