Dart 15 Forums

Stuart Pierce Shanklin wrote:

Hi just got of the isle of wight ferry on board was a new dart 15 being deliverd by laser I asked the driver was this another new boat for gunard! He said no it was for Ellen MacArthur.So looks like we could have another new convert, it would be great to get some pics of her on this new boat to advertise the dart 15 class or get her along to race at Shanklin will work on this

Bob replied:

Hi Stuart - great news indeed. We have known for a couple of weeks that she was getting one, but have been keeping 'mum' to let the Laser Centre plan their promotion of our new Dart 15 sailor. As a result of your chance encounter I have got Dave Graham's agreement to go public while they still agree their propaganda campaign. Any ideas for this campaign folks? An Ellen MacArthur Special Edition advertised in the National Press would be a great reward for our trusty class - especially if they could deliver the boats soon after the order was placed! I speculate of course!
Regards
Bob Carter

Bob replied:

I got this message back from Ellen MacArthur's reply service - more when I get it.
Cheers
Bob Carter


Hi Ellen,
I am the Events Secretary of the Dart 15 class association. There is great interest in the Dart 15 fleet as we hear that you have had a Dart 15 delivered recently and would have many questions to ask. We would very much like to run
an interview (by EMail) with you to put in our Dart 15 magazine (Fifteen Minutes of Fame). I'll kick it off with a few questions now and if you are willing we will send you a few more another time. Thus for starters:
1) We hear you have taken delivery of a Dart 15 and are interested to hear your plans on where you will be sailing it and if you plan to take part in racing it at either Club level or may be at an Open Meeting or two. Can you please give us some background?
FYI we have two active Dart 15 fleets on the IOW. At Gurnard they have some 35 Dart 15s and they regularly get 20+ racing on a Sunday. At Shanklin there are 22 Dart 15s. The Dart 15 is the most popular single handed cat in the UK.

2) What caused you to select a Dart 15?

3) Would you like us to put you in touch with some of the IOW Dart 15 experts to get you started?

Many Thanks if you can answer these questions.

Bob Carter

P.S. We have an traveller meeting at Shanklin on 6/7 July and our National Championships is at Whitstable 30 Aug - 1 September. We understand that you have a busy programme, but maybe it's a possibility.

The reply

Dear Bob,

Thanks for your email to Ellen re: Dart 15. Ellen is away racing at the moment on the multihull and won't be back in UK until mid-June but I will give her this information then and try and provide the answers to your questions.

News travels fast and we have had a few emails from Dart supporters already! Ellen's intention is not to race the Dart but to use it more for training.
Anyhow, thanks for your email and will get back to you as soon as possible.

Regards,
Lou