Dart 18 Europeans at the Royal Belgian Sailing Club, Knokke

Matt Pullen & Debbie Rickard win the Dart 18 Europeans in Belgium © Royal Belgian Sailing Club

The fleet start at the Dart 18 Europeans © Royal Belgian Sailing Club

The all British podium (left ot right) - Dave Roberts, Louise Roberts, (2nd); Debbie Rickard, Matt Pullen (1st); Chris Moore, Jessica Walton (3rd) at the Dart 18 Europeans © Carol Moore

A strong British team of 20 boats joined competitors from eight countries, including one boat from South Africa, for the 2005 European Championships in Belgium. The host club did everything possible to ensure a great week – great hospitality, great race management and for three days of the event great sailing conditions!

The international Dart 18 events have seen French sailors dominate the podium positions, but this year there was a very strong UK contingent determined to change things – led by National Champions Matt Pullen and Debbie Rickard from Restronguet, whilst the French challenge included the current World Champions Thierry and Christine Wibaux.

Day 1

Three races on upwind/downwind courses were held in a steadily building wind, from about 8 knots at the start of the first race to about 18 – 20 knots by the end of the day, together with a large swell.

In the first race, Matt Pullen and Debbie Rickard in ‘Gul’ led from the start by sailing out to sea and taking advantage of the lee bow tide. They were followed all the way by fellow Brits Chris Moore and Jessica Walton with Dave and Louise Roberts in ‘www.sailingbooks.co.uk’ taking third place. The second race saw a reversal of fortune for the front two, whilst the French team of Herve Le Maux and Cecile Depayras took third place. With the wind building further to make an exciting end to the day, Pullen/Rickard again won comfortably followed this time by Thierry and Christine Wibaux of France and Roberts/Roberts.

Day 2

Almost a repeat of day one, with a steadily building breeze, and two more races were held. Pullen/Rickard demonstrated that they were going to dominate this Championship by winning both races – four first places in the first five races! In the first race of the day, they were followed home by the Dutch team of Bars Leyen/Diane Rokx and the Swiss team of Michael and Joline Fehr. In the second race of the day, Le Maux/Depayras took the runners-up slot with Wibaux/Wibaux in third.

The next two days were frustrating for everyone, whilst there was a light breeze over most of the course, it was never strong enough to allow the fleet to stem the tide and the race team made a good decision to keep everyone ashore; hoping for a sea breeze. It did not arrive, but with warm sunshine and a wide sandy beach there was time to relax, sunbathe and socialise!

Day 5

Fortunately, the wind filled in for the final day and four races were held in winds of 8 – 12 knots and a gentle swell. Whilst Pullen/Rickard had established a great lead by this stage, there was a very tight battle for the next few places, with some six or seven boats in sight of the second slot.

In the first race of the day, Pullen/Rickard added to their string of victories, followed home by the British team David Lloyd/Polly Bishop in ‘Typhoon’, with the Swiss team Fehr/Fehr close behind in third. The second race of the day saw a number of General Recalls with a strong tide pushing the fleet over the line. Some twenty five boats fell foul of the Black flag before the fleet finally got away – although only Wibaux/Wibaux suffered among those fighting for the runners-up slot. The Pullen/Rickard team secured first place and formally secured a very well deserved Championship title. Fellow Brits Moore/Walton and Roberts/Roberts took the next places in the race. In the third race of the day, Roberts/Roberts established an early lead by taking advantage of the following tide on the first beat, followed by Moore/Walton and the new European Champions in third – who had made a remarkable recovery from a poor first beat.

In the final race of the Championship, the French team Le Maux/Depayras won by a short margin from Roberts/Roberts, whose second place secured them a second place overall, just one point in front of fellow Brits and fellow Stokes Bay club mates Moore/Walton who finished the race just a few boat lengths behind.

All British Podium!

New European Champions, Matt Pullen and Debbie Rickard, have set a new standard in the Dart fleet and will take some catching. The British team filled all the podium positions for the first time in most sailors’ memories – it is at least 20 years since the Brits occupied all three podium slots at a Dart World or European Championship and the first British European or World title winner since 1999.

Overall Results: