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LBSA Handicap Division Yachts Class
Captain - Andrew Hiscocks
Hunter Delta 25
Hunter Boats decided to fill the gap in their range between the National Sonata and the Impala Offshore One Design, the result being the Hunter Delta. They were able to draw together many of the successful features incorporated in the former two yachts, together with the lifting keel experience from the smaller Medina. As a basis for speed it was decided to adopt similar hull characteristics to the Sonata to ensure good all round performance coupled with light but docile handling qualities.
Displacement is in the light to moderate category and the aim was for a hull that was able to sail fast in all conditions rather than one that was capable of flashes of brilliance in the hands of expert helmsmen. The soft ‘U’ sectioned forebody and sharpened after waterline achieved these qualities and combined with low wetted surface area and ample form stability ensured a well mannered yacht capable of sailing within her rating.
Good windward performance is given high priority and the draft with the lifting keel fully lowered is to the maximum unpenalised depth allowed by IOR.
A fractional rig with its advantages of performance and economy was a logical choice. It is rigged with swept back spreaders to obviate the need for running backstays. The proportion of mainsail to foretriangle is very important and in the Delta these have been chosen to enable the yacht to carry her largest Genoa in quite strong winds when racing. Towards the end of the production run, the rig was changed from 3/4qtrs to 7/8ths to take further advantage of her good ballast ratio of 40%.
The cast iron keel is of constant section and lifts vertically. When lowered it is permanently locked down and the top of the trunk is sealed. Lifting is by way of a hydraulic ram.
The Delta’s accent is on comfortable cruising accommodation as well as sailing performance. As with all Hunter boats a lot of thought went into the outboard well installation. Here the motor can be lowered directly from its stowage well, which is forward of the waterline ending, to ensure good drive in rough seas with the propeller always immersed.
Below decks the Delta has five berths and 5 feet 7 inches headroom, a good galley and a fully enclosed Heads compartment. The standard of accommodation was to satisfy the owner whose priorities are evenly divided between convenience and performance.
The Delta's vital statistics, in 7/8ths form, are as follows:
| Dimensions: |
LOA 7.7 metres
LWL 6.17 metres
Beam 2.75 metres
Draft (Keel raised) 0.3 metres
Draft (Keel lowered) 1.5 metres |
| Displacement: |
Displacement 1727 kilograms
Ballast Ratio 40% |
| Designer: |
David Thomas |
| Engine: |
Outboard 5 to 8hp |
| Accommodation: |
2 berths forward
Separate Heads to starboard with wet hanging space
Main cabin with 2 berths and 1 quarter berth
Galley to Port with twin burner/grill |
| Sail Area: |
J : 2.4 metres
I : 7.6 metres
P: 8.8 metres
E : 3.3 metres |
| Number Built: |
80 |
| Variants: |
Lift Keel, Fin and Twin. |
| Years of Manufacture: |
1980 to 1984 |
| Secondhand Purchase Values: |
£10000 - £14000 (Prices from 'Sailing Today' magazine). |
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CRUISING YACHT FLEET
Cruising Yacht Fleet Captain - Dr Richard Mounce
This fleet is made up of a wide variety of boats sailed on the Dee, Mersey and much further afield. Contact Dr Richard Mounce for more information.
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HANDICAP MONOHULLS CRUISING AND RACING FLEET
MONOHULL RACING
High Performance: I am very interested to hear from anyone with leanings towards racing the following: Canoe, Contender, RS600, RS700, B14, 505, Osprey, 49er etc.
General Handicap: There's plenty of eligible candidates on the books for racing in the handicap class. Please do have a go. It is easy to put a race on for you. If you haven't raced before - don't worry - there are those who will gladly help out. Just ask.
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Being all GRP construction it is also the low maintenance option for those who would rather not varnish.
Go and drool at www.laser.org.uk |
The Dee Laser paragraph!
