The KPMG Dart 18 Nationals were held at Port Owen from 18-21 April. The competitors and their families stayed at Stywelyne Holiday Resort, an ideal place to launch the boats and socialize with fellow Dart sailors.

Thirty boats participated, two of which were sailing solo. The first race got underway on Good Friday, 18th April, although the winds were to prove not so "good". Nevertheless, 2 races were sailed in light NNW winds. On Friday night there was a fantastic welcoming cocktail party for the sailors and their families at Port Owen Yacht Club, where West Coast hospitality is at its finest. The Mayor came along for the occasion and gave a brief talk on the history of Velddrif.

Very early on Saturday morning, strange things began to happen - The boats couldn't wait for the sailors to wake up and at 4 a.m. they decided to go off on their own! What had happened was that there was an extremely high tide which came right up to the fence where the boats were parked and they began drifting off to sea. If it hadn't been for the quick action of Jens Oelbuttel who was eagerly running around trying to wake everybody up, they would have been in Rio by now. Waking the sailors up proved to be quite a task, although Nick Kirkbride must keep his wet suit by the side of his bed as he was up and out in a flash. Nick and two other Dart sailors even paddled out to sea without a sail in search of two boats. Jens Oelbuttel and Edgar Morris, 2 Dart sailors and Pat Wessons of POYC went out after them in a rescue boat and returned, just as dawn was breaking, with the wayward Dart, which apparently was looking somewhat like the Marie Celeste when they found it, 5 km out to sea.

No racing was held on Saturday - not because everyone was exhausted from the escapades of early morning but there was no wind, quite heavy swells and big dumpers on the beach so it was decided to hold the SAIDA annual general meeting instead, which was followed by a braai and an auction at Port Owen and a variety of fines were handed out by Tim Stirk of Dart Vader fame.

On Sunday it was a delayed start due to fog but five races were fitted in whilst a brisk westerly was blowing. The day ended with a snoek braai at Port Owen in their new built boma.

On Monday they awoke to great sailing conditions and the course was set close to shore which allowed the families and spectators to view the racing. The proceedings ended with prize-giving at POYC with lots and lots of prizes thanks to the sponsors, the main one being KPMG who came along at the last minute with fantastic support. Thanks also to Namibian Breweries, Belco Electrical, Jamela-Tek, Sales Hire, Fowkes Brothers, International Tube Technology, Boland Printers, Lost Horizon, Simonsvlei Wine, Hot Sex Liqueur, Nampak Tissue, Samsonite Luggage, Craft Box and last but not least Collins Fibreglass, the manufacturer of the Dart 18 Catamaran.

The overall winner was Noel Holman and Nicholas Holman.

The results for the first 10 places were:
1st place - Noel Holman/N. Holman Selected to represent SA @ DART Worlds
2nd place - Ben Mienie/B. Holman Selected to represent SA @ DART Worlds
3rd place - Lionel Harley/K. Scott
4th place - Tim Stirk/B. Stirk
5th place - A. Morse(UK)/C. Wishaut
6th place - Jan Yntema/E. Yntema
7th place - Peter Swales/S. Zachariah
8th place - Hermon Konighoffer/E. Stuyck
9th place - Harold Holman/I. Stirk
10th place - G. Gradwell/J.Gradwell

A hearty congratulations to you all and a special congratulations to Andy Morse who came all the way from the United Kingdom to take part and enjoyed himself so much he says he is coming back every year.