The Dragon class, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, is expecting some very tight competition when 35 boats contest the Edinburgh Cup, which is the British national championship, in Torbay next week.

The Edinburgh Cup and the South West Area Championships, are being hosted by the Royal Torbay Yacht Club, starting 19 June 2004.

Three overseas entries, from Turkey, Belgium and Ireland, and most of the top sailors from around Britain are in the line-up which will contest the two events, that run until 25 June 2004.

Ivan Bradbury and his crew on Elusive, who won the Iberian Championship, which is run over a series of four regattas in Spain and Portugal during the winter, would like to repeat his success back in British waters.

The winners of the Easter regattas in Plymouth and Burnham on Crouch, Paul Patenall and Rob Campbell respectively, are obviously going well this season, and are hoping to capitalize on this good form

Julia Bailey, from the Cowes fleet, have chalked up two significant successes already this year, winning the East Coast Championships, and a special 75th Anniversary Regatta held in Cowes, May 2004.

Rory Bowman, the 2003 Edinburgh Cup winner will be back to defend the trophy, but he has yet to win a major event this year, having finished second in both the East Coast Championship and the Anniversary Regatta in Cowes.

There is also the danger that the Edinburgh Cup could take a trip overseas for a year, with the Belgian entry Carabistouilles 3 skippered by Edouard Wylleman, having won their national championship.

For more information see www.royaltorbayyc.org.uk