Dart 16s at Dee Sailing Club

Steve Roberts reports on a windy weekend

The first of the Dart 16 Travellers Trophy 2003 took place at Dee Sailing Club. Friday started off with a F3 to 4, and a general recall which brought out the black flag then with every one away clear, it was Mike Ager & Chris Brook and Ben Daigneault & Hugo Jobling away first taking the lead, positions changing with Ager & Brook (Thames Est) taking line honours with Daigneault & Jobling (Eastbourne) 2nd Pollard & Stacey (Hastings) 3rd Roberts & Moruzzi (Dee.S.C) 4th.

Race 2 again saw Mike & Chris and Ben & Hugo the first two boats away; Roberts & Moruzzi hitting the windward mark and losing positions on the second lap challenging Ben & Hugo for 2nd place but this time hitting the wing mark, at the finish it was Rob Lucking & Colin Day (Dee) in 1st place with Robin Hennessey & Paul Oliver(Dee) 2nd and Mike Ager & Chris Brook having to settle for 3rd place.

Friday night the beer was a £1 a pint thanks to one of the sponsors and plus a Disco.

Saturday saw more wind F5 to 6 although it felt more like F7, out of the fleet nine had tried the conditions, and returned to shore with the exception of Ager & Brook and Daigneault & Jobling Race 3 going to Daigneault & Jobling & Races 4 & 5 to Ager & Brook. In the evening it was party night with a nine piece soul band Chico plus Disco.

Sunday saw a half hour postponement on the shore before going afloat reefed. Race 6 saw only 4 boats on the start line, again Mike Ager & Chris Brook taking the lead with the other three swapping positions, at the finish it was Ager & Brook taking line honours from Roberts & Moruzzi 2nd, Hennessey & Oliver 3rd, and James Miller & Mike Hilton settled for 4th. Race 7 saw Mike Ager & Steve Roberts starting on starboard Robin Hennessey on port.

Half way round Ager & Brook dropped the reef and went to full sail, took the lead to finish ahead of Hennessey & Oliver in 2nd and Roberts & Moruzzi settling for 3rd. Race 8 was down to two boats both back to full sail, Hennessey & Oliver lead from start to finish to take the gun from Roberts & Moruzzi.

Out of 50 boats including Dart 18’s, the biggest turnout in recent years a special mention goes to Michael Moruzzi age 9 the youngest competitor from both fleets
in his first TT event.

1st 1822 Mike Ager/Chris Brook, Thames Estuary Y.C
2nd 2309Ben Daigneault/Hugo Jobling, Eastbourne Sovereign
3rd 2449 Robin Hennessey/Paul Oliver, Dee S.C
4th 2248 Steve Roberts/Michael Moruzzi, Dee S.C