Dart 15 Forums

I have a couple of spare exhibitor wristbands. If anyone would like to take one - in return for doing a spell on the stand of course! - please call me on 07973 388553 or email howardhawkes@tpllp.com. Howard Hawkes.

So how did the show go? Sadly I missed it this year but it would be good to hear if it was successful.
Was our new position much better?
Did we get good interest in our boat?
Were there any new boat orders placed?
Cheers
Bob

The RYA claim the show was particularly well attended but I'm not so sure about that. However, the stand had a good proportion of the available traffic and the location felt as if we were on the High Street compared with where we were last year.

You could also argue that as only the D18, Sprint 15 and A Class had their own stands, our profile was considerably elevated. It's hard not to think of the Shearwater, Shadow, Unicorn and Catapult as dormant classes with the Hurricane and Spitfire also going in that direction, although I don't suppose their supporters would see it that way.

Saturday was busier than Sunday, which in the afternoon was very quiet. Although at that point you could argue we were overmanned, when it's quiet I think a stand with no punters and several representatives is better than one with no punters and only a couple of exhibitors.

So far as I am aware no new boats were sold. I had several conversations with owners of old boats needing advice and was able to point them in the right direction, hopefully demonstrating the value of a strong class association. As usual, a number of association members popped in for a chat.

Four trial sails were requested on Saturday and two on Sunday.

Now for the tributes:

- My thanks to Windsport International for providing the boat, eye-catching banners and other material for the stand.

- I have already emailed the members who helped, but I would like to publicly thank Gary Burrows, Gordon Goldstone, David Groom, James Hurst, Erling Holmberg, Stuart Snell, Martin Searle, George Wood, Simon Hare, Stewart Pegum and Thomas Sandal. And last but not least, the irrepressible George Love for supplying the association publications.

Howard Hawkes.