Dart 18 Traveller Series at Worthing Sailing Club

With temperatures on the Saturday more like a typical August day than mid-October and winds between 10 and 14 knots, 36 Dart 18s enjoyed near ideal sailing conditions at Worthing for the final tt event of the 2009 season.

The front of the fleet saw close racing with three boats competing for the overall Travellers Trophy, as well as this event – Dan Norman/Mel Rogers, Paul Wakelin/Jo Coe and Will Thomson/Zander Ozecton were all very close on overall points.

For the first race, the OOD set the now unusual sausage/triangle course and with the wind starting at around 12 knots and easing to little over 8 on the triangle lap, the long reaches were less than exciting! National Champions Dave and Louise Roberts established a comfortable lead in ‘www.sailingbooks.co.uk’, with Paul Wakelin/Jo Coe in ‘Fluid Boat Services’ in second and Local sailors Joffan and Robby Jon Garka third.

In the second race, the OOD reverted to the upwind/downwind course and the wind filled in again to get all the crews on the trapeze. Dave and Louise Roberts again established a comfortable lead, this time followed home by followed by the Sheppey team and ex-World Cahmpions Dan Norman/Mel Rogers and Paul Wakelin/Jo Cole third.

By the start of the third race, the tide had turned pushing the fleet over the line, which made starting difficult. With some of the front runners expecting a General Recall, they had some catching up to do when the recall flag stayed down! Paul Wakelin/Jo Cole finished a consistent day with a bullet and local sailors Joffan and Robby JonGarcka took the second, followed by Dave and Louise Roberts in third.

Sunday was a very different day – overcast and windy – 18 – 22 knots, with big waves. The heavy weather experts enjoyed the conditions with the Dee S.C. team of Wil Thompson/Zander Ozectopn taking line honours from Jamie Lynch and Jamie Ferguson of Newhaven close behind and the ever consistent Paul Wakelin/Jo Coe clocking up another third.

The next race was very similar, but this time Dan Norman/Mel Rogers got their act together and won by a good margin from Joffan Garcka and R Garcka. Paul Wakelin/Jo Coe managed another third.

Everything rested on the last race and Dan Norman/Mel Rogers won comfortably again. When Dave and Louise Roberts overtook Paul Wakelin/Jo Coe on the final leg, it meant that the event was won by Dan Norman/Mel Rogers on countback. Just two points separated the top three boats after 6 races. This result was good enough for Paul Wakelin to win the Travellers Trophy – as he said – won the war, lost the battle.

The scene is set for a great 2010 in the Dart 18 fleet with the Worlds in Weymouth, Nationals in June at Stokes Bay, with a number of sailors looking forward to getting new boats over the winter.

Results

1 Dan Norman/ Mel Rogers – Sheppey SC 12pts
2 Paul Wakelin/Jo Coe – Mumbles SC, ‘Fluid’ 12 pts
3 Dave and Louise Roberts – Stokes Bay SC, ‘www.sailingbooks.co.uk’ – 13 pts
4 Joffan and Robby Garcka – Worthing – 19pts
5 Jamie Lynch/Jamie Fergussen – Newhaven – 21 pts
6 Bryan Phipps/Max Petlenick – Restrnguet SC, ‘Windsport’ – 24pts