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Single handing a Dart 18????

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Choosing a boat
Forum Discription: Ask any questions about the sport!
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=584
Printed Date: 28 Mar 24 at 9:00am
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Topic: Single handing a Dart 18????
Posted By: ds797
Subject: Single handing a Dart 18????
Date Posted: 28 Mar 05 at 3:19pm
Simple question guys, is it possible (easy?) to single hand a dart 18?  Will I need to use the trapeze?  This is just for fun sailing, not racing.  Thanks.



Replies:
Posted By: nathan
Date Posted: 28 Mar 05 at 5:06pm
Definate yes. There is a large group of Dart 18s sailed singlehanded at Rutland (racing). As there are racing they use the trapeze.


Posted By: iansmithofotley
Date Posted: 28 Mar 05 at 10:10pm

Hi ds797,

The Dart 18 was designed to be sailed and raced by two people with a mainsail and jib, and by single handers with just a mainsail.  If you are only 'pleasure sailing' then you can do what you like.  The problem that you will have is that you will struggle if you capsize. The Dart 18 is a big wide boat with a big mainsail and a big heavy mast.  I would not recommend that you sail single handed anywhere else but at a sailing club when there is a support boat on duty and the people on duty know what you are doing and where you are. Re-righting a capsized (turtled) Dart 18 is not easy for experienced racing crews. In my experience, the helms that I have seen racing single handed tend to be on the heavy side and they  were all very experienced.  As a matter of interest the Dart 18 Class Association have a single handed national championship each year. Take a look at their site at http://www.dart18.com/ - http://www.dart18.com/  .

 

Ian  (Yorkshire Dales S.C.)




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