Choosing a boat: Single handing a Dart 18????

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Single handing a Dart 18????

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Choosing a boat
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URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=584
Printed Date: 10 May 25 at 5:37pm
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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.)