TT1 / Dee Report 2023

Dart 18 TT1 at Dee Sailing Club - Saturday 8th April to Monday 11th April

By Lee Matthews

Photo: Credit to Alan Jenkins

Dee Sailing Club based at Thurstaston on the Wirral peninsula hosted the first UKIDA Dart 18 TT of the season over the Easter weekend.

Despite the rather uncertain forecast 31 boats entered, with 17 travellers from all corners of the UK and 14 local boats. 

Day 1 on Easter Saturday was a beautiful day with 10-15 knots from the south east and the race team fitted in 3 races over the tidal window.

James and Alison Douglas led around the first mark in race one, but David Lloyd and Rusty overtook downwind and stayed in front to the finish.

Will Thompson and Molly Nash come home comfortably in third, sadly Will's shoulder gave way at the start of race 2 putting an end to their event.

Race 2 was dominated by Mat and Jacob Exon leading all the way, followed home by James and Alison in 2nd, thanks to son Cameron and Molly Frost hitting the last windward mark and dropping to 3rd.

By race 3 the tide had turn making it hard to make the start line and tempting 3 port tack starters. Of these three Alex Jardine and Iona Deacon went the furthest right a little too far as they hit foul tide in the welsh channel. The Douglas' rounded first followed by Douglas/Frost and finished in that order. Ellis and Tilly Stonehouse sailed into 3rd place and a consistent set of results left them in 3rd place overnight.

Saturday night after excellent food and a drinks promotion was Karaoke night. Tally numbers were drawn and crews performed to the lively crowd. 

Easter Sunday was clear and sunny, but sadly windy with a poor forecast. The local cruising fleet reported 20kts gusting 30. The race team went afloat, but made the decision that it was not safe to race. So the crews enjoyed the local area and reconvened in the evening for a great party night dancing to live music from Xebra.

Easter Monday forecast showed very strong winds from 1400 onwards. The crews got to the beach to launch in good time but unfortunately a squall at that time was enough to send many back to the dinghy park.

The race team managed to get race 4 going after a big windshift to the west and Douglas/Frist led at the first mark having taken the right hand side of the course. LLoyd/Rust managed to take the lead downwind and held that to the finish. Pete and Max Spedding were 3rd round the mark closely followed by Lee and Chantelle Matthews. Douglas' in 5th managed to get to 3rd by the leeward mark and overtook Douglas/Frost upwind to finish 2nd.

The race team had been monitoring the wind readings to the west and cancelled all further racing. Some of the crews were a little surprised but understood clearly when the building wind hit hard as the crews arrived at the beach.

Douglas' took the event by one point from Lloyd /Rust. The UKIDA handicap prize winners were Paul Hemsworth and Rachel Meddick, Soggy Moggy, Mumbles YC.

Thanks to the hard work of all the volunteers this was a great event and a great start to the season which includes the World Championships in the UK at Royal Yorkshire Yacht club in August.

Overall Results

1st James and Alison Douglas, Bogtrotter II, Dee SC

2nd David Lloyd and Rusty, Triggers Broom, Stokes Bay SC

3rd Cameron Douglas and Molly Frost, 7673, Dee SC 

UKIDA Handicap Results

1st Paul Hemsworth and Rachel Meddick, Soggy Moggy, Mumbles YC

2nd Will Stefanou and Amanda Jenks, Pale Rider, Stokes Bay SC

3rd Mal Taylor, 7444, Dee SC