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In time honoured tradition, the Dart 15 fleet completed their 2025 Summer Traveller Series with their Inland Championships at Grafham Cat Open.  It was great to see so many entries across various cat classes – around ninety boats in total split into fleets across two race courses.  The Dart 15s were sharing their course with the mixed handicap fleet of mostly Dart 18s, Shearwaters and Catapults  but with a separate start.

Sponsored by Gurit, Spinlock and Fernhurst Books.

Forty six boats entered the Dart 15 Sport Nationals at Shanklin with 25 local sailors taking part as well as 9 from North Devon Yacht Club.  We had once again lured Nigel and Fiona Denchfield to the south east of the Isle of Wight with the promise of sunshine, flat water and a constant breeze.

However we sent them out in a grey, cold F4 north-easterly in a bijoux fishing boat with a building sea state.

The racing was incredibly close from start to finish with nobody dominating a single race, let alone the regatta.  Seven different sailors won races and the champion wasn’t known until the scores got entered after the third day.  Frequently the best course was to find a way to tack early to harness the best tides and those that turned right earliest usually prospered.

A stellar weekend of champagne sailing for our first visit to Bridlington - the 2025 Dart 15 fleet Nationals sponsored by Noble Marine insurance really was a weekend to remember!

Forty two competitors arrived to a very warm welcome from the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club and, with the help of the trusty tractor brigade, got their trailers onto the beach and set up in bright sunshine.

At the briefing on Friday morning, Commodore Joe Franks and Events Secretary Jenny Ball welcomed sailors and set out the schedule both on and off the water for the next three days.  The forecast was for bright sunshine, warm weather and moderate breeze - but we would be spared the heatwave experienced elsewhere in the country.

The sailors set off for the first of three races on day 1 out into Bridlington Bay with views all the way up to Flamborough Head in the north and down to Spurn Point to the south.   The Race Management team was headed up by Race Officer Tim Saltonstall, ably supported by RYYC members on the Committee boat and on the safety boats.  The course was our usual square which was laid promptly and racing got underway on time in generally Force 2-3 breezes.

Champagne Sailing at Tankerton Bay

Tankerton Bay enters the Dart 15 circuit with a bang!

A brilliant weekend was had by all on the North Kent coast where TBSC hosted the Southern Championships.  With 13 home sailors (12 of whom had never entered a Dart 15 event) and 12 travellers, a fleet of 25 boats looked forward to the promise of sunshine (forecast up to 30 C) and SW F4 winds on Saturday, although the forecast for Sunday was decidedly flaky.

The second Dart 15 Summer TT of 2025 took place as part of the Cat Open at Rutland.  Twelve Dart 15s took part alongside colleagues from the Catapult, Dart 18, A Class, F16, F18, Nacra 15, Nacra 20 and Spitfire Classes.

The classes were split into four fleet starts and at the briefing, the Race Officer explained the different courses to be sailed.

The AGM will take place on the Friday 11th July at Bridlington Sailing Club at 17.30pm unless notified.

Any matters that the membership wishes to raise at the AGM to be sent to the secretary by the 20th June 2025

The first Summer TT of 2025 was held at Marconi Sailing Club on the River Blackwater in Essex.

With support from Alex Metcalf of Windsport International and race officers Nigel and Fiona Denchfield.

With glorious sunshine set for the weekend, some sailors arrived early on Friday to get a lay of the land and go for a cruise with some of the local sailors.  However, due to light winds and tide, this turned into a drift, and the need for some paddling to get back. Yet Saturday morning broke and conditions were looking a lot more promising, with more sunshine and an easterly breeze.

The 26 Dart 15s registered and fuelled up on bacon rolls and breakfasts from the galley keeping Nick and Tracey very busy. Sailors and families caught up in the boat park and club house before a briefing for the weekend was held lead by our Events Secretary Jenny and Race Officer Nigel.