Dart 15 Winter TT 2026 at Grafham Water Sailing Club

Dart 15 Winter TT at Grafham © Nigel Dentchfield

The final TT event of the Winter Series was held at Grafham on Sunday the 8th March. Uncharacteristically, we managed to race five events in a row this winter without any postponements or rescheduling due to poor weather and all in light winds! This made organisation much easier for the new Winter Series coordinator.

The overall winner had been decided at the previous event at Datchet, but 2nd, 3rd and 4th places were all still to play for.

Grafham TT took place against the noisy backdrop of an Inter-University Team Racing event involving constant hoots from their committee boat and much shouting of various rules and "protest". In contrast, our race course alongside club racing was much quieter.

Dart 15 Winter TT at Grafham - photo © Nigel Dentchfield

Race 1:

Light winds were the order of the day. With a clean start the Fleet split up the beat. Banging the far-left corner paid off and Jenny Ball (Marconi) came into the windward mark first, narrowly in front of Jason Clarke (Marconi) who had tacked off earlier with Ed Tuite-Dalton (Draycote) just behind. Jason got past Jenny on the downwind leg to take the lead.

On the second beat, Jenny sailed into a light wind patch which allowed Ed to catch up the distance. On the second downwind leg, Jason held the lead and Ed managed to get an overlap at mark 3 allowing him to take 2nd with Jenny in 3rd - Charles Watson (Halifax) in 4th and George Love (Carsington) in 5th.

Race 2:

After a brief pause to allow club racing to conclude, the second race got under way. With the light winds, competitors did not risk being too far from the start line but some found themselves there a little too soon. There was at least one shunt in the middle of the line as people tried to bear away to avoid being early. Nevertheless, another clean start.

Those who started at the lower end of the line picked up the better breeze and learning from the first race, banged the left corner. Jason was first to the windward mark followed by Paul Tanner (Shanklin) with Ed, George, Jenny and Ray Gall (Carsington) following. These places held for the rest of the first lap.

By the second lap, the breeze was falling away and had a few more holes and bends in it. Jason and Paul were able to get through the line on port from mark 4 and headed right. Ed, George and Jenny were obliged to give room to an incoming fleet of club monohulls at mark 4 so could not lay the committee boat and tacked back onto starboard.

The breeze favoured those who went left up the beat. Jason retained the lead, but Paul was headed coming back into the mark which allowed Ed, George and Jenny to reach the mark on port just in front of him. Ed and George battled it out for the rest of the second lap with George just pipping Ed on the finish line. Paul and Jenny also battled it out with Jenny just pipping Paul on the line.

Race 2 finished: Jason 1st, George 2nd, Ed 3rd, Jenny 4th and Paul 5th.

Race 3:

Simon Farthing (Grafham) made the best of the start pointing high on the first beat. Jason sailing lower and faster rounded the windward mark first followed by Simon and Paul. These positions held until Mark 3 where upon rounding Paul just touched the rear of Simon's 15 resulting in a penalty turn for Paul. This allowed Jenny, Ed and most of the fleet through. Jason held the lead followed by Simon in second and Jenny rounding out the top three.

Race 3 finished: Jason 1st, Simon 2nd, Jenny 3rd, Charles 4th and Christophe 5th

Dart 15 Winter TT at Grafham - photo © Nigel Dentchfield

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• Grafham TT Picture gallery
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Grafham TT Results:

Overall Winter TT Series Results: (best 3 to count)

Dart 15 Winter TT at Grafham - photo © Nigel Dentchfield