Dart 18 World come to the south coast

200 boats expected at Stokes Bay in mid-August

200 Dart 18 catamarans are expected to take part in their World Championships at Stokes Bay Sailing Club, Gosport, Hampshire this summer between 16-22 August. Racing will take place over seven days with 12 races in the series to find the overall 2003 World Champion.

Representatives from a number of European countries including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Switzerland will compete alongside crews from Asia, Canada and Africa in this major event in the catamaran sailing calendar. World Championship title holders, Christophe and Catherine Ghazarian from France will be defending the title they won in Marseilles alongside compatriots Vincent Bouvier and Fanny Merrelle, the current French national champions and Thierry and Christine Wibaux, also from France, who were third at the 2002 World Championships.

Britain has a history of success in this hugely popular boat and home grown talent will be looking to regain the title through past World Champions Kim and Sarah Furniss from Pentewan Sands Saling Club, Cornwall, who won the first Worlds in 1991, Gareth Owen, from Kirby, who took the title in 1998. West Country-based RYA national catamaran coach, Brian Phipps from Cornwall, will also be competing with his 14 year old son Tom with current British National Champions Jasper and Laura Barnham, from Snettishem.

Local hopes lie with Portsmouth sailors David and Sam Lloyd, who hold the national inland title and Southampton based Lawrie Draper whose son Chris is currently one of the UK’s brightest Olympic hopes in the 49er class.

The Dart 18 is the UK’s largest catamaran fleet and one of the most popular classes in the world due to the nature of its simple design that offers people the chance to compete equally without having to spend the large amounts of money required to campaign for the likes of Olympic medals. The fleet has an equal split of male and female competitors with ages ranging from 14yrs to 50yrs of age within the class and it is the test of pure sailing skill that has lead to the appeal of this fast and exciting boat.

Alongside the racing will be a full social programme for sailors and families with spectators being able to watch this sailing spectacle from the shores of the Solent at vantage points such as Lee-on-Solent and Stokes Bay.