Over 90 Years of History at your Fingertips
Bonnin Frères, a historic French shipyard in Arcachon (founded over 160 years ago), is well-regarded for building classic wooden Dragons, notably in the 1960s. Country France Locations Arachon Years in Operation 1950-1968 Boats Built BEL 38 GBR 376 399 FRA 18 56 69 88 102 103 105 108 102 117 138 139 141 142 143 … Read more
Bill Barnett (often referred to as Billy Barnett) was a renowned Sydney Harbour boat builder and designer based at Milsons Point, famous for building 18-foot skiffs, America’s Cup challengers (Dame Pattie), and specifically the International Dragon class yachts. Bill was the most prolific builder of timber Dragon class yachts in Australia, constructing 24 of them between 1959 … Read more
In 1974 Marty Godsil bought molds, keel casting forms and an unrigged Dragon hull from Kelvin Savell of San Diego and built his first Dragon, USA258 Eclipse. Godsil partnered with Earl Miller of Miller Marine, an experienced fibreglass builder on Bainbridge Island, to build hulls and they went on to build 14 more GRP Dragons, … Read more
In 1899, Alfred Westmacott formed a new boatbuilding and engineering firm, Westmacott Stewart & Co, with premises on the Duver at the site of an established yard, Kirby Bowen. After three years Westmacott formed a new company to run the yard and to buy out the old-established sailmaking business of Woodnutt. The new firm, Woodnutt … Read more
Børge Pedersen and Poul Thuesen in their works in Kolding, Denmark. Photo provided by Tim Wilkes If the Dragon is considered the Bugatti of the Sea, then those of Pedersen & Thuesen are the Veyrons among them. The shipyard was founded in 1949 by Børge Pedersen and Poul Thuesen in Kolding, Denmark and initially built … Read more
In 1924, Markus Glas’s grandfather, a trained wheelwright, began to build dinghies, fishing barges and dinghy cruisers on Lake Starnberg in the first generation. Wooden Dragons have been built since 1967. 16 wooden Dragons and, from 1980, also about 200 GRP Dragons were built in Possenhofen. The grandson of company founder Markus “Buale” Glas has … Read more
It all began in 1955 in a small barn in the fishing village of Steinach on Lake Constance. Hans Wirz built his first Dragon for a customer. The trained precision mechanic developed a special love for elegant sailing yachts made of the finest woods. As a result, the Hanz Wirz Yacht Shipyard was born. Over … Read more
The second largest Dragon shipyard in Switzerland is the Müller AG shipyard in Spiez on Lake Thun. Between 1946 and 1966, the shipyard built 66 Dragons in classic Carvel construction. In 1954, Virgilio Muzzolini, known as “Muz”, the architect of Bern’s Wankdorf Stadium “The Miracle of Bern”, received his first Dragon GIOIA I Z 14 … Read more
Clare Lallow’s was established in 1867 and even now combines traditional techniques and craftsmanship with modern materials and technology. They continue to be specialists in the restoration of classic wooden boats such as Ted Heath’s Morning Cloud. The yard also built many well-known boats including X One-Designs, being one of only two yards left with a … Read more
This yard dates back to 1809, when Amos Nicholson took on his great nephew William Camper, a young London shipwright. Camper took over the yard in 1824 when Amos died. When the 41 ton Breeze won the Kings Cup in 1836 it consolidated Camper’s position and led to him becoming known as “Yachtbuilder to the Royal Yacht … Read more