Dart 15 Summer TT and Inland Championship during the Grafham Cat Open

Dart 15 Summer TT and Inlands during the Grafham Cat Open 2026 © Paul Sanwell / OPP

It was certainly an eventful weekend (in a good way) and one to remember! A promising forecast of 15 - 22 knots greeted the Dart 15 fleet arriving at Grafham for the final Summer TT and Inland Championship. A very welcome prospect following very light winds at the two previous events. The fact that the wind was a very chilly northerly one and the tide was half out did nothing to dampen everyone's spirits.

At the briefing on Saturday morning, the Race Officers declared their intention to run four races on Saturday and two the following day due to Sunday's rain forecast which would make conditions less pleasant for competitors and race management crew alike.

Although the reservoir levels were low, the fleet were able to launch reasonably easily from the recommended slipways. The Dart 15s were following a square course set in the middle of the lake, alongside the Medium Cat fleet of Dart 18s, Shearwaters, Catapults and a Hobie. The fast cats were on a separate course to the west end of the lake.

Race One got under way cleanly and it became apparent that the wind was already at the upper end of the forecast as the fleet navigated round a Shearwater and a Hobie that had already capsized before reaching the windward mark. We were delighted to welcome Brian Phipps (Windsport) back on the race course and he led the way round the first mark - followed by the usual suspects that enjoy windier conditions including Paul Tanner (Shanklin), Steve Sawford (Rutland), David Ball (Marconi) and Simon Farthing (Grafham). The gusty conditions claimed the first Dart 15 capsize on the second reach with Christophe Clarke (Marconi) getting tipped in.

The second beat shuffled positions around at the front. The left side of the course was generally favoured as the wind got a little more bendy on the approach to the north shore where the windward mark was situated. Paul and Steve rounded the windward mark first, followed by Jenny Ball (Marconi) and then a pack including David, Simon and Brian. Jenny managed to edge in front on the run which had, by now become interesting as the fleet were ducking both the medium cats on our course and the fast cats from the other course coming back upwind. And as conditions were pretty lively, it was not a day for any close quarter crosses. Jenny held on to take the race win, with Steve in second, Paul in third, David in fourth and Ed Tuite Dalton (Draycote) in fifth.

Once the two fleets had finished, the Race Officers got the second race under way without delay. The fleet were pushing the line hard and there were two hoots indicating one or more early starters but everyone ploughed on regardless. After the fact, it turned out that Brian and Paul were both OCS. Most of the fleet had now decided that going to the left hand side was favoured. Ed had got a clear and good start at the pin end and led the charge left. There were plenty of shifts across the course which meant some were able to get into higher lanes and the breeze was continuing to build. David, in particular, was showing both height and pace on the upwind legs. Brian rounded the windward mark first followed by David and Jenny. David had managed to catch Brian by the end of the lap and never looked back for the rest of the race, taking a convincing win. Jenny went on to take second, Ed third, Steve fourth, Simon fifth and Christophe sixth. Brian and Paul were also in the mix but unfortunately, their results were not to count this race.

After race two, the Race Officer moved the windward mark to the east due to a shift in wind direction. It turns out not many of the Dart 15 fleet were paying attention to this in between races and did not clock that it had moved.

Race Three got under way with everyone clear of the line this time. The usual suspects shot off across to the left hand side of the course in the ever increasing wind and gusts. They got to the lay line for the newly positioned windward mark and just kept going. As a result, much of the fleet overstood the windward mark massively. David, Steve, Simon, Paul, Ed and Brian came fetching in at great pace to the mark. Jenny had got herself stuck second row at the Committee Boat end but, unusually, had been paying attention to what the RIBs were doing in between races. No amount of looking over her shoulder gave the hint to those behind, so eventually she tacked and ducked as necessary to get down to the windward mark. This gained her back valuable places and she followed the front group round the windward mark. At mark 2, the front pack gybed off straightaway whilst Jenny stood on before gybing, not least to give herself space to duck the various fleets coming the other way. A lucky gust carried Jenny underneath the front pack bringing her to mark 3 having gained several more places.