The Laser is becoming popular at Dee. I think I have counted five so far and a couple of variants in the fleet. The boat seems popular due to the keen helm not having to find crew. I say, check your personal hygiene! Anyway, for all you people who would rather sail solo then the Laser is a popular boat within a competitive handicap fleet. Crew weight is recommended to be above 60kg. A manageable length of 4.23m with a beam of 1.4m and a 59kg hull and a 7.06m sail gives adequate performance, which can be quite a challenge in windier weather.
Designed by Bruce Kirby it sails off a PY of 1078 which gives close racing with the Wayfarers. |
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Phantoms at the Dee
The Phantom has proved to an ideal choice of single hander for the more ?muscularly' built sailors at Dee Sailing Club, and has performed well on handicap in variety of conditions in races on the estuary and marine lake.
Phantoms are available from a few hundred pounds right up to the latest Ovington built ?plastic phantastics'
The Phantom was designed by Paul Wright and Brian Taylor in 1971. They wanted to produce a single-hander that was exciting to sail, manageable and at the same time affordable to build. It isn't possible to design a boat that will accommodate all weights, even in these days of 'wings' and equalisation systems. As there were already boats on the market for the lighter helms they decided to design a boat that was both comfortable and fast for larger sailors. A Phantom sailor shouldn't weigh less than 10 stone, and is most suitable for those in the weight range of 12 -18 stone (76 -115 Kg). One advantage with the phantom is that both the class association and the designers view the development of the class in a proactive manner always providing that care is taken not to outclass older boats. Latterly the design has been modified to incorporate self draining cockpits and carbon spars. Additionally the design allows freedom in cockpit design and sailors are therefore able to develop cockpit sail and rig control systems that suit their individual requirements.
A one design high performance single-hander the Phantom has a hard chine hull with a deep 'V' bow, a flat run aft, and planes easily. With her lightweight hull and large rig on a stayed mast she has a high power to weight ratio, but is stable and responsive. There is no trapeze or spinnaker and she can carry a wide range of helm weights. The Phantom is suitable for home construction using the stitch and glue method or can be bought professionally built in GRP foam sandwich, or wood.
LOA 4.42 m -14\'6" |
Beam 1.64 m - 5\'6" |
Mast Height 6.1 m - 20\' |
Sail Area 9.75 sqm - 105 sqft |
Weight 61 kg - 134.2 lb |
Rig Una |
Crew One |
The Phantom is available in a variety of designs.
1. Conventional Wooden either with or without a self draining hull
2. Polyester ( the early Vandercraft Phantoms were constructed using this material)
3. Composite - GRP or Epoxy hull with wooden decks
4. Epoxy self draining hull
Rig & Sails
In addition to conventional alloy rigs, the Phantom may be fitted with a carbon mast and boom which increases power and responsiveness. The Phantom uses a sail with the same area as the Fireball and this huge area combined with the latest materials used in the manufacture of the hull and high tech rig gives the helm a fantastic sailing experience.
Various masts and boom combinations are available depending upon helm weight and ability. Traditional masts by Proctor, Wavelength and Superspars are available as well as Carbon masts by Proctor and Superspars. The addition of a carbon mast, whilst not a necessity does seem to improve boat handling and response to gusts but many association members sail with conventional \'tin\' rigs and are very competitive. Carbon booms do seem to have a distinct advantage the biggest being that it does not hurt as much when gybing.
The Phantom sail has an incredibly powerful leach and the helm can spend much of the time trying to de-power the rig to bring the boat under control. The rig employs an adjustable forestay that allows the mast to be adjusted on the water and this combined with a powerful kicker system and plenty' of hiking will make the boat somewhat more forgiving.
Sails are available from a variety of manufacturers in Dacron, Kevlar and other materials. Full cut and flat cut sails can be made depending upon helm weight, choice of rig and type of hull.
The Phantom is an outstanding racing machine that is growing in popularity with each passing season. With 65 boats at the last Nationals and with some world class helms being recently recruited to the class we hope that you too will be seduced by the beautiful design and join us.
For more details contact Ian ? ?Phantom Raspberry Blower'
Thanks to the Phantom Association for the use of text and images
www.phantomclass.org
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WAYFARER & DAY CRUISER FLEET
Wayfarer & Day Cruiser Fleet Captain - Doug Reeson
For 2007 the Wayfarer fleet at Dee will be at least 12 boats strong.
