Dart 18 Travellers' Trophy at Stokes Bay Sailing Club

43 Dart 18s attended the second Travellers Trophy event of the year at Stokes Bay Sailing Club.

Saturday dawned windless but Race Officer Carl Downing got a course set with a long beat against the tide. The boats that started well were at the pin end and had kept close to the line before the start. The wind died mid race meaning 12 boats could not finish.

Saturday night was the normal quiet Dart social enlivened by the band Ubermeister who got all the school girls and boys and teachers (It was fancy dress) dancing.

Day Two no wind am so racing began early afternoon. Again windward leeward courses were set with the beat against the tide and in Race Two the wind did its disappearing act as the Middle of the fleet attempted to round the windward mark. Post a bit of waiting around and course shifting Race Three began and the wind picked up allowing some Teams to trapeze. Inshore still seemed to be the way to go but the gains were lessening as the tide slackened off. Race Four and Five more of the same but the wind increased allowing all the Teams to trapeze and bash their way through the ever increasing chop.

Apart from Race One normal faces at the top of the fleet with local boats dominating. Overall the winners were Dave and Louise Roberts with Matt and Jakob Exon justifying the long trip down from Bridlington by coming second,Paul Chatfield sailing single handed third, David Lloyd and Joanna Trafford fourth, Paul Grattage, who had sailed to the event, fifth and Dan Teubert and Katy Phipps from Restronguet sixth.

Thanks to the event sponsors Mills And Bann Solicitors, Windsor Carpentry and Joinery, Andark and Nigel Palmar and Windsport who provided excellent event support. Finally many thanks to fleet captain Marco Manganelli.

Roll on the 2016 Stokes Bay Dart 18 Nationals.

Overall Results: