Spars and sails have a wide range of adjustment during racing, allowing a skillful crew to optimize the boat for any conditions.

Crew weight limits and restrictions on hiking out allow the Dragon to be raced successfully by a range of ages and both genders.

The Cup is assigned to the International Dragon Class, but remains the property of the Yacht Club de France.

Members of the Clyde Yacht Clubs' Association created specific rules for this competition and donated a perpetual trophy made of pure gold for an annual international race.

It also established that the event should take place in rotation in the following countries: Scotland, France, Sweden, Germany, Holland and Denmark.

With the revision of the rules in 1997, the number of hosting countries was enlarged to eleven: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.