Dart 15 Summer TT and Inlands during the Grafham Cat Open 2026 - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Meanwhile, David had wriggled his way into the lead and no amount of chasing by his big sister or anyone else was going to reel him in unless he capsized, which he uncharitably refused to do. (You may guess from this who is writing the Event Report). David went on to take the win, with Jenny second, Paul third, Simon fourth, Steve fifth and Ed and Brian joint sixth place. The strengthening winds had started to take their toll. At least two fast cats had capsized and ended up in the middle of our course whilst being assisted by safety boats. Keith Chidwick (Datchet) capsized during the race and retired. Merlin Hancock (Isle of Sheppey), a new fleet member competing in his first TT also had a capsize and retired. Over on the other course, the Fast Cats - who had been diminishing by attrition across the afternoon - called time and headed back ashore after the third race.

Race Four started with a slightly smaller fleet as a few other competitors decided to call time and head for shore. It should be noted at this point that our two youngest and smallest sailors by some margin both stayed out, stayed upright and impressed everyone by completing all races in some pretty challenging conditions. Big shout out to John Ball (Marconi) and Kyle Tibbs (Marconi) for their impressive performances across all six races.

This time, Steve took command of the start and the first upwind leg, relishing the conditions and remembering where the windward mark now was. Steve sailed a faultless race, despite being chased hard by the front pack. Elsewhere in the fleet was more eventful. Rob Bailey (Thorpe Bay) was beating through the committee boat line closely followed by Ed. A big gust caused Rob's boat to heel and he threw himself over the side to counteract it...... and kept going, falling clean off. His boat sailed on momentarily before capsizing. Ed, who was close behind, did his best to bear away and avoid this sudden obstacle in front of him and promptly capsized too. The boats were entangled for a bit until Rob and Ed managed to separate them. Fortunately, no injury or damage incurred and both sailors and boats, after assistance from the safety boats, headed home.

Meanwhile, out on the race course, Steve went on to take the win, with David second, Jenny third, Brian fourth, Paul fifth and Simon sixth. David and Jenny stayed in the finish area after racing. The Race Management team feared David and Jenny planned to continue racing each other until the younger brother finally let his big sister win or to the death, whichever came first. They were very relieved to learn that, instead, David and Jenny intended to accompany the younger sailors, John and Kyle, back to shore in the challenging conditions. Onshore breezes are always challenging for coming ashore - particularly when a fleet of many Fireflys from Cambridge University are launching at the same time - but everyone got ashore safely and without incident.

Once ashore, competitors consulted the Grafham weather station which confirmed that it had been very windy indeed with winds in the mid 20s and gusts up to 30 knots. Which made everyone feel better about the lary moments everyone had experienced whilst puzzled that it should only have been max 22 knots.

The evening was spent enjoying a fabulous dinner from Grafham Caterers - lasagne or chicken kiev - which both come very highly recommended from us. The evening was spent catching up with cat sailor friends across all the classes and sharing experiences of a very lively day on the water. And also putting together plans for next year's events too.

Sunday morning dawned breezy but mercifully without the forecast rain. Similar conditions to Saturday with stiff northerly breeze but, to start with at least, not quite the intensity of the day before.

Whilst sailing around before the start, the fleet became aware of a Dart 15 over on the shoreline. What drew their attention was that she was stood end up with her bows in the mud and her rudders in the sky. There was no sign of the person who might have been sailing her. Eventually, a person came running down the beach, pulled her onto her side and then upright again and was able to get her back out on the water just in time for the start. Many of the fleet had, by now, guessed whose boat it was. Jim's appearance on the start line with two bows each caked in a sandcastle of mud confirmed their suspicions. It transpired Jim had sailed to the start area, gone to check his watch and realized that the watch, and the lifejacket it was attached to, were ashore. So he beached his boat and went back to the clubhouse to retrieve his buoyancy aid - but did not disconnect his mainsheet. Whilst he was away, the boat sailed sideways and then fully upright, effectively pitchpoling into the mud. As Jim told the Events Secretary in between races - "Its good being me - you never know what's going to happen each day". Fortunately, no damage or injury.

