Dart 18’s brings strong competition to Weymouth and Portland Academy

by Kate Holmes on 21 Aug 2010 Dart 18 World Championships 2010 sailing brings strong competition to the 2012 waters at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy including title defender and European Champion, Emmanuel Dodé (FRA).

The current British champion, David Lloyd is also making his way to the South West coast. The 127 teams, representing nine countries will fight a tough battle for victory in Weymouth Bay with the first starting gun to be fired on 21 August.

Dodé, Lloyd, Dan Norman and Dave Roberts are all considered as favourites. Lloyd is the only sailor who has competed in all previous 11 Dart 18 World Championships. Dodé has won the last two World Championships; 2009 in Aruba and 2008 in the Netherlands.

He won both of these sailing his 27 year-old boat, which he will still be sailing in this time aiming for a hat trick. Others to look out for will be Thierry Wibaux and Herve Le Maux. Both French, Herve has been second three times and Thierry will try to repeat his winning performance seen at the 2004 Worlds. Thierry has the advantage of having the longest unbroken helm / crew partnership with Christine Wibaux.

As well as the top race favourites there will be a variety of family crews teaming up for their biggest regatta of the year. Lawrie Draper, father of bronze medallist and elite 49er sailor Chris Draper who is well underway with his successful 2012 campaign, will be racing with his daughter Ellie for the week.

In 1975, Rodney March designed the Dart 18 as a One Design Class. The concept originates from his earlier creation, the ex-Olympic Tornado from 1967. The Dart is 5.5 metres long, has a mainsail and jib, one trapeze for the crew and no dagger boards.

Thanks to the lack of continuous development of equipment, the Dart 18 remains an affordable class for a wide group of racers. Sailors at the 2010 event will be aged from their early teens through to well into their sixties, with the older sailors still remaining surprisingly competitive! Also, in contrast to other fleets, around 30% of the sailors will be female, with at least six female helms.

Organisers of the World Championships have in recent months worked hard on the top class sailing programme. As well as stiff on the water competition there are a multitude of other activities on hand for the international competitors.

The Academy has a line-up of social events that promise to be the greatest show in the history of the Dart Worlds. In addition to the traditional opening and closing ceremonies guests will be treated to Madonna and Michael Jackson tributes and a Latin dance night with 'Chilli and Salsa Direct' Latin Dance Band.

Jaffa are a proud co-sponsor of the WPNSA and the Dart 18 Worlds. As this year’s Jaffa Zest for Life Tour comes to an end, Jaffa are keen to continue their support of the Games sailing venue. The Jaffa team and camper van will be present with music and fruit to keep the participants amused and healthy throughout the event.

Chris Knight, Business Manager at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, commented, ‘Summer 2010 has been incredibly busy for the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. We are particularly looking forward to hosting the hugely popular global Dart 18 fleet in Dorset this month as it will be great to see such a wide variety of age groups racing on our unbeatable race courses.

Our team are also pleased to invite the Dart 18s to our venue as they have such a long esteemed heritage in the dinghy racing fraternity and we look forward to hosting everyone on-shore with a much anticipated party atmosphere'.

For more information, please go to: www.wpnsa.org.uk