Dart 15 Winter TT at Draycote Water Sailing Club

For the third event of the Dart 15 winter series, the first of 2026, the day started sunny and frosty but with a bleak wind of around 3 knots when people turned up and started to get boats ready.

Special mention for the travellers from Shanklin and Marconi who made this event a 3-way club battle. It is quite an effort for all the travellers.

Liam Thom and Yvonne Pike make the most effort in our opinion as they drive a second-hand electric car and double stack the two Darts which reduces the range somewhat. But fair play they get here with one stop usually.

Top tip for all sailors is to check your tyre pressures, not just on your car but the trailer too (8 psi is a bit low don't you think...?) which necessitated a second comfort break.

Everyone had sought warmth in the wet bar of Draycote early so with everyone being present and an unfavourable wind for the afternoon it was decided to hold the briefing early.

Keith Chidwick had entered the event to sail his new purchase of 2026 off Andrew Berisford but Keith decided it was not his conditions. No amount of encouragement would get Andrew to take his place. The difficult conditions at Draycote were harsher than the southern ocean for Andrew: a circumnavigator.

The wind had picked back up but was forecast to drop of around 13:00 so it was decided to start the racing as early as possible with 2 short laps with the wind forecast to get 2 races in and if weather permitted a third could be done.

Dart 15 Winter TT at Draycote Water - photo © Tim Case and Dave Russell

Race 1

Race One started promptly at the earlier time of 11, with everyone figuring out which end of the line to start from, with Paul Tanner getting a good start above Liam at the pin end and everyone starting on starboard tack. Everyone started cleanly, which set the tone for all the starts of the day.

Those boats that chose to tack early onto port were rewarded with a handy lift when they tacked back onto starboard. Jenny Ball had a substantial lead over Yvonne Pike and Paul Tanner at the first mark. Behind them there were a few tight crosses including Ian Taylor attempting to tack under Liam Thom and getting marooned facing the wind. Everyone managed to avoid each other. Just.

Dart 15 Winter TT at Draycote Water - photo © Tim Case and Dave Russell

Yvonne Pike was doing well and was in second place behind Jenny at the end of the first lap. It had become clear how important it was to carry out clean tacks and think carefully about moves. There was tight racing throughout the fleet, with each position being heavily contested. Liam worked his way up to second place on lap two but Jenny's lead was sufficient to take the win with Christophe Clarke up to third.

1st: Jenny Ball
2nd: Liam Thom
3rd: Christophe Clarke

Dart 15 Winter TT at Draycote Water - photo © Tim Case and Dave Russell

Race 2

Race Two started swiftly afterwards, following the same course.

Jason Clarke had the best start in the middle of the line but was unable to hold his lane and Liam edged ahead and rounded the first mark in the lead.

Again, everyone started on starboard tack but a few tacked early onto Port having found slightly stronger winds on the east side of the lake on the previous race.

There were some very close racing throughout the race with a lot of changes in the midfield. There were two distinct tactics on the second upwind leg with most taking a port tack for the first leg before tacking onto starboard.

Steve Prince risked taking the middle route and going straight for the mark, at the mark there a lot of boats reaching in at once and some boats on port tack pushing the limits for those on starboard. This caused a few boats to get caught at the mark and allowed some others to catch up. At the finish there was some very close boats in the midfield and key was taking the shortest line and taking advantage of the gust.

Series leader Jason Clarke and local Jeremy Franklin caught up a whole leg in the last moments of the race as Liam was becalmed at the committee boat but Liam ghosted across the line just ahead.

1st: Liam Thom
2nd: Jason Clarke
3rd: Jeremy Franklin

Dart 15 Winter TT at Draycote Water - photo © Tim Case and Dave Russell

Race 3

With the wind decreasing but still good it was agreed to do the third race.

In the last minute before the start the wind backed to the left making a committee boat end start advantageous. It was all very close at the start, the fleet a bit more mixed this time on their tactics for the first beat. Everyone was very close racing around the first lap.

At the start of the second lap everyone had decided to pass the committee boat on the bank side but with the changing wind most tacked earlier than previously, this move paying off as those that carried on had dropped 4-5 places by the 1st mark. Jan Elfring also made up 4 or five places on the third leg of the final race where he picked the right downwind route and found himself in second on the 3rd leg.

Dart 15 Winter TT at Draycote Water - photo © Tim Case and Dave Russell

Liam continued to enjoy the easy conditions and held a lead to the finish.

Paul Tanner tacked early for the line and pipped him for the result. The rest of the fleet remained very close and were racing until the end. Meanwhile Jenny had made it up to 5th which was just enough to take the second place in the regatta on countback.

1st: Liam Thom
2nd: Paul Tanner
3rd: Jan Elfring

Overall Results: