Classic Dragon Launched 2 Aug 2016

Last weekend saw the launch of a newly restored classic Dragon, Snehvit (Snow White in Norwegian) in Burnham.

She looked stunning on the water, ‘just like a mini Spirit yacht’ as someone remarked. She was built in Grimstad, Norway in 1936 and after spending time in the USA she was rescued by current owner Peter Newhouse in 2011.

Our own Katie Cole carried out the rigging and sailing fit out. Snehvit has retained her wooden mast, the step of which has been moved forward several inches to comply with the modern rig. She is having a new wooden boom made to compliment her bridle mainsheet arrangement. She also has a winchless genoa sheet arrangement. The enclosed cabin sports two stainless surrounded port holes on each side and a sliding hatch, with a forward hatch on the foredeck. Down below she is to be fitted out for cruising with two berths, lockers and optics!

Peter hopes now to get an age-related GB sail number and then intends to cruise her from Harwich. We hope to be able to persuade him to make the occasional foray to Burnham to join our other Dragons for some light wind racing. Snehvit certainly showed a good turn of speed in her two races this weekend, with Peter and his daughter, Tim Wood and Katie Cole crewing. She looked elegant and beautiful bent to the wind, sails full, her teak deck glistening and her brightwork shining.