Dart 15 Forums

Hi guys, I would just like to thank all of you who sent your thoughts and good wishes from the Sport Nationals at Gurnard.
It was great to hear from all of you and to hear that we have a new Sport Champion - well done Robin!!
I am, at present, quite well after my radiotherapy treatment but as my eyesight doesn't look like improving it is most unlikely that I will ever sail again. I do keep track of what is happening via this site and would love to hear what you are all up to-my email address is still the same so if you feel like getting in touch, please do!
I have also had to resign as editor of the magazine. I have really enjoyed putting your articles and photo's together and taking the proverbial 'michael' at times and feel sure that my successor will do a great job.
Health permitting I fully intend to be at Saundersfoot in August and hope to see you all then.
Once again, many thanks, keep in touch and happy sailing.
Paul (ex 1961)

Hi Paul,
Just a quick note of thanks for all you have done for the Dart 15 /Sprint 15 class.
My first record of you sailing a Dart 15 was in 1994 when you sailed the Cocktail boat #1736 – you took part in the traveller series and the Nationals in 1994 and have done ever since. On the water you became a very competitive sailor and were particularly difficult to beat on inland waters and when the wind was not too strong. When George (Carter) sailed at Beaver for a few years he particularly savoured the competition between you, him & Steve Hanby - the regular fast guys who would sail on a Sunday. You became particularly canny in the light and shifty winds but could not be written off in anything. At National Championships you were a regular – as was Carol - leading the Beaver ladies wine drinking parties on the beach when quite often a crate of white wine would get put to good use. As time went on son, Matt, also got a boat and more recently you have had to suffer the indignity where you have been beaten by your son (join the club!). You have won many awards in your time sailing – these include many open meetings, Inland Champion, Northern Champion, Winter Series, the Pentewan plaque (race 1 at the Nationals) and many more.
At the end of 2002 you agreed to join the committee and to take responsibility for editing & producing the magazine. You were nervous at first but have done a fantastic job over the last 4 years of producing a high quality magazine for our members. The first edition (renamed NewSprint) was in January 2003 and since then you have produced some of the best editions we have ever had. Many of our members will not be aware of some of the other things you have done. Each year you have produced an Alexandra Palace special edition magazine. This is a thin (8 or 12 page) introductory magazine we give out to new punters. I think it sets us apart from other classes as is shows what a friendly and approachable class we are. Once we started the activity up to get new boats from South Africa, your ability as a Graphic artist came to the fore aided and abetted by son, Matt. We ran a competition for the new logo and collected entries. The committee plus Windsport and Ian Fraser were the voting panel and it was your input which won – so the logo which we all see on the website, on the magazine, on the rear of our boats, on all of our paperwork was designed by Paul Smith. In addition I have always been keen on the annual special editions to brighten up the boats and to act as an indication of the date of manufacture (like car registration letters). It was you who came up with the “Out of Africa” name and the superb graphic which is on the new boats. A great achievement.
Apart from all the above you have done a host of small things such as organise an original replacement Northern Trophy, produced digital master of our event poster since I retired in 2005, coordinate the Northern circuit and much more besides.
It is very sad that you had to give up for health reasons when you were at the top of the game and still relatively young.
Paul - you will be sorely missed both on the water and as an active committee member. Thank you for all that you have done and we look forward to seeing you socially whenever you can make it.
Regards
Bob Carter

Because of Paul's illness and unfortunate resignation we will not be able to produce a magazine before the Nationals. We expect to announce the appointment of a new Magazine editor soon and hope to get a magazine out in the autumn. We hope that our members will understand.