Freo hosts two sailing World Championships

The 2019 World International Dragon Championships kicked off today in the waters off Fremantle.

Hosted by the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club in partnership with the Fremantle Sailing Club, the championships will see 34 crews from countries around the world - including Great Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, Russia, Turkey and Japan -  battling it out over the next six days.

Alongside the Dragon World Championships the Fremantle Sailing Club has also been hosting the 505 World Championships, with 89 Australian and international crews.

The closing ceremony for 505 World Championship will be held on Monday, 7 January.

Mayor Brad Pettitt said Fremantle was proud to be hosting more world-class sailing events.

“Fremantle is known around the globe as a world-class sailing venue having hosted the America’s Cup defence in 1987 and the ISAF Sailing World Championships in 2011, along with many other international regattas and national championships,” Mayor Pettitt said.

“We’re delighted to have the Dragon World Championships and the 505 World Championships in Fremantle, and we hope the competitors enjoy not only the racing but also some famous Freo hospitality.”

The Dragon is a one-design keelboat designed by Norwegian Johan Anker in 1929, and is one of the oldest international classes still racing.

It’s long keel and elegant lines have made it a popular class represented in more than 26 countries on five continents.

The Dragon World Championships have been held every two years since 1965 and were previously hosted in Fremantle in 1995.  

Races will be held every day until 9 January. The racing will take place 1-3 miles offshore, but people wanting to watch the racing can reserve a space on a spectator boat at the Fremantle Sailing Club.

For more information visit the dragonworldsfremantle2019 website.