Windsport Dart18 catamaran Spring Update

Welcome to the 2012 Dart18 sailing season - may we have our fair share of great winds , warm weather and exciting class one design racing.

Spring @ Windsport

Spring has already sprung at Windsport with a steady increase of orders for class legal replacement parts from sailors who are preparing their boats for the start of the main sailing season. Our Dart Partners in Europe and further afield have also been busy collecting their stock of replacement parts and new boats in preparation for the warm weather!

Windsport’s extensive stock of Dart18 replacement parts, as seen on our catparts website www.catparts.windsport.co.uk, is comprehensive, well stocked and quality checked. Thanks to the Windsport Team, Alex and Matt, our storage and packing areas have gone under some winter refinements with the challenge to improve our picking, packing, paperwork and shipping process for the smallest to the biggest items.

Our Windsport support trailers have also had their winter service, with modifications and improvements so we can provide the best support possible at events. Power-packs and increased load carrying means we have the capacity to provide an even more effective mobile workshop, where we can carry out repairs to keep you on the water at supported events.

Dart 18 @ the RYA Sailboat Show – 3rd/4th March2012

The Dart18 class (UKIDA) stand will have the support of Windsport Team during the show. A shinny hulled new Dart 18, manufactured in the UK will be supplied by Windsport and on display fitted with the recently approved class legal connecting bar end adjuster. The Dart18 class continues as the most successful production one design catamaran in the UK, a testament to the strength of the design, work of the class association, success of events and supplier support. While numerous catamaran classes have come and gone or achieved limited success the Dart maintains its place as a true production racing catamaran with a following that stretches from club sailor to international racer, a strength we should promote and use to our advantage.

Dinghy show & FREE Windsport coaching

They say you need to have something to attract new customers to your stand at exhibitions and Windsport is providing the class stand with just that, the opportunity to win a FREE “ 2 day personal catamaran training session with one of Windsport’s top coaches”. All entrants have to do is complete a simple entry form on the UKIDA stand or online @ Windsport. This free competition is aimed at attracting new sailors to the class, gaining contacts and attracting stand conversation with newcomers. The competition is open to everyone including yourself, at the closure of the competition a winner will be randomly selected and the entry list can be shared with the class.

Windsport Coaching Weekend

The Windsport coaching team are planning to host a Dart18 coaching weekend 2-3rd June. The training venue is the Windsport centre in Cornwall, situated alongside the wide Fal Estuary with access to the open sea. There is no better training location and dare we say no better coaching team! The value of coaching can never be under estimated, whatever your level of skill, channelled coaching is the stepping stones to closing the gap between you and the boats in front. Windsport has camping onsite, B & B close by and for those who want to splash out luxury hotels just down the road. Your visit to Cornwall does not have to be all about Dart18 training, take a day or so either side and enjoy a short break with family or friends. There are plenty of places to explore, famous restaurants, cliff walks, picture galleries; the list goes on and on. For those who want some alternative sailing action, Windsport landyachting is an activity not to be missed.

For more information on the Windsport Dart18 coaching weekend contact the Windsport office info@windsport.co.uk 01326 376191.

The 2012 Dart18 Challenge.

The challenge for the Dart18 as with every other class is to attract sailors to the fleet, welcome and encourage them to sail and race within the class association. No one person, group, club or business can make that happen on their own but as a group everyone can make a positive contribution and benefit from the result. Windsport plan to start working with your Dart class association at selected Dart events to provide introductory demonstration sails, just like the old days, aimed at generating  local enthusiasm to join the fleet and sail at their local club.

For more details on all the above come and meet the Windsport team at the Dart18 stand, RYA sailboat show 2012!

See you at the show

Brian Phipps

Windsport Dart18 team support