Dee Sailing Club, Station Rd, Thurstaton, Wirral, CH610HN

Dee now has one of the largest club Dart fleets, and is renowned for its fun party nights (ask anybody who has been).

Dee has a tide window in which we sail, so there’s no hanging around and you ‘go’ or ‘don’t go’ at the published sailing times, which means the rest of the time can be mapped out to fit with any non-sailing members. The Wirral Way (behind the club) offers good cycling opportunities, and low tide offers walks across the sands to Hilbre Island, with the chance of seeing the local seals and newts. Or slightly further afield Cheshire Oakes designer village and Liverpool Docks might be tempting with a combination of shopping, museums and gallery choices. However, make sure you get back to Dee for their legendary parties with live music and the beam challenge!

The club is perched on the cliff top overlooking the Dee estuary and Wales beyond. The front lawn offers a great ‘balcony’ view of the racing in the estuary. Although tight on space, the club offers free on-site camping and motorhome parking (subject to the size of the travelling motorhomes fleet not getting even bigger!). For those who want slightly more room and an escape route from the club bar, there is also the Wirral Country Park Caravan and Motorhome Park, with good facilities and views which is only 400m from the club. But book early it fills up on bank holidays. The club is well-behaved dog friendly.

Swanage Sailing Club, Buck Shore, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2AW

Swanage is a traditional and popular holiday town within a sheltered bay on the Dorset coast. The club has 7 or 8 of its own D18s and the location is close enough to Parkstone for their larger fleet to sail over.

The club is in the heart of the town and there is limited space on site, the club are looking at additional boat storage options and the event has been scheduled early in the season to avoid the busier holiday period, however once entries open book early as numbers will be limited.

Motorhome parking (especially for larger vehicles) may be difficult near the club but Swanage has lots of holiday accommodation and camp sites on the outskirts. For those not sailing the Town has a sandy beach (dog friendly in April!) and a steam train to Corfe Castle as well a good access to many attractions and walks on the Jurassic coast.

Rutland Sailing Club, Gibbet Lane, Edith Weston, Rutland, LE15 8HJ

Rutland are hosting TT3 which is combined with our Inland National Championships. The event is included within the annual Rutland Cat Open event, this not only gives you the chance to meet old friends from past Dart 18 fleets, but also to encourage an ‘away weekend’ for all the cats from your various clubs.

Rutland is approximately 3000 acres, and as such it is one of the largest man-made stretches of water in Europe. Once entries open please book on online as this will ensure we have our own start.

The club has a large boat park and modern facilities, including 48 beds in 10 bunk rooms which can be booked directly through the club (if looking at doing this you are advised to do so quickly as they will go!) Although camping is not permitted on site, there is a basic campsite run by a local farmer immediately across the road from the club gate. This takes motorhomes (£10) and tents (£6). The campsite is dog-friendly for friendly dogs, and the club allows dogs in car park.

For the non-sailing members of the family, Rutland water has an easy 17 mile cycle route around the reservoir.

Mumbles Yacht Club, 746 Mumbles Rd, Mumbles, Swansea SA3 4EL.

This is a regular and fun host club for both TT and National events, that always has a very welcoming approach. The club is situated towards the end of the ‘Mumbles Mile’ and the town offers many accommodation, eating and drinking options all within reach of the club.

This year our visit is combined with their club regatta which will ensure plenty of fun and games.

Camper vans can normally park in the car park opposite the club or on the road outside. Both the club and the town are dog friendly.

Mumbles is on the edge of the Gower Peninsula and anybody who can take a few days holiday may well want to explore the great coastline slight further West of Mumbles.

Worthing Sailing Club, 1 Sea Place, Worthing, West Sussex, BN12 4DG.

One of the largest Dart fleets in the country with a regular club turn out of between 10 and 20 Dart 18s on a summer weekend. As the Southern event prior to the worlds and no restrictions on numbers this promises to be a big event.

The club will be open on Friday to welcome early visitors and the Friday night impromptu parties are a regular feature of the event.

The new clubhouse has not only the best view of any Worthing balcony, but also the best catering. Camping is possible in the compound next to the club house and motorhomes can be parked in a beach side car park. Dogs are welcome on some of the beach and although not allowed in the club house, can enjoy the view from the balcony.

Worthing has lots of accommodation options but make sure that you book one within staggering distance of the club.

Royal Tay Yacht Club, Glenogil House, 9A Ogilvie Road, Broughty Ferry, Dundee DD5 1LU

We have a growing fleet of 20 Darts, with regular turnout of 8-10 for weekly racing, and 3-4 boats recently joined the class in the last year or so. RTYC is delighted to host this event just weeks before the Worlds at Bridlington. We previously hosted a GP in 2017, and the Scottish Dart Championships for the last 7 years, with a number of boats travelling up from south of the border.

At the beginning of 2023, we will be moving to our new Glenogil House Headquarters located adjacent to the Beach Clubhouse and dinghy park/car park. This will enable superb spectating and social activities to compliment the current beach facilities. Camping and motorhome spaces are available with electric hook-ups in the car park and beside the Beach Club. The Beach Club will cater for hot filled rolls and refreshments during the day, whilst the Main Clubhouse will be open during the day and for social events in the evenings.

There are many local hotels and B&B’s in Broughty Ferry and surrounding area. For those travelling from further afield and wishing to extend their stay, Tayside, Fife and Angus have many tourist attractions to offer.

The Club will be open on Friday to welcome visitors, with probably a BBQ in the evening and other social events throughout the weekend to compliment the sailing.

Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club (RYYC), Blyth Park, Wilsthorpe, Bridlington, Yorkshire, UK, YO15 3QL.

This is the ‘not to miss event of 2023’, its not often that you get a chance to compete in a World championships in your own country.Five days of racing with the site opening on the previous Wednesday, a practice race on Saturday 29th and a potential ‘lay day’ on the Wednesday to give you a chance to explore the area.

Numbers are already looking high with 90 entries already in by December 2022 and 7 months to go until the event. Free camping / motorhome pitches (while space permits) with your entry fee, a full social programme and a traditional Yorkshire welcome.

All the event information and entry procedure can be found on the Dart 18 – UKIDA WebCollect page

Aug 26 – 28 or Sept 2 /3 - Potential dates for TT8 – Venues willing to hold event please get in touch

Carsington Sailing Club, Carsington Water, Ashbourne DE6 1SU

A fun event where crews are left on the bank (or steal the boat to show they are better than the helm!). Normally a smaller entry of 10 – 15 boats and for that reason we are joining the D15s again for this event. We will sail on the same course but with a separate start.

Carsington water is on the edge of the Derbyshire Peak District and in addition to the sailing the area offers much for the outdoor enthusiast.

Watch this space to see if on site motorhome parking / camping becomes available but if not then the Carsington website has various accommodation options on their ‘open event’ page.

Whitstable Yacht Club, 3-4 Sea Wall, Whitstable CT5 1BX

This will be a return to a traditional D18 club in the centre of Whitstable. Although the dart fleet at the club has recently declined, the surrounding area has one of the largest number of D18s of anywhere in the country and we hope these ‘local clubs’ will support the event.

Camping in the centre of Whitstable is difficult however there are lots of accommodation options and sometimes room for a Motorhome or 2 (check information nearer date). The club house also has a few bunk rooms that can be booked.

Others dates of note (but not official UKIDA events)

Bala Cat Open – April 29/30/1

Scottish National Champs – Royal Tay YC – June 17/18

East Coast Piers Race – July 8 / 9

Round Sheppey Race. – Sept 2 / 3