I am confident that we now have one of the largest fleets in the North and with the friendly welcome we provide at Dee, we are sure to gather more. We have arrived!
The Wayfarer is the main item on the agenda but the fleet also encompasses anything of PY 1032 and above which really means medium and family monhulls rather than the out and out capsize machines such as the International Canoe as favoured by the faster section (above). A PY of 1032 has been chosen to split the monhulls because that is split used in the Wirral Regatta series, although we race as one handicap dinghy fleet.
More details on the Wirral Regattas series can be found on www.wirralregattas.org.uk. The Handicap monohulls are really, to my mind, the only truly open class of competition in the regattas. All the clubs seem to have their own specialist fleets. I.E. cats at Dee, GPs at West Kirby and so on.
Dee SC Wayfarers at Ullswater 04
CRUISING PROGRAM
Wayfarers are superb sea boats, they deal well with the estuary and despite having the image of beginners' boat, the more you put in, the more they'll do. One of our boats has done the trip from Dee SC to Conway in a day
and also spent several days sailing from Dee S C, round Anglesey and back singlehanded.
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In addition , Sundays are the club's main race day and Wayfarers race with the Handicap Monohull fleet fro which Paul Oliver is fleet captain. Everyone is welcome to join in, and ? going round the cans ? is good sailing practice. You don't have to be ultra competitive to join in, and if you want, you can just have leisurely cruise behind the rest ? In fact you might even finish up at the front after a few attempts and win a pot! ? For those who want to join in the racing but are worried about the start and the rules we hope to organise some ? racing for beginners? sessions within the Saturday training programme. Also on some Sundays are the Round Hilbre Series of races. This provides an ideal opportunity for the Wayfares to cruise round the island , go to sea, and see the seals with rescue cover available for the whole trip.
The Wayfarer Class Association also organizes a number of cruising rallies and a Travellers Trophy racing series in various inland, estuary and Coastal venues throughout the season. The Wayfarer class association is well worth joining, and the Wayfarer book well worth buying. www.wayfarer.org.uk
So, what to do if you don't have a Wayfarer? Join in anyway! We have at last count 12 Wayfarers, 1 Wanderer, 1 Enterprise, 2 GP's, 1 Laser Stratos, 1 National 12, several Mirrors in the junior fleet and sundry others. Equally, we are always looking for crews so don't feel that you need a boat to join in the dinghy cruising scene.
"Setting off" on the Dee
With the cruising and racing plans laid out for the coming season all that it now requires is for folk to turn up and get the boats on the water.
See the For Sale section at www.wayfarer.org.uk also see the for sale section at Dee.
Should people wish to try Wayfarer sailing without purchasing then I can accommodate crew on occasion. There is also a crew exchange bureau on the bulletin board where potential sailors can find potential helms and vice versa. It is worth noting that as well as being a successful fleet in itself, the Dee monohulls also serve as a useful fleet for the
rest of the club. As class Captain I have links with other fleets and regularly slot interested crew on to a variety of cats and cruisers. This means that the monohull fleet should be your first port of call when you join Dee and when you settle down it should be your fleet of choice.
Anyone wishing to join us or want further information on Wayfarers either contact me by e mail at wayfarers@dee-sc.co.uk or come to the club and ask for the Wayfarer crowd.
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MIRRORS & JUNIOR HANDICAP MONOHULL FLEET
Mirror & Junior Handicap Monohull Fleet Captain - Dave Ewing
THE INTERNATIONAL MIRROR DINGHY
Safe family sailing and racing performance at an affordable price
The International Mirror Class Dinghy is one of the most versatile sailing dinghy ever produced. Designed to satisfy both the safety needs of families and the demands of the Junior club racer, it is an extraordinary international success, with over 70,000 Mirror Dinghies owned worldwide.
If you are hoping to introduce the younger members of your family to the pleasure of sailing, no other training dinghy offers comparable value for money. Indeed, many of today's most famous yachtsmen learned to sail with the Mirror. Built in buoyancy tanks and high stability make it particularly safe for beginners. Equally important, children always feel secure because they sit in, rather than on, a Mirror Class Dinghy.
