of the Dragon Class
– Can you identify the logo stamped on some of the hardware? Fortunately, most Dragon Associations have a good national and international network and can crowdsource most of the answers. When a National Association runs a National or International regatta, the need for volunteers multiplies, as does the number of tasks. Most of us seriously underestimate what is involved. True, some yacht clubs have professional race and regatta management teams, but many don’t and so rely on yacht club volunteers. For the sailor attending the event many of these volunteers are very visible, in the registration area, in the weighing room, on the racecourse. But these are often only the tip of the iceberg. A typical Gold Cup can require as many as 100 volunteers doing countless small but essential jobs, fueling the RIBs, laying marks daily, relaying marks when there are big wind shifts, making sandwiches for sailors, organising spectator boats, driving media boats, etc. So, the reality is there
could easily be one volunteer for every boat sailing. Something to think about when you next travel to a big event. True many of the volunteers are only there for the period of the regatta, but a core number of up to 20 people on the regatta management will have been working for up to three years leading up to the event, organising sponsorships, accommodation, hospitality venues etc. Without these willing volunteers many of our regattas would be unaffordable and impossible to organise.
Thank you one and all. The editorial team would like to thank all the people who over the years have contributed to this magazine. Without your contribution this magazine would not be possible. Under the leadership of the IDA Secretary, the editor Fi Brown, editorial team members Nicky, Anne and Steven, and designer Calvin Evans, we hope to continue to provide this service in the Covid-free years to come.
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