Please select your home edition
Edition

An Intriguing Duel in store for the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series

by Andy Rice 31 Oct 2024 08:07 UTC
Gray and Edwards during the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

With just over three weeks until Event #1 of the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series, some interesting boats and teams are entering as well as some new sponsors coming on board to make the 16th edition bigger and better than ever...

Entries are already coming in for Event No.1 of the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series. Taking place on the weekend of 23 & 24 November, the Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash is the first of nine events in this, the 16th edition of the Series.

When you enter two or more events by the start of the Draycote Dash, you will receive a GJW Direct Beanie, great for keeping warm throughout the Winter Series, and a £10 off voucher when you spend over £50 at Sailing Chandlery.

Enter at www.sailjuiceseries.com

With a major clothing brand about to announce its support for this year, word is getting through that there are few better ways to reach the whole of the UK dinghy and small-boat racing scene than through this nine-event circuit which runs from late November through to late February with the main stage prize-giving at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show.

The Sailing Chandlery has become the title sponsor for the second event of the Series in December, what will this year be known as the Sailing Chandlery Datchet Flyer. Other sponsorship and naming opportunities are still available. To find out more while there's still time, contact

Duo between some old rivals

When we say 'old rivals', do we mean two venerable classes - the 470 and Fireball - or do we mean the people set to race them? You be the judge, but the fun and interesting fact is that some past winners of the Series are lining up in opposing yet very similar race craft.

Back in 2011/12, Pete Gray and Rachael Rhodes raced to Series victory in their Scorpion. Pete and Rachael subsequently got married but perhaps wisely the married couple of decided to race in separate boats since then. These days Rachael [now called Gray] races in multiple classes and has won multiple championships crewing for Tom Gillard. Now Tom won the Series in 2012/13 in a Fireball crewed by Simon Potts. But, and I hope you're keeping up, this year Tom Gillard and Rachael Gray are teaming up in a 470 to see if they can continue their winning ways in yet another class.

Meanwhile Pete Gray, who since won another Series title (2022/23) in an Osprey crewed by Geoff Edwards, is now hopping into the back of a Fireball with Richard Pepperdine on the wire. And so the marital battle of the Grays will begin. Will it be superior sailing or a better/worse handicap that wins the day between these two? Will Tom Gillard, as reigning Fireball World Champion, be prepared to share his best tuning tips with Gray and Pepperdine, or will he keep that hard-won edge to himself?

Great Lakes Handicap Numbers

  • 470: 973
  • Fireball: 955

Which means that in a typical 45-minute race, the Fireball will need to finish around a minute ahead of the 470. The race is on!

You can sit back with your popcorn and watch the racing unfold from the comfort of your home thanks to the live SailRacer GPS tracking. Or you could do the hard thing, the better thing, and sign up for the events yourself.

Enter at www.sailjuiceseries.com

The Events

The following events are in the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series 2024/25:

  • Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash, Draycote Water Sailing Club
    23 & 24 November 2024
  • 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
  • Grafham Grand Prix, Grafham Water Sailing Club
    29 December 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
  • Oxford Blue, Oxford Sailing Club
    15 February 2025
  • Prizegiving at RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show, Farnborough

You can find out more about the Series here: www.SailJuiceSeries.com

Related Articles

Fishing: Patterning brown bass
Post-spawn through summer smallies Whitewater Fishing B.A.S.S. tournament pro, Alex Redwine, talks fishing the transition period Posted on 26 Jun
2025 Bahamas Fly-fishing Tournament Series
Anglers to compete across some of The Bahamas' top bonefishing spots The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation announced the launch of Bonefishing Tournament Series that will showcase diverse pristine flats across four islands - Grand Bahama, Andros, Eleuthera and the championship round will be held in Exuma Posted on 20 Jun
Mote leads seagrass restoration initiative
Florida legislature establishes the Seagrass Restoration Technology Development Initiative Seagrasses play a crucial role in the health and resilience of Florida's coastal ecosystems. They provide nursery habitats for keystone species and stabilize shorelines and sediments. Posted on 20 Jun
Maritimo M50 Flybridge & S60 Sedan Video
We speak to Maritimo's Neil McCabe & Phil Candler We talked to Neil McCabe, Maritimo's Design Office Manager, and Phil Candler, Maritimo's General Manager Operations, to find out more about the M50 Flybridge and S60 Sedan during the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Posted on 17 Jun
“I'm living my dad's dream”
Carl made sure to provide young Kyle the chance to be a seasoned pond hopper Carl Cortiana is about to turn 70, but he still remembers the days four decades ago when he'd cast a practice plug across the living room floor and his toddler son, Kyle, now a highly accomplished Vexus pro on the MLF Toyota Series. Posted on 14 Jun
Stories From The Salt - Ep.6
Insights from PENN's top anglers Whether you're a passionate saltwater angler who eagerly dedicates every spare moment to being out on the water, or you simply enjoy watching the techniques and experiences of others, we invite you to anchor up and learn some valuable insights Posted on 14 Jun
Bulwarks and Bulldust – watch Episode Six
Episode Six is now live - Are boat shows still relevant? Episode Six - asks the question, 'Are boat shows still Relevant?' We also offer some thoughts on changes and updates. The final episode of Series One is now live Posted on 13 Jun
Scania, Viking showcase renewable diesel
Mack Attack shows outstanding efficiency without compromise in performance of Scania V8 Engines Scania, one of the world's leading manufacturers of engines, announced today the successful demonstration of the performance and viability of renewable marine diesel fuel in a Viking 48 Convertible powered by twin Scania 1,150 HP DI16-liter V8 engines. Posted on 10 Jun
Sportfishing industry applauds decision by NOAA
Elimination of proposed South Atlantic bottomfishing closure The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries withdrew the proposed bottomfishing closure from Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic. Posted on 10 Jun
Marine Auctions: June online auctions
Bidding to open on Friday 20th June The Bidding for the June Online Auction will commence on Thursday 20th June and will end on Thursday 26th June at 2pm AEST. Posted on 7 Jun