For more experienced sailors, the special appeal of the Mirror is that it is raced competitively at every level. And whether you choose to race single‑handed or with a crew, use both sails or just one or even fly a spinnaker, you will be impressed by its performance.
SAFETY- The Mirror is remarkably strong, buoyant and stable
SIMPLICITY- The Mirror is the ideal first dinghy for learners
PERFORMANCE - The Mirror is raced competitively all over the world
CONVENIENCE- The Mirror is light enough to be carried by two people and transported by car roof-rack or trailer.
VERSATILITY- You can row it, motor it and sail it!
The Mirror Class Dinghy is a great little all-rounder - designed for the whole family, from the very youngest sailing enthusiast through to the very oldest. Equally suitable for training or racing, it is buoyant, portable and extremely simple to sail.
Specification
| Length: |
10'10"(3.30m) |
| Beam: |
4'7'(1.40m) |
| Weight Hull |
100lbs (45.5kg) |
| Weight Complete |
135lbs (61.4kg) |
| Sail Area Main |
49 sq ft (4.64m) |
| Sail Area Jib |
20 sq ft (1.89) |
Recognised RYA youth Class.
Many of the top UK sailors started their sailing careers in the Mirror including.
Stuart Childerley, Ian Walker, Pete Goss and the late John Merricks
Designers Jack Holt and Barry Bucknell
Maximum number of persons 4
Stability and buoyancy assessed to ISO 12217
Interested please contact David Harris
POINTS TO CHECK
q With a sharp knife examine the floor of the cockpit, especially around the centreboard case, for rot. . Most Mirrors are varnished inside. Beware of one which has been painted inside, this may have been done to hide signs of rot.
q Look for areas which are stained black under the varnish? This may be a sign that water has penetrated the wood.
q Look out for any de-lamination of the ply This is a sign of advanced decay and will be expensive to repair. Examine the glass tape on the seams and joints. If white it means it has become detached from the wood.
q Examine the outside of the hull for signs of damage. If the corners are rounded at some point or if there are any bumps or hollows, this may be a sign that the boat has been damaged. Repairs to the hull may not be serious if they have been done properly, but talk to the owner.
q Check the hull is not twisted. This could be a sign that the boat was not built properly or left for long periods half full of water.
FINDING A SECOND-HAND MIRROR
The price of a second-hand Mirror depends on how well it was built, what condition it is in, whether it has a measurement certificate and what extras it has, rather than on its age (sail number). A boat built by Widebeam or one of the other licensed kit assemblers will have been built to a good standard. But a kit boat built privately with real care and attention to detail can be even better.
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OPTIMISTS
International Optimist
The Optimist dinghy is a safe and stable boat designed for children to learn to sail. It is 7' 6" by 3' 8", flat-bottomed, hard-chined and weighs 77lbs.
The Optimist is easy to handle requiring control of just one sheet and the rudder. Whilst simple to rig it still presents a challenge when the more experience sailors seek the ultimate rig tuning for any particular conditions. In this way the Optimist offers plenty of opportunity for young sailors to grow and learn.
The Optimist typically attract sailors from around 7 to 15 years of age and is the only dinghy approved by the International Sailing Federation exclusively for sailors under 15 years of age.
The Optimist track record speaks for itself, with over 400,000 boats in 80 countries, virtually 50% of all of the sailing medal winners at the Sydney Olympics were former Optimist sailors.
So if your children are keen to sail the only questions left to ask are "Where do we find an Optimist?" and "How do we join Dee Sailing Club ?".
Development
DSC recognises that the future success of the club will in part depend on the continued introduction of new members and especially families. The introduction of three club-owned DART 16 catamarans last year now provides an ideal stepping stone for sailors to move between the already popular Mirror Dinghy class and many of the adult classes.
The Optimist class completes the picture by providing an opportunity for children starting around 7 years of age to become involved in sailing.
