Dart TT7 and Scottish Dart 18 Championship at Royal Tay Yacht Club - 1st & 2nd August
What an extremely successful event, enjoyed from start to finish by a record entry of 21 Darts!
By Grant Mitchell
The impressive and very varied entry included helms from The Highlands, South of the Border, Northern Ireland, through to a well travelled fellow from Bordeaux!
The vigorous promotion of TT7 had certainly paid off and it was pleasing to view the bare tarmac of a dinghy park void of Darts! The Friday evening Welcome Barbecue kicked-off proceedings perfectly, hosted in sunshine … do the Scot’s require a better excuse for a beer or two? Visiting competitors were invited to enjoy complementary beers and wine throughout the weekend, yes, it’s always a ‘happy hour’ at RTYC!
Saturday was posted to be the breezy day, accordingly it was wisely decided to increase the race number by one to five, leaving a single race scheduled for the Sunday, the forecast suggesting a breeze too light for setting a course on that day!
As boats rigged for Race One, it quickly became apparent that the Westerly was rising in strength … the ‘playground’ was starting to look challenging, some of the lightweights relieving the canteen of some of the finest bacon rolls in the land, this additional substance was certainly going to be required!
The tide was on the last of the ebb, when the flood tide took over, the wind against tide scenario was in line to produce some pretty big waves out there! Race Officer, Scott Graham and his team, did a fantastic job however, the course was set, and with quick turn rounds and an obedient fleet on the start line, the five races were fitted in! There was a beach stop after Race Two, and my goodness, the recovery time was required - chance to sample more of the fantastic catering, a few of the fleet’s pensioners grasping chance of a comfort break! The amount of open tool boxes and crews running about clutching rudders confirmed that it had been a roller coaster sail!
The spectators had been promised spectacular and colourful viewing, they certainly weren’t to be disappointed! Action was fast and furious, extreme Dart racing at its very best … not without a fair share a capsizes and few ‘circus style’ crew dismounts, as boats encountered the expected increasing waves! At the leeward gate there was an option, head for the Fife shore, the side where there was a definite tide gain … albeit larger waves, or the North shore which offered a a smoother and less dramatic passage to the windward mark!
Racing was extremely competitive and at the front of the fleet, very close with exciting duels ensuring positions altered regularly! Mat Exon came up trumps however, recording a creditable four firsts, Bill Carson securing the other bullet … Paul Grattage, racing single-handed demonstrated remarkable courage and boat handling skills, throwing down an ongoing challenge to the heavier duel crews! Visitor Francois Morisset and locals Kenny Watson and and Gordon Kohler were also right in there, pressing hard at the sharp-end!
A jovial Indian Buffet was held on the Saturday evening, what an incredible feast, nobody held back … even the lightweight's delved in for extra helpings! Many exciting tales of what at times had been a manic day on the water were shared, by the end of the evening there was a few exhausted sailors snoozing in chairs, the waves encountered were now being classed by some as up to 20 feet high … the complimentary booze had certainly flowed!!
Pleasingly we were greeted by sunshine on the Sunday morning, and a further positive, the breeze was well above forecast … the first boats to launch were unexpectedly viewed to be trapezing, the final race was all set to go! A strong ebb tide was running, the result was an amazing sight as the large fleet zig-zagged close to the shore! A huge tactical decision was awaiting however, at what stage to attempt the tack out to the windward mark, positioned well out in the full tidal flow of the estuary? Single-handers Paul Grattage, Grant Mitchell and Iain Graham threw their cards on the table, going early … with increased pointing capacity, they achieved a successful mark rounding, and with it, a lead that wasn’t to be challenged!
The Royal Tay has hosted many memorable events over the years, this one is certainly right up there … without hesitation, we have taken opportunity to self-award ourselves a ten out of ten for effort! A massive thanks go to our team of valued event volunteers, it simply wouldn’t have happened without them! We were appreciative of our support sponsors David Anderson Marine and Cooper & McKenzie. Thanks also go to the visitors, a great effort was made by those that had travelled … we look forward to the pleasure of your return, the stature of this event is heading for even greater things in the future, the growth of the home fleet continues!
Winner of TT7 and 2026 Scottish Dart Champions
1st Matt and Jacob Exon - Royal Yorkshire YC
2nd Paul Grattage - East Downs YC
3rd Francois Morisset and Alizee Matavart - Club de Voile de Sanguinet
4th Kenny Watson and Vicky-Lea Mills - RTYC
5th Bill Carson and Sceighlan Tilson - RTYC
First Juniors - Lilly Rodgers and Alisa Anderson RTYC
Endeavour award - Duncan McIntosh RTYC
UKIDA Handicap Winners
1st Sean Webster (helm) Alistair MacKinnon (crew)
2nd Jon Gay (helm)
3rd Chris Tait (helm) Greig Robertson (crew)
