Dart 18 Nationals at Stokes Bay Sailing Club - Preview
by Chris Moore 27 May 2010 07:58 BST
4-6 June 2010
With the Dart 18 World Championships coming to Weymouth in August, the National Championships are being held early this season and over just 3 days. All the top Dart 18 sailors will be competing at Stokes Bay Sailing Club on the Solent, home to one of the nation’s strongest Dart fleets. This is the first Dart 18 National Championship to be held at Stokes Bay for over 10 years, so the club will be looking forward to a great event.
Most of the sailors will be trying to peak for the World Championship, but this event is definitely the second most important of the season for UK Darts. Already, there are confirmed overseas visitors from the Netherlands and France. Theirry and Christine Wibeaux, former World Champions will be leading the overseas challenge, although the current World Champion, Emmanual Dode is hoping to enter as well.
The outcome of this Championship is probably more open than for many years. Former World and National Champion Dan Norman and Mel Rogers from Sheppey will be looking to regain their title and will be competitive in any conditions. The early season ‘in form’ team are Alan and Fiona Kernick having won two of the first three events of the season. There are several teams from the home club who will be hoping that there is a home waters advantage.
It is now 5 years since anyone has won the title two seasons running – a trend that local team and defending Champions Dave and Louise Roberts will be hoping to change. Meanwhile, another local helm David Lloyd, together with Jo Jo Pierce will be hoping for a repeat of the strong winds in Aruba where they finished 2nd in the Worlds last November. Other local teams with a very real chance of winning the event are Lawrie and Ellie Draper and Chris Moore with a new crew. Sarah Knott and Sue Nelson are relative newcomers to the class and will be hoping for a light wind event where they may well surprise a few of the favourites.
The Dart 18 Championships are known for big fleets, great racing and great après sail too – live bands on both nights will make for a great weekend.