In response to this initiative several DSC members have acquired Optimist dinghies and many more are looking to follow suit. Optimists (and Blue Peters) now sail regularly and are included in the DSC sailing program. Interested parents are invited to bring their children along and have a go.
Interested please contact Pete Spedding
Buyer's Guide
Optimist dinghies are manufactured in three different materials; wood, glass-reinforced plastic and plastic. Each material has its own characteristics broadly as follows:
| Material |
Cost (used) |
Weight |
Durability |
Aesthetics |
| Wood |
Moderate (~£500) |
Moderate |
Excellent |
Excellent |
| GRP |
High (£1000 +) |
Minimum |
Good |
Good |
| Plastic |
Moderate (~£300) |
Heavy |
Indestructible |
Poor |
Wooden boat checklist
- Check that the boat is ready to sail (see parts list) ask the owner to rig the boat.
- Check the hull for signs of damage and poor repair work. When was the boat last re-painted and why? Have there been any major repairs?
- Check that all fittings are secure. The mast foot is known to break free; check that the wood is sound in this area.
- Check the weight of the boat, two adults can lift the boat easily with one at each side.
- Check the main sail for signs of damage around the fixing points.
If in doubt about any of the points above come and have a look at one of the boats at the club and talk it through with the owner.
Optimist parts list
Hull (with mast foot, pintels, toe straps, mainsheet blocks (2), buoyancy bag straps, daggerboard elastic)
Rudder (with folding tiller extension)
Daggerboard
Buoyancy bags (3)
Mainsail
Boom (with outhaul cleat and rope, kicking strap and mainsheet block)
Mast (with sprit cleat, block and control wire, kicking strap cleat, burgee)
Sprit
Mainsheet
Painter
Cover (optional)
Launching Trolley (optional)
Road Trailer (optional)
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FAST CATAMARANS
Fast Handicap Catamaran Fleet 2008 - Fleet Information.
Now established as the second largest fleet in the Club, the Fast Handicap Catamaran fleet has continued to grow with the regular addition of new boats and new members. But it's not just new members to the Club that have helped grow the fleet. Whilst both the Dart 18 and 16 are undoubtedly successful cats and remain popular at the Club, they are not suited to everyone, particularly crews with a combined weight above 150 kilos. Above this weight, you're firmly into the Fast Cat league whether it be 18ft or 20ft. But fast does not mean unmanageable. All the cats that fall into this class are specifically designed to carry larger sail areas, many including spinnakers. Twin trapeze is the norm and equipment levels allow crews to easily control the increased power. All this translates into faster sailing which is why we all buy catamarans in the first place and is why a number of Club members from other fleets have decided to move up to the Fast Cat fleet
You may also be thinking that faster means more expensive but this is also a myth. The newest models of Fast Cats are expensive, being aimed at the top 10% of racers who want the best equipment that their sponsor's money can buy. Obviously, club sailors want the latest and greatest as well, so you will find a good smattering of the latest boats at any club. Markets being what they are, the acquisition of the latest kit creates a supply of last year's kit, which everybody knows is really to all intents just as good as this year's. This makes for an excellent supply of top quality equipment at knock-down prices. The first wave of spinnaker boats now sell for about a quarter of their original value, and still have many years of service left in them, especially for the club sailor. The two-sail designs are slightly older and are now mostly available in the £1,000 - £2,500 price range. These boats probably have another ten years useful life in them - at least!
A quick scan of the 'for sale' pages on www.catamaran.co.uk will reveal a number of cats at very attractive prices. Second hand Prindle 19's and 18-2's, Hobie 18's, and a variety of Formula 18 cats can be picked up quite cheaply and will still give years of competitive service.
Does old mean 'no hope'? Not in our fleet! As a 'handicap' fleet, when we race, we adjust our actual elapsed times by a handicap to reflect the boat's theoretical design speed (whereas one-design fleets such as the Darts race on the basis of first home wins). Hence, in a handicapped fleet, a 'slow' boat sailed to its potential will win races over 'fast' boats that are not sailed as well - so in our club, results are NOT about what you spend. We take this principle one step further by additional changes to the handicaps for the older designs, as we recognise that although the national bodies might see an old and a new boat as equal, in reality the old design is a little slower. So you can enter our Fast Cat fleet on an older boat and get a leg up in the handicaps.
