Enter early if you don't want to miss the Draycote Dash
by Andy Rice 7 Nov 2023 14:31 UTC
18-19 November 2023
James and Samuel Clancy in the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series © Tim Olin /
www.olinphoto.co.uk
It's just under two weeks until the Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash on 18 & 19 November, the first of eight events in this season's Seldén SailJuice Winter Series. There are almost 40 boats of different shapes and sizes already signed up for this two-day classic. Entry closes early on the Dash, no entries permitted beyond the deadline of Tuesday 14 November, so get in now.
Entry for the Dash and other events at www.sailjuiceseries.com
DROP YOUR BOAT AT THE DASH
This is a great event for making a weekend of it, with four back-to-back handicap races on the Saturday and a double-points Pursuit Race on the Sunday morning. If you want to drop your boats off on the Friday night you're welcome to do so. But as it says in the briefing video below, for those wanting to drop their boats after dusk (about 4pm) MUST contact the club beforehand as the front gate will be closed.
BRIEFING
REWARDING PARTICIPATION
After the Sailjuice forum earlier in the year and asking people for feedback, we've made a few changes.
Recognising that sometimes people attend an event but may only appear in the results as DNC due to gear failure for example, where it is evident that they attempted to start at least one race during the event they will be scored as a competitor for the Series, with points based on last place from that particular event. For those who entered the event but made no attempt to go afloat or for those other Series competitors who didn't enter that event, they will be given a score equal to the number of boats entered in the Series +1 for that event.
If any of the events is cancelled in advance due to bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances, and if the event is not re-arranged to be run before the end of Sunday, 19 February 2024, a competitor's score shall still be based on their best four scores from the remaining events.
If any of the events is cancelled on the day of the event (i.e. no racing possible) due to bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances and if the event is not re-arranged to be run before the end of Sunday, 19 February 2024, a competitor who has registered (as per NoR) on-site at the host club, their score for that event shall still be based on the number of boats registering. For example, an event is cancelled on the day, when 50 boats registered on-site at the club as per the event's NOR, all boats would score 50 points for that event.
CLASSES FOCUSING ON THE WINTER SERIES
The RS800 class is targeting events in the Winter Series to keep momentum going through the cold months, as are the RS Aeros who once again have made the Oxford Blue their Winter Championships. The Miracle fleet showed up in the very early years of the Series 15 years ago but haven't been seen much in the past decade. So it's great to welcome the Miracles back, with the Class Association using the Series to promote their class to a wider audience. Any member entering two or more events will get their entry covered by the Miracle Class Association.
ROOM AT THE MARK FOR OLDER (CHEAPER) BOATS
Since the start of the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series 15 years ago, the driving force behind any innovation has been to increase participation, more 'bums on boats'. Recently Simon Lovesey has been in touch with the CVRDA - the Classic & Vintage Racing Dinghy Association. Simon explains plans to encourage more older boats on to the circuit.
"The Great Lakes handicap group have done an excellent job of producing handicaps to reflect the front of the fleet and taking into account of class developments, e.g. Phantom carbon rigs, but this can leave a void for the older boats who then struggle to compete off the handicaps that reflect the latest developments," Simon says. "Many classes like the Moth Lowriders have seen success by creating age- or equipment-based handicaps for the variants within their classes. So with the aim of encouraging these older less competitive boats we will trialing using class variant numbers at the following events: Datchet Flyer (9/10 December 2023), King George Gallop (20 Jan 2024) and the Oxford Blue (17 Feb 2024).
"Owners of these older boats will be able to confirm on the entry form what Design or class rule they fit (e.g. Moth Magnum 9), and we will use the class published handicap for that variant. There will also be a new GBSC overall ranking for these older boats based on the three events over the maximum of ten possible races, with prizes awarded at the RYA Dinghy Show (24 Feb 2024)."
Last winter James Clancy from Desborough SC competed in six of the events, racing in the 30-year-old Merlin Rocket 3522, sailing with his son Samuel (and daughter Sophia at the Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash). James rescued Merlin Rocket 3522 from the dinghy park last October where she had been languishing for over ten years. The boat was serviceable, just needing some new ropes and fittings, plus some second-hand sails and a carbon boom that James acquired. Total spend was under £1k.
James and his son Samuel had previously raced in the Selden SailJuice Winter but in separate boats, British Moth and Topper respectively, and James wanted a cost-effective and competitive boat he could race with his children.
James comments: "We have enjoy racing in the Selden SailJuice Winter Series. The standard of competition is very high and we learned so much over the Series. We were pleased to see how our results improved, even though we were competing in an old boat, but other competitors from all ends of the fleet were happy to help. It is good to see how the Series organisers are looking to encourage older boats. There are so many older but reasonable boats out there, and sailing can be quite cost-effective and inclusive."
SELDÉN GOODIES!
Seldén Mast is back for the fifth year as title sponsor of the series and there are a couple of incentives to sign up for multiple events at the same time:
Enter four or more events before the Draycote Dash and get entered into draw for a Seldén Goody Bag
Enter two or more events, and you'll receive a Seldén waterproof bag
Entry for the events is open at www.sailjuiceseries.com
THE EVENTS
- Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash, Draycote Water Sailing Club - 18 & 19 November 2023
- Datchet Flyer, Datchet Water Sailing Club - 9 & 10 December 2023
- Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey, Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club - 27 December 2023
- Gill Grafham Grand Prix, Grafham Water Sailing Club - 30 December 2023
- GJW Direct Bloody Mary, Queen Mary Sailing Club - 6 January 2024
- King George Gallop, King George Sailing Club - 20 January 2024
- John Merricks Tiger Trophy, Rutland Sailing Club - 3 & 4 February 2024
- Oxford Blue, Oxford Sailing Club - 17 February 2024
- Prizegiving at RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show, Farnborough - 24 February 2024
You can find out more about the Series here: www.SailJuiceSeries.com