Foggy Monkey but a good forecast for Grafham
by Andy Rice 29 Dec 2024 06:36 NZDT
27 & 29 December 2024
After Storms Bertie and Daragh did their best to disrupt earlier events in the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series, it was thick fog that prevented racing taking place at the Magic Marine Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey on 27 December.
However, for the Gill Grafham Grand Prix two days later on 29 December, the sunshine and the breeze are conspiring nicely towards a good contest for the 100+ boats entered for the 42nd edition of this winter classic.
Despite the lack of racing at Yorkshire Dales, the on-shore atmosphere was buzzing.
Light Airs Coaching sponsored by GJW Direct Insurance
Three-time winner of the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series, Simon Horsfield, ran an inspiring coaching session on light airs sailing. Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club volunteers welcomed everyone with free teas and coffees and put on a great meal for all the participants. If you've never experienced what coaching can do for your sailing, make sure you sign up to the free online coaching sessions and enter the remaining events where Simon will also be watching competitors and providing vital feedback for making your boat go faster.
WhatsApp Group
chat.whatsapp.com/KFlRWkTrhxpDMkqcJbanWR
GJW Direct sponsored Coaching Debrief by sailing coach and multiple champion Simon Horsfield
www.facebook.com/SeldenSailJuiceWinterSeries/videos
Zhik Old Boats
Thanks to the Zhik 'Old Boats' scheme, there's a growing number of old boats competing in this year's Series. The Robline Polar Chase saw a 30-year old Enterprise recently purchased for £1,500, finished up in 14th overall from a packed entry of 86 boats, proving you don't need a new boat to succeed. There will be prizes across each event and an overall rankings presented at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show. If your boat is 20 years or older you are eligible. Please email with your boat details and you can get on the list.
More than 100 for the Gill Grafham Grand Prix
There's a huge range of boats lining up for the Gill Grafham Grand Prix on 29 December. Among a few multihulls are some Spitfire singlehanders from the host club, Grafham Water Sailing Club. Visitors include Megan Pascoe helming a 2.4mR singlehanded keelboat, Jon Swain's high-performance VXOne sportsboat and a WETA sailed by Dan and Seb Taylor.
Also making a return to the Series is Andrew Peake who's back helming a Musto Skiff just as he did when he won the overall trophy for the 2010/11 season.
Early into the new year and the racing continues with the rescheduled Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash on 4 & 5 January 2025.
Enter at www.sailjuiceseries.com
Here are the overall rankings after two of the nine events in this season's Series.
The Events
The following events are in the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series 2024/25:
- Sailing Chandlery Datchet Flyer, Datchet Water Sailing Club - 7 & 8 December 2024
- Polar Chase, Chase Sailing Club - 14 December 2024
- Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey, Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club - 27 December 2024
- Gill Grafham Grand Prix, Grafham Water Sailing Club - 29 December 2024
- Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash, Draycote Water Sailing Club - 4-5 January 2025 [re-scheduled from November 2024]
- GJW Direct Bloody Mary, Queen Mary Sailing Club - 11 January 2025
- King George Gallop, King George Sailing Club - 18 January 2025
- John Merricks Tiger Trophy, Rutland Sailing Club - 1 & 2 February 2025
- Zhik Oxford Blue, Oxford Sailing Club - 15 February 2025
- Prizegiving at RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show, Farnborough - 22 February 2025
You can find out more about the Series at www.sailjuiceseries.com