So what are the best cats to look for?
Which Cat?
Formula 18
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Formula 18 is as close to a one design as can be whilst allowing any manufacturer to produce their own boat to the same rules. In the UK the popular boats are the Nacra Inter 18/F18 and Fusion, Hobie Tiger, Capricorn, and Hawk. No one design has proved totally dominant with major National and International events being won by a wide variety of boats. Three F18s are raced regularly at the club. |
Hurricane 5.9 and 4.9
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A well established class in the UK with a successful racing circuit. Designed as a trainer for the Olympic Tornado it has recently been up rated with the addition of a spinnaker. There are two 5.9's at Dee, and a 4.9 is expected to sail this year, in single-hander mode! |
Nacra 6.0/5.5
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High performance catamarans from the USA, the birth place of beach cat sailing. Nacra 6.0's are ideal for the 'heavier' crew. Described as the 'biggest, the fastest, the ultimate', the 6.0 is surprisingly manageable and gives a superb ride. The Nacra 6.0 is an excellent sea boat having been used for the Worrel 1000 race over a number of years and is therefore the perfect large cat for the Dee Estuary. There are three 6.0's at Dee. |
Prindle 19/18-2
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American built equivalents of the Hurricane 5.9, ie designed as training boats for the Olympic Tornado. The 19 is for heavier crews and both boats can be picked up second hand at very attractive prices but will still give years of great sailing and racing. |
Hobie 18
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The Hobie 18 is a high performance, twin trapeze cat for medium weight crews. There are two Hobie 18's at Dee.
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Inter 17
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A single handed flying machine complete with asymmetric spinnaker. Other options for the solo sailor could be the various F16s, Hobie FX1 or the Hobie 17. There are two Inter 17's at Dee.
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Spitfire and F16
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A recent new variant at the DSC is the Spitfire, with two now at the club. This is a 16' high speed flying machine suited to the lighter crews, and is currently giving the F18s a run for their money on the water. Other Formula 16 Cats are more specifically designed to be sailed by a solo sailor without the jib, as direct competitors to the A Cats, or two-up with the jib in direct competition to the F18s. The Stealth is the most popular of the UK F16 variants - apart from the Spitfire! |
Shadow
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The latest recruit to the fleet is the Shadow one-design single-hander. This has the same rating as the Inter 17, and is a little smaller at 16 feet, and a lot lighter! |
Topaz 16 CX
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The Topaz is another newcomer to the fleet. This is a verstatile entry level boat, suitable for one or two-up sailing, with the excitement of twin trapeze and spinniker. |
Other Handicap cats at the Club include Hobie 16 and a Prindle 16. There are of course other options and all are welcome.
2008 Racing Programme
Club racing consists of five main series with three races each Sunday. Courses have been specifically designed to suit the faster cats with longer legs. Courses are typically triangular with upwind/downwind orientation, so all points of sailing can be experienced. The full programme is available in the Sailing Info section of the web site. |
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Events
The Fast Cat Fleet is active in the North West, typically taking part in all the local open events, such as Bala at the May Day Holiday weekend, Pwllheli Long Distance Race in May and Red Wharf Bay's 'Angelsey Offshore Race' in late July.
So, if you're looking for great racing in the fastest cats at very reasonable entry costs, then look no further than the Fast Handicap Cat Fleet at Dee SC.
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Dart 16
Fleet Captain - Paul Oliver
The Dart 16 fleet is a one-design fleet, oriented to the youth and entry level sailor.
Paul & Michelle Roberts at West Cheshire SC Regatta 2000
Photo by Derek Atkinson www.wallasey-yacht-club.fsnet.co.uk
The Dart 16 was designed in 1997 by Yves Loday, an Olympic gold medallist, who also designed the Spitfire, Shadow, and the F18 Hawk and VX40, which can also be found in Dee's Fast Cat fleet. (well, maybe not the VX40!!).