Jim's boat pitchpoles into the mud during the Dart 15 Summer TT and Inlands during the Grafham Cat Open 2026 - photo © Gavin Wombell

Race 5 got under way, again with a clean start. The windward mark was in the same location as the previous day, but this still did not stop some competitors overstanding the lay line by some margin. The usual suspects rounded the windward mark first and there was a close pack on the downwind leg joined by Rob Bailey (Thorpe Bay) who was preferring the slightly lighter winder conditions to yesterday. David, Paul, Simon, Ed, Steve, Rob and Jenny rounded mark four all in a line and Jenny chose to tack off early to get a clear lane. By the time the pack reached the windward mark, David had a lead of a few boat lengths with Paul, Jenny and Ed close behind. Jenny managed to get another good downwind lane to move up to second place. David went on to take the win followed by Jenny, Paul, Ed, Simon and Steve.

The wind and gusts were building again by Race 6 but mercifully the forecast rain had yet to appear. The Medium Cat fleet were swiftly set off for their final race. Apart from one of the Dart 18s who watched them all sail off into the distance but decided he wanted to hang out with the cool fleet instead, And duly joined in the wrong start sailing down the line in several people's way and precisely four minutes later and with boats three foot shorter than he should have done.

Undaunted, the fleet set off on the final charge across the lake - the gusts now back in the mid 20 knot range. Ed and Keith Persin (Thorpe Bay) tacked early for the windward mark and chose a longer starboard leg closer to the shore. The rest of the fleet chose to stick to the left hand side. Despite what felt like eternal headers on the port tack and shifty conditions over towards the shore, both approaches ended up being about the same. David, Steve, Ed, Paul, Simon, Brian and Jenny rounded the windward mark as the front pack and were again close together for the downwind leg. David had managed to edge a lead at the end of the first lap with Steve and Jenny chasing. David's pace and form really showed again - Steve and Jenny had both tacked above David at the Committee Boat but found themselves decidedly below him at the point they tacked back for the windward mark. On the way over to the windward shore, David sailed briefly into a soft patch which allowed Steve and Jenny to catch up and Steve rounded the mark first. However, David managed to regain the lead on the downwind leg and, to add insult to injury, Jenny also edged through as well. David went on to take his fourth win, followed by Jenny, Steve, Ed, Simon, Paul and Brian.

The fleet headed home but there was more eventfulness to come. A very stiff onshore breeze made coming ashore difficult especially as the beach was busy with our fleet plus some retiring fast cats. The fleet duly endeavoured to turn head to wind, lift the rudders and reverse back to shore. A few took a dodgem cars approach by turning in too close proximity to those around them but fortunately no damage. Brian Phipps decided he was close enough to shore to hop off. Only to find it was deeper than he thought and he watched his boat sail off on its own, determined to join in the Fast Cat course. The sailors immediately around him took one look at Brian, one look at the boat and then went to get their trolleys to get their boats up the beach. Ed, however, sailed after it to warn people and to attract the attention of a safety boat to catch it. Jenny gave Brian a lift back out to his boat so he could sail it back and try landing again.

Safely ashore and mercifully still without the rain, the fleet packed down their boats and headed for the prize-giving.

Dart 15 Summer TT and Inlands during the Grafham Cat Open 2026 - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Grafham TT prizes were awarded as follows:

Jim Bowie Award - Jim's boat for parking herself nose first in the mud.
Youth Winner - John Ball (Marconi)
First placed Grafham sailor - Simon Farthing (Grafham)
5th - Ed Tuite Dalton (Draycote)
4th - Paul Tanner (Shanklin)
3rd - Steve Sawford (Rutland)
2nd - Jenny Ball (Marconi)
1st and Inland Champion - David Ball (Marconi)

Summer Series prizes were also awarded as follows:

Most Persistent - a new trophy for this year - John Ball (Marconi)
5th - Yvonne Pike (Shanklin)
4th - Ed Tuite Dalton (Draycote)
3rd and Classic Boat - David Ball (Marconi)
2nd - Jenny Ball (Marconi)
1st - Liam Thom (Shanklin)

And the Team Trophy was, for the first time, on equal points and won on countback by Shanklin.

A massive thank you to all our host clubs across the summer series - Carsington, Thorpe Bay, Newhaven & Seaford, Draycote and Grafham - and to all the volunteers who make the events possible. And finally, thank you to all the Dart 15 sailors who turned out across the summer to support the circuit. See you at the Winter Series!

Overall Results: