Petticrows Development
Since our first Dragon in 1988, every Petticrows model has built on the last: new hull lines from some of the world's best designers, new moulds for each change in the class rules, and constant refinement with input from top sailors. This is how the Petticrows Dragon got from there to the Centenary Edition.
- 1988first Petticrows Dragon
- 800+Dragons built
- 3hull designers: Ian Howlett, Brendan Dobroth and Phil Morrison
From 1988 to today
Tap an advert from the archive to see it full size. Most appeared in Dragon News, the British Dragon Association's yearbook.
-
1988to 1990
The first Petticrows Dragon
The first Petticrow Dragon was launched in early March 1988. Ian Howlett, the famous 12 Metre, 8 Metre and 6 Metre designer, optimised the hull shape, with the plug and mould by Tony Smith; tank tests were carried out and a lot of time went into R&D on every aspect of the construction.
That year the first Danish Blue won the Danish and European Championships. In 1989 Poul Richard Høj Jensen won the World Championship in a Petticrow Dragon, with Petticrow spars and North Sails.
From the archive -
1991to 1995
New moulds for the bulkhead rule
A major rule change made bulkheads obligatory, so new internal and deck moulds were made. Petticrows Dragons kept winning almost all major and local competitions: at the 1993 Gold Cup, thirteen Petticrows Dragons finished in the first 20, and twelve at the World Championship.
From the archive -
1996to 2000
The Petticrow 2000
With most races now sailed up and down wind, we wanted more downwind speed. Brendan Dobroth, the famous US designer, started work on new lines, and the result was the Petticrow 2000.
We built over 250 of them, and again they won nearly all the major championships and many club races. In June 1998 the Petticrow 2000 became the first Dragon to conform to the European Recreational Craft Directive (Category C) and carry the CE mark.
From the archive -
2001to 2004
Symmetrical moulds and a lower centre of gravity
In 2001 the rules changed again: two additional templates were introduced and lateral and horizontal stiffening was allowed. Brendan Dobroth came up with another proposal, which was carefully tested during 2002, and new, completely symmetrical plug and moulds were made. A new inner section and deck mould, lowering the centre of gravity, came on stream in 2004.
Over twenty cold-moulded Dragons built in this period helped develop the hull shape: a progressive series of test runs that, with Brendan Dobroth, decided the fastest shape.
From the archive -
2004to 2008
Resin infusion and more buoyancy
From November 2004 the IDA allowed resin infusion for hull construction. It almost eliminated styrene emissions in the workshop and gives a very controlled, even laminate; it has been used for the hull and deck mouldings of every GRP Petticrows Dragon since.
In 2006 Petticrows Dragon number 500 was launched. In 2008 the class rules were changed to improve the Dragon's overall buoyancy: our answer was to raise the internal floor moulding, improve the drainage and seal the bow and stern tanks.
From the archive -
2009to 2010
New moulds, Barney post and i-mast
New moulds, created in 2009, brought together our latest design features. The central control console (Barney post) became an option alongside the traveller: it allows easy movement around the cockpit and suits four-person crews.
2009 also brought the i-mast section, designed with the latest thinking in aerodynamics, and Petticrows boats were first at the 2009 World Championship. In 2010 the refined quick-release genoa sheeting system made tacking far less physically demanding for the crew.
From the archive -
2012v5
The v5
Flared coamings for crew comfort and efficiency, and a new super-stiff floor grid under the restyled internal moulding, designed for maximum buoyancy and minimum water in the cockpit. Three fit-out specifications were offered: Racer, Vincie Hoesch and Custom.
In 2013 we celebrated 25 years of building winning Dragons. By 2015 Petticrows boats were winning both the Worlds and the Gold Cup, and over 700 had been built.
From the archive -
2017v6
The v6: a new hull by Phil Morrison
Early in 2017 we moved into new production facilities. We worked with the legendary small-boat designer Phil Morrison to create a completely new hull shape; the deck and internals stayed as before. By then championship racers were launching the spinnaker from a bag under the cockpit rather than a chute, so both layouts were offered.
In its first season the v6 took three of the top five places at the 2017 World Championship.
From the archive -
2018
The Evolution mast
A new mast section with a front weld taper for an extra-smooth bend, and new lightweight, low-windage fittings. The Evolution mast was used by the winners of the 2018 Gold Cup and the 2019 World Championship.
-
2019v6.1
The v6.1
A new internal and deck mould to complement the v6 hull, first announced as the "v6+". Internal side tanks for safety and drainage, a new non-slip deck, a larger cockpit from a shorter cabin roof and an enhanced fit-out, with the Evolution mast.
From the archive -
2021Portugal
A new home in Cascais
In 2021 Petticrows moved to Cascais, Portugal: a historic seaside town on the Atlantic, 30 km west of Lisbon and one of the world's best regatta venues, with year-round mild weather and consistent wind. Being here puts us right where the fleet races.
Production has since moved to the NELO facility in Vila do Conde, renowned for its world-leading resin-infusion expertise.
From the archive -
TodayCentenary
The Centenary Edition
The evolution of the v6.1, built in the run-up to the Dragon's 100th anniversary. It keeps the v6 hull and the v6.1 deck and internals, and adds three upgrades: every component resin-infused at the NELO facility, an optimised runner and backstay configuration, and the latest fittings, systems and ropes.
Available as All GRP, Teak on Glass or Wooden Deck.
Our latest advert · 2025
“Performance you can feel. Results you can measure.”
The recent models compared
The main differences between the models you are most likely to see on the water or for sale. The model guide (PDF) has the full comparison and the complete lineage.
| Feature | Pre-v5 | v5 | v6 | v6.1 | Centenary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Before 2012 | 2012 | 2017 | 2019 | Current model |
| Hull & keel | — | Standard design | New hull & keel by Phil Morrison | As v6 | As v6 |
| Construction | Infusion from 2004 | Infused hull & deck | Infused hull & deck | Infused hull & deck | Every component infused at NELO |
| Deck & internals | Wooden floorboards; lower internal deck | Super-stiff floor grid, flared coamings | As v5 | New deck & internals, side tanks | As v6.1; All GRP, Teak on Glass or Wooden Deck |
| Cockpit | — | Standard size | Largely as v5 | Larger (shorter cabin roof) | As v6.1, plus hiking wedges |
| Rigging | — | Traditional runners & backstay | Traditional runners & backstay | Aft cassette option | Optimised runner & backstay (aft cassette) |
| Mast | — | i-mast | i-mast | Evolution mast | Evolution mast |
Over 800 Dragons, and counting
Petticrows have now built well in excess of 800 Dragons. Many of our loyal workforce have worked on almost all of them, and their wealth of experience goes into every boat.
It has taken the Dragon almost a hundred years to become the highly technical racing machine it is today. It will keep developing in the years ahead, and Petticrows will be at the cutting edge of that development.
Archive adverts: Petticrows advertising, most of it from Dragon News, the yearbook of the British Dragon Association.