Dart 18 Grand Prix 6 at Bognor Regis Yacht Club

The Dart 18 fleet made a welcome return to Bognor Regis Yacht Club, after an absence of around 6 years. The fleet was down on its usual numbers, as the container returning the boats from the World Championships in Portugal, was held up by a Dockers strike in Spain and didn’t arrive until late Saturday. However, twenty-eight Dart 18’s made the event, with nine boats on the container arriving for Sundays racing. To give them an opportunity of getting a result at the meeting, the racing was re-arranged, with two races on Saturday and four on Sunday. The late arrivals were then given average points for the Saturday’s races.

The two races on Saturday were held in a light force 1 to 2 breezes and brilliant sunshine. The wind increased on Sunday to around force 4, making for some excellent Dart sailing, with large rollers to make surfing down the waves fast and exciting.

Matt Pullen & Deborah Rickard 7770 “Mylor Yacht Chandlery” dominated the event showing consistent speed and boat handling and won the event with a race in hand. However, their win was not as easy as it appeared in the results.

In the first race Lawrie & Ellie Draper 7677 led at the first mark and took the gun, after holding off strong challenges from Pullen & Rickard and Dave & Louise Roberts 7712, “WWW.Sailingbooks.co.uk”.

Race two was initially led by Pullen & Rickard who were overtaken on the run by Chris Moore & Jessica Walton 7769, “Crewsaver Racing”. Some close racing between these two boats ensued for the rest of the race, with Pullen and Rickard just edging past Moore & Walton on the final beat to take the gun.

Saturday evening Bognor put on an excellent barbecue for all competitors, followed by an evening of dancing, to a rock group, to keep everyone entertained.

Sunday morning dawned with stronger winds and bright sunshine. Pullen & Rickard again showing excellent form in the windier conditions by taking race three, with Roberts & Roberts in second place & Draper & Draper third.

Race four was won by Pullen and Rickard, after holding off a strong challenge from Dan Norman & Cathrin Farthing 7722, “Birketts Solicitors”, who had just arrived after recovering their boat from the container. Moore & Walton took Norman & Farthing on the final run to take 2nd place.

Race five was started within minutes of the last boat finishing race four. Pullen & Rickard, Norman & Farthing and Roberts & Roberts, who showed excellent speed in what is normally not their best conditions, all challenging for the lead at various times. Pullen & Richard took the gun with Norman & Farthing second and Roberts & Roberts third.

Pullen & Rickard did not need to compete in the final race, as with four firsts and a second, they had already won the event and went ashore early to pack their boat ready for the long trip back to Cornwall. However the other places were still wide open, Dave & Samantha Lloyd 7724, “Team Typhoon”, showed more of their usual form to take race six from Norman & Farthing in second place & Draper & Draper, who had showed good consistent speed & results throughout the weekend in third place.

Overall Results:

1st 7770 “Mylor Yacht Chandlery” Matt Pullen & Deborah Rickard
2nd 7722 “Birketts Solicitors” Dan Norma & Cathrin Farthing
3rd 7677 Lawrie & Ellie Draper
4th 7769 “Crewsaver Racing” Chris Moore & Jessica Walton
5th 7712 “www.sailingbooks.co.uk” Dave & Louise Roberts