Dart 18 Open at Netley Sailing Club

by Lee Davies 11 Oct 2005 08:50 BST 8-9 October 2005

41 entries for the Dart 18 open at Netley © Eddie Mays

Netley SC hosted the final Dart 18 Travellers Trophy event of 2005 over the weekend 8-9 Oct. A resurgence of interest in the one design competition of Dart 18 racing saw 41 boats turn up and add to the success of the event.

A very sensible decision by the Race Officer to hold three races on Saturday, instead of the original two, was well founded due the forecast of no wind on Sunday. In the event, on Saturday the wind blew a perfect F3, becoming a high F4 at the end of the third race, across the flat waters directly off Netley SC located within the Royal Victoria Park. The short beat and small angles to/from the wing mark resulted in some classic screaming tight reaches during the triangle legs, reminding everybody exactly what Dart 18 sailing was all about!

The first race went to veteran Dart 18 sailor (and former World Champion) Garreth Owen and crew Angus, from Dee SC, with Alan and Fiona Kernick following close in second and Jamie & Jamie (Lynch/Ferguson) coming in third.

A very quick turn around between races saw Race 2 starting less than an hour after the start of Race 1, and saw a turn about in the positions, with Dave and Louise Roberts taking the gun, followed by current National Champions Matt and Pullen and Debbie Rickard, with Garreth Owen and Angus taking third. With the Jamies and the Kernicks down at 8th and 7th, this kept the possibilities of the top positions wide open.

A clean start on the third race saw the fleet split in two up either side of the course and an interesting coming back together of the two halves at the windward mark. The Jamies held onto their advantage at the windward mark and maintained a convincing lead throughout the rest of the race, holding Dan Norman/Cathrin Farthing to second and the Kernicks to third.

A very short transit back to club in time for the bar to open concluded 3 x 4 lap excellent quality races, all within the space of 3 hours – unheard of!

Netley provided their customary hospitality on Saturday evening, with good food, flowing drink and brilliant company. The party supplied the ideal opportunity to award the Dart 18 Kim Stevens trophy – given annually to the member considered to have contributed most to the spirit and ethos of Dart 18 sailing. The 2005 Kim Stevens award was presented to life long Dart 18 enthusiast Tim Dieu De Bellefontaine.

One or two sailors may have taken the forecast of no wind on Sunday as good reasons to party to the extreme and it turned out to be a sound plan. Sure enough, not a ripple was in sight on Sunday, so after an hour of waiting – just in case – the decision was taken to call it a day and conclude the event as the positions stood.

Therefore, the final GP of the Dart 18 2005 series went to the Jamies (their first win), with the Kernicks in a convincing second and Garreth Owen/Angus taking third. The Kernicks position confirmed their title as overall GP series winners for the 2005 season, a prize well deserved as they have travelled to every single event on the calendar!

Handicap Results:

1. Ian Hobbs and Mark
2. Abbie Ledger and Christina Hale
3. Andy and Tom Kelly

Overall Results: