UKIDA Dart 18 National Championships at South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club

Dart 18 National Championships at Abersoch © Sarka Nassau

The 2022 Dart 18 National Championships was hosted at the South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club (SCYC), which has a proud history of hosting many prestigious championship events within the surrounding waters of Cardigan Bay and the very popular holiday destination of Abersoch on the doorstep. The Dart 18 Fleet were certainly going to fit in nicely.

Twenty-Five Dart 18s entered, with 12 UK Sailing Clubs being represented. Most of the Darts were sailed two-up with a varied combination of family members, partners or borrowed crews. There was just the one singlehanded entry without the jib (and at times without a helm!).

Boats arriving on Saturday were welcomed by Emlyn, the Beach Patrol Officer, assisting Darts onto the beautiful Beach at Cardigan Bay. Some campers opted to use the local golf club car park to base themselves for the week (close to the boats in case of excessive intake the night before), whilst others chose to use a number of the more peaceful local caravan and camp sites or other local accommodation establishments in Abersoch.

Windsport's Brian Phipps (Tom's 'Old Man'), was set up prior to the event and greeted all the Darts on arrival from the top of the slipway. This became Brian's Base Camp for the first five days of the event - offering an onsite sales and repair service along with a popular social media 'studio' for the event.

The weather throughout the event was varied, with a bit of everything thrown into the mix. The First weekend was Wet and Wild (luckily the wet bit mostly came at night). Once 'wet' had gone, we were left with just 'wild' who kindly abated to just 'windy' towards the end of the week and throughout the sun kept appearing to top up the summer tans and ensure ice cream sales remained high..

Dart 18 National Championships at Abersoch - photo © Sarka Nassau

Race Day 1 on Sunday had a good wind F3-4 (RO's wind gage definitely needed more WD40!) and the first race was won by a young couple from Worthing S.C., Caleb Cooper and Chloe Millward. The second race was won by "Triggers Broom" David Lloyd & JoJo Trafford of Stokes Bay/Worthing. Once racing had finished it was off to the Yacht Club for Welcome Drinks courtesy of UKIDA, with Pimms on the veranda taking prime option from the drinks table. The fleet leaders Dave & JoJo received their well earned Exe Plate as leaders after the first 2 races.

Monday: The wind was now building from the South West, with a constant fresh wind F4/5 sweeping into the Bay. David and JoJo handled the conditions very well and gained from their success the previous day, winning both Race 3 and Race 4; by this point it was becoming increasing difficult to see these two giving away their superior lead from their close competitors. By the time the fleet had returned to shore, the wind was building and due to the forecast overnight with the chances of a storm setting in, masts were dropped.

Tuesday: unfortunately, as predicted the wind was now significant gusting over 40mph, so it was decided that Tuesday would now replace of the Wednesday as the 'lay day'. This was a much needed rest day, as the conditions (or the bar) the previous day had started to take their toll on several competitors (or was that just me?). A number of hardy sailors braved the elements on an 11 mile cliff top walk, returning 'refreshed and windswept' whilst others saved their legs and did battle on the local go kart track. Tuesday evening was the UKIDA AGM, followed by a meal in the Cove Restaurant. The cove is situated directly above the clubhouse and nestled into the side of the cliff overlooking the bay it is an idyllic setting, although on that night, it had a rather stormy view as the wind and rain drove into the west side of the clubhouse. However the weather did not stop the fleet moving onto the SCYC bar for some notorious UKIDA partying, games and various party shenanigans.

Dart 18 National Championships at Abersoch - photo © Sarka Nassau

Wednesday: with the wind still strong in the morning, combined with a few sore heads... it was decided that the Race Office would postpone the start time by an hour to 1.00pm, the wind had now started to subside, but it was still feeling very much like a fresh F5 gusting 6, with a few of us questioning if we were going to sail or not... but conditions allowed for Race 5 to proceed. Rob Garcka & Fi Goegebeur sailed a very good race in tough conditions and took the bullet, in what proved to also become their last race in this championship due to Rob aggravating his back. Race 6 was postponed until Thursday as the wind started to build again and the Race Officer took slight pity on the fleet!

Thursday: With the wind now subsiding back into a constant F4, the fleet were back on the water eager to get racing. Race 6 was won by Michael Mourizzi & Mark Stones of Dee S.C. a well-earned win for the boyszz, Michael having flown back into the UK from the USA just a day before the nationals had started. Race 7 and the fleet leaders were back at it again, David & JoJo showing us all once again how consistent and talented they are at racing the Dart, taking the win.

Dart 18 National Championships at Abersoch - photo © Sarka Nassau

Friday: earlier start than the other days, 11.00am the fleet had assembled on the start line. Conditions were good F4/5 and Caleb & Chloe were back at their best, taking their second win of the championship. With a 2nd place, and the Championship overall win now confirmed, David & JoJo decided to call it a day and get an early flyer to shore to de-rig and give time for David to work on his speech for the presentations... it was now time for the closing pack in the top 5 to press on and make an impact, with Ben Willis & Dalton Smith of Runswick Bay winning their first nationals race in what was Race 9, the final race of the championship.

Prize giving was later in the afternoon at the SCYC, with the Commodore being presented with the Garcka Trophy, as SYSC were the host club, which will now be displayed in the club house until the next UK National Championship combined with the World Championships, at Bridlington (RYYC) 30th July - 4 Aug 2023.

Thanks go to SCYC for hosting the event, Hoppo our RO and his team and everybody that in some way made the event happen (too many to mention) and a special thanks to Sarka for her great on the water photos

Dart 18 National Championships at Abersoch - photo © Sarka Nassau

Prizes were awarded for the top five boats, as follows:

1. David Lloyd of Stokes Bay & JoJo Trafford of Worthing SC (UK National Champions 2022)
2. Caleb Cooper & Chloe Millward of Worthing SC (First Youth Trophy & First Couple Trophy)
3. Michael Mourizzi & Mark Stones of Dee SC
4. Ben Willis & Dalton Smith of Runswick Bay (RBBSC)
5. Deborah Waters (First Lady Helm) & Barry Peters of Worthing SC

In addition to the above trophies the following were also awarded:

First Parent & Child Trophy: Matt & Jakob Exon (RYYC)
Masters Trophy (Combined age of 116+) Andrew McLeish & Peter Rauxloh (Fairlop Waters SC)
Moo'comer Trophy (first attended Nationals) - Simon Lake

Handicap Results (first 3 most improved on handicap):

1. Ellis & Tilly Stonehouse (RYYC)
2. Paul Hemsworth & Rachel Meddick (Mumbles YC)
3. Neil White & Brandon (RYYC)

The Captain Catastrophe Trophy went to Joe Franks (Kieran was innocent!)

Dart 18 National Championships at Abersoch - photo © SCYC

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Dart 18 nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here

Dart 18 National Championships at Abersoch - photo © SCYC