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The Windsport Catparts Traveller Series for 2013 was concluded at Grafham on 26/27 October with our biggest traveller attendance (40) for more than 5 years which added to another big attendance of 37 at Thorpe Bay a few months earlier shows this cat class retains it’s popularity.

It was with some trepidation that the Sprint 15s gathered at Grafham on the weekend of 26/27 October for the Inland Championships and the last of the Summer Traveller series. The forecast was for strong winds leading up to an 80mph storm (St Jude) on Sunday night. Never the less an impressive 40 Sprint 15 sailors signed up for an exciting weekends sailing. The forecast on Saturday (18mph SW winds with gusts up to 30mph) looked sailable so Grafham played their trump card which was to bring one of the Sunday races forward to sail 4 races back to back on Saturday leaving just 2 races for Sunday (as the Sunday forecast was for strengthening winds).

A warm and sunny reception welcomed us at Northern Championships at Carsington SC on 21^st & 22^nd September. There was just enough wind to provide an enjoyable challenge to the seventeen competitors, fifteen of which were travellers. Fresh from his Nationals success, Stuart Snell dominated proceedings from the onset but the chasing pack were to be never far from his heels.

The Winter series timetable is now available on the website, click the link above!

We held our (almost) annual go-kart Grand Prix on Wednesday 28 August at the Liskeard Kart World straight after the sailing championships. We got excellent conditions and a new record attendance of 24 keen karters took part. Both clubs and families were well represented. Leading families included the Berisfords (4), the Bunyans (3) the Whaleys (3) The Galls (2 + Tom’s girlfriend), the Aldridges (2) and the Smiths (2). Club representation was as follows Carsington 4, Brightlingsea 4 (all Berisfords), Grafham 3, Swanage 3 (all Whaleys) Stewartby 3 (all Bunyans), Beaver 2, Draycote 2, Shanklin 2 and Worthing 1. As usual the competition was hot and as fiercely contested as the sailing.

The Sprint 15 Nationals took place at Pentewan Sands Sailing Club over the bank holiday weekend 25th to the 27th August. In total over 70 boats attended and many of the fleet are staying down for the remainder of the week for the fun events including the hotly contested go karting competition.

Nick Dewhirst's funeral took place on Friday 2 August and took the form of a celebration of Nick's life. There was a huge attendance including many Sprint 15 sailors and the speeches were very moving showing a wide range of Nick's achievements and interests. Sissy and Nick's family were very brave and made the theme the celebration of Nick's life.

The Class Association Committee have been working on the following tributes to Nick to recognise his huge contribution to the Sprint 15 Fleet over nearly 30 years.

This is the premier Cat sailing event across Europe which we can take part in under class C3. 

Eurocat is held in Carnac from 1 May to 4 May

We have managed to obtain some support from Key Camp for accommodation and either the ferry or tunnel; this includes a car, 4 passengers, boat and trailer, or you can make your own way and stay in a local hotel.

Dear Friends

Oli, Benny and I want to thank you all for your lovely messages and kind words. So many of you made the journey to Nick's farewell and most of you came such a long way. We were very touched by it and it is great comfort to know that you all wanted to be there say your Good byes. Nick would have loved to know this.

Nick loved his Dart 15 'family' and always looked forward to sailing with you all, occasionally beating some of you. But winning was not the most important thing to him - he always wanted to make sure that everybody had a good race and a good time afterwards.

Luckily Nick has left a wonderful legacy, bringing catamarans back into the Olympics, but sadly will not see it happen. Nick took great pride in doing what he thought was right and we are all so proud of his remarkable achievements in the sailing world as well as with all his other projects.

Thank you all again

Sissy, Oli and Benny