Dart 15 Forums

Bob wrote:

I keep getting asked about next years Nationals dates.
Well here is the low down. No excuses now - Not even for Keith Ball!!!!!!!!!!!

These details together with some pictures of Saundersfoot will soon appear in the events section of this web site.

The Sprint 15 National Championships
Saundersfoot 12-17 Aug 2007

Well we have booked Saundersfoot Sailing Club, Pembrokeshire for our 2007 National Championship. Saundersfoot is a lovely seaside town with a wide sandy beach about 3miles from picturesque Tenby. It is on a South East facing bay which is protected from the prevailing South Westerly winds and launching on firm sands is possible at all states of the tide. There are many nice places to sail to in the fun programme like Tenby, Caldey Island, Amroth, Pendine, etc. and the local Sailing Club is our sort of club (friendly and helpful). We have had very enjoyable National Championships there in 1994 and 1998 and many have expressed a desire to return. In fact we have tried to book this popular venue 3 times over the last few years but each time we have been pipped at the post by other classes. It is a very popular seaside holiday location and there are a number of holiday flats directly overlooking the beach and many cottages nearby but you have to book these early. They mostly are available for Saturday ? Saturday bookings. There are many camping and caravanning sites nearby and one is in walking distance of the beach.
For the non-sailors there are lots of things to do and see in the area. Tenby, St David?s, Pembroke, Caldey Island & its Monastery are all worth visiting. (for a full list see www.visitpembrokeshire.com).
The following is a draft programme for the week. The details will get firmed up nearer the time.
Draft Programme
Fun Events

Sunday 12 August
- Set up Boats
- Sailing /training in the bay
- Take part in the Saundersfoot Club Race late afternoon

Monday 13 August
- fun sail to Tenby & Caldey Island for lunch. (Landing on Caldey Island is subject to the approval of the Abbott)
- evening possibly treasure trail around Saundersfoot (or quiz in the Clubhouse)

Tuesday 14 August
- fun sail to Amroth for lunch
- Go-Kart Knock out competition (late afternoon)
- 9pm Pre-Championship drinks & welcome in the Clubhouse Bar

National Championships

Wednesday 15 August
- Briefing, Practice race, lunch & 2 Championship races
- BBQ
- AGM

Thursday 16 August
- 3 Championship Races (separated by lunch break)
- Championship Dinner Dance at local Hotel (hopefully walking distance)

Friday 17 August
- 2 Championship Races
- Lunch
- Prizegiving


Club Contact:
John Griffiths, Saundersfoot Sailing Club 01834 811129
www.saundersfootsailingclub.org.uk


Accommodation

Camping & Caravan Park

? Old Mill Caravan Park, Saundersfoot 01834 812657
(walking distance)


Static Caravans and Chalets

? Swallow Tree Gardens 01834 812398
www.swallowtree.com

? Saundersfoot Bay Leisure Park 01834 812284
www.saundersfootbay.co.uk

? Beachdean Leisure Park 01834 891643
www.beachdeanholidays.co.uk


Flats overlooking the Saundersfoot beach

? FBM Holidays (Agents for many in walking distance) 01834 844565
www.fbmholidays.co.uk

? Powells Cottage Holidays 01834 812791
www.powells.co.uk


Hotels, Cottages & Bed & Breakfast


? Too many to list - see under accommodation on:
www.visitpembrokeshire.com

Bob replied:

I've been trying to add this item to the chat page for more than a week & it kept failing with a fault message. I got tired of trying - hence my just testing additions. It seems like Jonathan has really fixed it now - if so, many thanks, Jonathan.
Bob
PS I'm bemused that I was the only one to heve problems. Had no one else experienced the same problem?

Eamonn replied:

Hi Bob,

The schedule of events for 2007 Nationals sounds very interesting. I have a few more questions though.

1) I looked on the Saundersfoot Sailing Club website and they make it clear that they do not have space for parking boats in their boat park although they mention that boats can be parked on the beach. However, where are trailers intended to be parked for the week? How are the boats normally tied down on the beach; are there solid anchor points available?

2) How family-orientated is the whole week. I realise the actual races will not be intended for family participation but are the other activities (e.g. the expeditions to the islands, picnics, karting etc) intended for family participation?

Eamonn.

Bob replied:

Hi Eamonn,
At Saundesfoot the trailers either go at the very top of the beach or in corners of the carpark near the sailing club. The boats go on the beach. We don't bother to to tie them down (it's mid summer) If there was gales forecast we would drop the masts. The cruising programme is good for families. We sail off to a place & get lunch 2 days. Families can either go on the boats or drive around & meet up with us at the lunch stop. Saundersfoot is a pretty family holiday location (I'll have the brouchers at Grafham tomorrow). If your family does not want to do the cruising you can do your own thing as a family for the non racing days. talk to other members of the Grafham fleet who have taken their families previous times (Frank Sandells, Richard Whitelock, Richard Philpott, William Tusting, etc). Often the families pal-up and do their own thing.
Cheers
Bob

Martin Searle replied:

Eamonn,

I attended the nationals there in 1994 and it was a great week. The actual racing was a bit too windy with a day being lost but the following week was great weather wise.

Boat parking was not really possible at the town beach when I arrived (some had already parked there though) so I and quite a lot of others ended up on the next beach along, with a large carpark and easy access to a sandy beach. Trailers were stored at the local primary schools playground. This meant that changing was rather back of the car sort of thing since it wasn't possible to walk to the club from where we were but no biggy since I was just wearing shorts as per normal. Thus you had to know the signals from the committee boat since that was the first contact you had each day with the club. So not ideal but nice for a bit of independence.

The highlight of the week for me was the cruise first to Tenby town beach for an ice cream and then across to Caldey Island for lunch and a game of French Cricket. The wind made trapeezing the whole way viable so it was great! We also did some go-karting and I had to visit some of my relatives there as well so I dragged along my dad since Tenby is his old home town and I needed help with the boat and things.

One thing too watch for is the Jellyfish! they are the size of dinner plates and make a big thunk when you hit them with your rudders. Some people even had Dolphins playing around their boats whilst sailing.

All in all a great week even if I did card 49th place (or something like that) of about 55!

Martin Searle
DartSprint 15 1331

George Stephen replied:

I've been to both the previous Saundersfoot Nationals.

The second time I went I took a very tatty "shopping bike", so I could ride the kilometre (perhaps I exaggerate...) from the "big cove/small beach" at the north end of the bay to the Club at the South end and my B&B.

I was the source of considerable jesting on the first day, but when this died away Paul Berry (another second timer, who later appeared on his classy mountain bike!) said something like "George will have the last laugh".

On the subsequent days I chained up the bike........

Seriously though, it enabled me to check out the Clubhouse for any relevant Notices, sign on and off, change etc etc and get around Saundersfoot by the quickest means.


George

PS Since then my wife has disposed of the tatty shopping bike. Can anyone lend me a bike.....