It is easy to see the similarities between the Dart 16 and the Spitfire, yet the boats have totally different characteristics.
The Dart 16 provides exciting performance, which can easily be handled by inexperienced crews making her ideal for beginners and youth sailors, as it's exceptionally stable and forgiving.
In high winds, mainsail reefing is an option and the jib can be furled in seconds, on shore or afloat.
The hull shape with skegs (like the Dart 18) avoids the need for daggerboards which is a great advantage for sailing on the Dee Estuary.
The rudder system for the Dart 16 is easy to raise and lower and automatically kicks up should the rudders touch the seabed.
Dart 16s are made from amazingly tough plastic (Tecrothene 121) also used on the Laser Pico, which provides a unique combination of strength and rigidity.
The Dart 18 association UKIDA took in the Dart 16 and in 1999 started its first TT series which consisted of 4 events.
In 2000 the TT series had 5 events starting at Dee Sailing club at Easter and also held the First ever Dart 16 National Championships where 3 DSC members took part.
Dart 16s at DSC Dart Open 2000
In 2001 Dee Sailing Club has had a huge influence in the Circuit racing with 7 boats taking part in the series, which has made Dee the largest active fleet for Dart 16s.
Paul Roberts and his sister Michelle became National Champions at Worthing in 2001.
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DART 18
Welcome to the biggest class of catamarans in the North West, the Dart 18. Over 25 years in existence, it is the most popular catamaran in Great Britain today. Some designs have it and the Dart 18 definitely does - strict one design class rules, close racing, good social life and most of all a really friendly class association.
Here are some of the many things said about the Dart 18 :
- "The beautiful Dart 18 Catamaran, 18ft long, 7ft 6ins wide, 173 sq ft of sail can be sailed by one person or two. Weighs the same as a GP14 or Enterprise dinghy but has kick up rudders, no center boards and no boom."
- "Unlike many high performance designs you do not spend more time maintaining, preparing and tuning than you do actually sailing."
- "Reassuring stability, silent acceleration, exhiliration and WOW! Are a few of the words that you would hear in the dinghy park."
- "Dreaming of trapezing on a Dart 18 keeps you going through the whole working week."
- "The Dart 18 has a good re-sail value, rigging takes under 30 minutes and it is easy to tow behind a small car."
- "The Dart class association operates a personal handicap system to give all owners a fair crack at the prizes."
So 25 years on the Dart is still a competitive and friendly class. It has not lost it's edge but has matured with age. "The Wind is free, come and sail at the D.S.C."
Dart 18 Class Captain - James Douglas
Pictured here "Bogtrotter II" the Dart 18 of James Douglas crewed by Jenny Clark.
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Rescue Team
Captain - TBA
Photo copyright Peter Netwon
Welcome to the best looking class in the North West, the Rescue Team. The only fleet that has been there through the entire existence of the club's history and the only one guaranteed to be seen out at club racing come wind, rain or shine. Some designs have it and the Rescue Team definitely does - strict rules ensure the safety of the other sailors, as well beer, beer and more beer [Ed: apres sailing of course].
Here are some of the many things said about the Rescue Team:
- "The beautiful Captain did a wonderful job."
- "Unlike my high performance boat, when the mast fell down, the Rescue Team are dependable."
- "Reassuring stability, acceleration, exhilaration and WOW! Are a few of the words that you would hear in the dinghy park."
- "Dreaming of taking the boat airborne is what keeps me going through the working week."
- "The RIB has a good resale value, rigging takes under 30 minutes and it is easy to tow behind a tractor."
- "The Rescue Team operates a personal handicap system to give all drivers a fair crack at the prizes. Sorry, no, the Rescue Team operate a handicap system known as B.E.R.T which puts lots of cracks in things."
So some years on, the Rescue Fleet is still a competitive and friendly class. It has not lost its edge but it has failed to mature with age. "The Wind is free, come and sail at the D.S.C"., says the Dart 18 crew. "Blow that, we're faster" says we!!!
To join the Rescue Team, contact the DSC Captain.
Photo copyright Peter Netwon
Dee SC Captain - TBA
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Dart 18 Class Captain -