Tim Tavinor wins Dragon Gold Cup 2015 10 Sep 2015
Lawrie Smith, sailing with Joost Houweling and Tim Tavinor, aboard the recent Petticrows-built Prince Alfie (GBR 801) lead the field. Smith and team sailed a consistent series in the ultra competitive 66-strong Gold Cup fleet in Kuhlungsborn, Germany and won the non-discard regatta series by a clear 16pt margin. In second place was Dmitry Samokhin, crewed by Andrey Kirilyuk and Aleksey Bushuev on Strange Little Girl (S 76) also Petticrows built.
Sinewave (GER 1133), Thomas Mueller Vincent Hoesch and Marc Pickel, and also Bunker Prince (UAE 8) Yevgen Braslavetz, Sergey Timokhov and Alexandr Mirchuk, complete the top four Gold Cup, Petticrows top four clean sweep. In sixth place, Petticrows starred again with Jerboa (GBR 761) helmed by Gavia Wilkinson-Cox.
With all races to count in the overall series, racing went right down to the wire. The eventual winners Team Prince Alfie entered the final race of the series with an 11pt advantage and after a final race sixth place, they extended their winning margin to 16 pts.
Mark Hart and Kasper Harsberg.Commenting on winning the coveted Dragon Gold Cup, Lawrie Smith – British Olympic medallist and multiple Whitbread Round the World Race skipper – said: "I’ve never won this before so naturally pleased. It is one of the most historic yachting trophies around, and an honour to be presented with it. Bit of a responsibility to look after it, though, so I’ve handed it over to my crew for safe keeping!"
Tim Tavinor – crewman and Petticrows Managing Director – commenting on the Dragon Gold Cup success, concluded: "Petticrows is naturally delighted to have finally won the Gold Cup for the 14th time, and secured the top four places overall. We have a long list of achievements in the class including world championship and Edinburgh Cup wins, but winning the Gold Cup in such a highly competitive fleet, is always special. Just a week after the end of the regatta, we are overwhelmed with interest and are currently working through new order enquiries."