Dart 18 class at the Weston Sailing Club Cat Open

The 38 Dart 18s that attended the Weston Sailing Club catamaran open over the weekend of the 26th and 27th September were treated to almost summer like conditions. The high turnout of boats was due not just to the ongoing popularity of the class but also the wedding of well-known high wind Dart experts Sean and Helen O'Connor on the Friday before which many competitors had attended. In total over 80 catamarans took part including Tornadoes, Shearwaters, Nacras and other F18's, Spitfires, A Class and a lone Shadow X. For the Darts the event was also the last round of the season long Travellers Trophy and the trophy was up for grabs as two boats, one appropriately from Cornwall and the other Yorkshire, had travelled far and were in the running to win.

Early start on Day One due to the tide so after a breakfast briefing the fleets launched in bright sunshine but, as forecast no wind. It was a Race Officers nightmare as the wind swung from east to south taking in most points of the compass on the way varying in strength from little to not a lot. The only gust during the postponement was taken by Grant Piggott as a chance to show off his foiling Nacra 20 and he majestically careered through the fleet until he entered a windless area leading to what, for those watching, was a rather satisfying loud and undignified splash as the Nacra death rolled to windward dumping its crew into the water. The OOD started theTtornadoes in limited wind and then tried to send the Darts off five minutes later. At that point they, and at least one unfortunate Tornado, failed dismally to cross the line against the tidal flow. These races were sensibly abandoned but within 15 minutes a half-hearted easterly built and racing commenced for all.

Many would have said the results were a lottery but the normal culprits were as ever at the front showing that with practice your luck gets better. Everyone else had hard luck stories in terms of holes in the wind, headers and other misfortunes. Laurie Draper and Tory Hackman won, David Lloyd and Tori Akhurst were second and overall TT contenders Dan and Amy Teubert were third. Having worked out what the red and white flag on the committee boat meant the fleet sailed in for a leisurely and for many more enjoyable than the racing sit in the sunshine in the heaving camping field which acted as a prelude to the evening entertainment. Following a spot on barbeque this was enlivened by a certain rugby game at which the handful of Welsh supporters outshouted the massed rank of England supporters as the game ended before the band provided by Sean and Helen rocked all into the small hours.

Following day another early start with a 9am briefing before which, and despite the valiant efforts of those manning the galley, the longest ever queue for breakfast and coffee had had to be braved. The fleet launched into nothing with tantalising ripples on the water thirty foot offshore promising more. This proved to be a reality and the forecast of easterly winds in the teens was shown to be correct. Racing started almost bang on time and the race team were superb in being efficient and organised enough to get four back to back races in to make up for the weather based inadequacies of the previous day. The racing was great even though it has to be said the wind was still at times patchy with noticeable shifts and gusts. The benefit of having many boats of many classes on the water shone through as keeping one's head out of the boat gave a generally good idea of where to go to find the best wind and at times what you wanted was still there when you arrived. Even better, particularly in the first two races, real trapezing conditions were apparent allowing for many a superb end of season blast. The inconsistent winds and variety of boats on the race course again meant it advisable to keep one's head out of the boat to avoid comings together and some mark rounding's and key elements of the course, especially from the leeward mark to across the "finish line", a requirement on each lap, were rather exciting to say the least. The wind gave up towards the end of the last race but stayed around long enough to get the competitors back to the Club.

Normal culprits were at the top in each of the four races with yesterday's winners joined by Mat and Jakob Exon. At the end of the day David and Tori won, Mat and Jakob were second, Laurie and Tory third and Dan and Amy fourth. Special mention should go to Matthew Kingsland with new crew Simon Holland who, having finished last at the recent nationals in his very old, very green new boat for him, came inside of the top twenty and a very commendable sixth in Race Four. Also of note was a steadily improving Mark Cockerill who used his well-developed half boat skills to the full to come 21st overall and eleventh in the last race giving him bragging rights over the remainder of the Netley contingent in terms of that race.

After the event the overall Travellers Trophy prizes were also handed out with Matt and Jakob being the worthy winners followed by Dan and Amy and then Des and Fionnuala Barnes. Dan also took most improved helm although, presumably, having been of assistance over the course of the season Amy's hard work remained unrecognised. Finally the handicap prizes were handed out with Matt and Simon becoming the proud possessors of engraved hip flasks.

All in all a great late season event with excellent work onshore and on the water by the host club, generous sponsorship from Sean and Helen (band, cheese and biscuits and cake) and GP sails (prizes and subsidised beer) with the Dart fleet in particular benefiting from the ongoing Windsport Team help and assistance provided on this occasion by Alex Metcalfe who crewed by Fay Freeman also found time to come a commendable twelfth overall.

Roll on the Inland Championships next month at Graham and the 40th anniversary season next year.

Overall Results: