The 2010 Irish Dragon Championships is returning to Northern Ireland next week for the first time in over a decade. Sponsored by Belfast Harbour and hosted by Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, the Championships will take place on the southern shores of Belfast Lough from Thursday, July 22nd until Sunday, July 25th. The event will be launched from Belfast’s Abercorn Basin on Wednesday 21st with a parade of sail by international competitors.
 
The 30ft Dragon Class vessels are viewed within the sailing fraternity as the pinnacle of single design yacht racing with yachtsmen increasingly drawn from those who participate in both the Olympics and America’s Cup. 
 
Outlining the involvement of Belfast Harbour, Chairman Len O’Hagan, said:
 
“We are delighted to support a truly international event with some of the world’s finest Dragon Class sailors competing in these beautiful vessels. The level of skill on display by competitors as they negotiate the southern shores of Belfast Lough will be of the highest calibre. Every day the race leader will be given the Belfast Harbour spinnaker to fly – our equivalent of the Tour de France’s Yellow Jersey.
 
“Part of the Harbour’s support for the Irish Dragon Championships will include an international fleet of vessels taking part in a spectacular parade of sail from Abercorn Basin - the Harbour’s new leisurecraft pontoons. I’m sure Belfast will welcome these international visitors and wish them fair wind for the race.”

Simon Brien from event hosts, Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, said:
 
“We are extremely grateful to Belfast Harbour for the excellent support it has given the event and we look forward to what will be four days of high quality, competitive racing with some of the best International yachtsmen competing. Royal North has a close association with the Harbour and Belfast Lough, and with an extensive race area and minimal tidal influence, it is an ideal venue for the championships.

“It is an honour for North of Ireland Yacht Club to be able to launch this year’s Irish Dragon Championships  in what will be the first official event at Abercorn Basin’s new leisurecraft pontoons. The parade of sail will include 30 Dragon class racing yachts – each 30 foot long and with 40 foot high rigs - from countries such as Germany, Denmark, Portugal, England, Wales and from across Ireland, including fleets from Dublin and Kinsale, creating a spectacular sailing sight which should not be missed.”
 
The new leisurecraft facility at Abercorn Basin, which was funded by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Belfast Tall Ships Ltd, has 40 berthing positions, each able to accommodate vessels of four metre draft at all tides.