Dart 15 Sport National Championship 2026 at North Devon Yacht Club

Dart 15 Sport Nationals in Devon © NDYC

The 2026 Dart 15 Sport Nationals were held at North Devon Yacht Club at Instow from 3rd to 5th October, with the fleet treated to a very different set of conditions from the usual blustery North Devon fare. Light winds dominated the first two days before a more useful Force 2-3 arrived for the final day. In the end, six races were completed from the planned nine, and the championship went right down to the wire.

Saturday produced just one race as the Race Team waited for enough breeze to establish a worthwhile course. With the wind very light, the fleet had to make the most of every puff, and Hector Bunclark got his championship campaign off to the perfect start with a race win. Angus Cook was seventh, with Paul Grattage fourth and Anthony Gray second.

Sunday brought two more races, although the breeze remained frustratingly light. Angus responded superbly, winning Race 2 and then adding a second place in Race 3. Hector remained firmly in contention with a third in Race 2, but a 12th in Race 3 gave Angus the early advantage. Paul Grattage and Anthony Gray also remained in the mix, while Jes Firth showed impressive pace to win Race 3.

With three races completed, however, there was still very little between the leading pair. Angus had shown excellent consistency in the tricky conditions, while Hector had already demonstrated that he was capable of putting together race-winning performances.

Monday finally brought something closer to proper racing conditions, with a Force 2-3 breeze allowing the fleet to complete three races. Angus came out strongly again, taking a race win in Race 5, while Hector answered with a third. The final race saw Jes Firth tussle with Anthony Gray who took the win, with Hector sixth and Angus fifth.

Behind the leaders there was plenty of close racing throughout the fleet with personal battles being fought on every leg.

Dart 15 Sport Nationals in Devon - photo © NDYC

The future of the fleet also looks bright, with the junior sailors gaining valuable experience racing against the wider fleet. It was great to see the next generation of Dart sailors out on the water, learning their craft alongside some of the class's most experienced competitors.

Going into the final results, Angus and Hector were tied on points. After the discard was applied, both sailors had 16 points from their six races. Angus's scoreline was 7, 1, 9, 2, 1, 5, while Hector's was 1, 3, 12, 3, 3, 6. Angus took the title on countback.

Angus Cook is therefore the 2026 Dart 15 Sport National Champion - his first National title.

It was a particularly hard-fought championship, with Angus having to hold his nerve in the light and unpredictable conditions and Hector pushing him all the way to the final race. To finish level on points after six races says everything about how close the contest was, and Hector can take plenty of encouragement from a championship that was decided by the smallest of margins.

Paul Grattage completed the overall podium in third with 20 points, followed by Anthony Gray in fourth and Jes Firth in fifth. The North Devon Yacht Club team of Hector Bunclark, Anthony Gray and Jes Firth also took the Team Trophy. Hector took the Classic Boat title, demonstrating that the older boats can still mix it with the newer machinery when sailed by a very good sailor.

A special mention must also go to Brian Phipps, who joined the fleet for the Nationals. Brian is a true legend of the Dart sailing world, having been involved with the class for 50 years, from the early days of Dart development and production through to technical support and coaching. He showed that experience still counts, finishing an impressive sixth overall, winning the Seventy Plus category and taking second place in the Heavyweights. It was fantastic to have him sailing with us.

Huge thanks go to the Race Team and all the North Devon Yacht Club volunteers who worked hard to make the event happen despite the frustratingly light conditions. Getting six races completed over three days in such a fickle breeze was no mean feat!

Congratulations to Angus on his first National title, and commiserations to Hector, who pushed him all the way to the final race. A memorable Nationals, a first-time champion, and a reminder that in Dart 15 racing, every point counts - even when the breeze doesn't want to play ball!

Angus Cook wins the Dart 15 Sport Nationals in Devon - photo © NDYC

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Dart 15 Sport Nationals in Devon - photo © NDYC