THE Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club are hosting a Dart 18 Travellers Trophy event.

It will take place on Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15, at the club in Marine Parade, Sheerness.

Weather permitting, there will be up to six races taking place during the weekend, and the first race will start at 1pm on the Saturday.

Scott Atkinson, event organiser, explained: “A Dart 18 is a two-man catamaran with a single trapeze which enables the crew to stand off the side to counterbalance the sails.”

Sheppey has strong links to this catamaran – its designer Rodney March, designer of the now ex-Olympic Tornado catamaran, used to live here until recently and some of the promotional shots for the original sales brochure were taken on Minster beach.

The club hopes 30 to 40 boats will take part, some from as far away as France.

Mr Atkinson added: “This is the most prestigious event we have organised in years other than our Island Race, and we hope that people will be intrigued to have a look at these boats over the weekend and come up the beach front to watch.

“We are hoping the weather gods play their part over the weekend and bring us a nice southerly breeze to show how good Sheppey is.”

The event is sponsored by RockStar Energy drinks, P&O Ferries, iboy and English Braids Ropes.