HOLMAN & BROMILOW’S 420 STORMS THE BRASS MONKEY

 

With 75 entries from 32 classes and 40 different clubs, there was also a big youth contingent taking part, with the youngest sailor being just 12 years old. The RS Fevas made the Brass Monkey their class North Winter Championships, with five boats entered.

 

With Storm Gerrit predicted to batter the UK after Boxing Day, the forecasts were suggesting some extreme weather conditions for the Brass Monkey. However, after some deliberation Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club decided to give it a go,  and were rewarded with good racing conditions, with the predicted stronger winds not arriving until much later in the day.

 

Even if the conditions were softer than expected, they were anything but easy. At least the temperature was balmy, even lifting into double figures. But with lots of rain and winds of 15 to 20 knots with occasional gusts over 30, it was still a very challenging outing. It made for great entertainment not just for the sailor but for those that came to enjoy the great YDSC hospitality and warm atmosphere in the clubhouse.

 

It was perfect 420 conditions, with Holman and Bromilow (Hollowell SC) winning by over a minute on corrected time in both races. Multiple dinghy champion Tom Gillard (Streaker – Sheffield Viking SC),  had two seconds in his Streaker to be 2nd overall and Ben Flower (ILCA 7 – Paignton),  two thirds to be third.

 

 

Principal Race Officer Phil Whitehead and the team at YDSC did a great job to deliver a fantastic event in challenging conditions and brought a positive can-do attitude to making sure the sailors and spectators enjoyed a thrilling day in beautiful surroundings. 

 

 

RS400 Ollie Groves and  Tom Parkhurst (Beaver SC) – 11.87 kts

 

MUSTO –  Robert Richardson (Royal Windermere YC) –  11.86 kts

 

Top Speeds corrected on handicap

 

RS200 – Adam and Martyn Catlow  (Leigh and Lowton SC) – 11.3 kts

 

RS200 – Will Taylor and  Faye CASWELL (Lymington Town SC) – 11.09 kts

 

 

 

 

After three events, Ben Flower’s ILCA 7 takes the overall lead with Fresh Abendstern and Ross Kemp’s Graduate up 15 places to second overall, and Rob Richardson’s Musto Skiff up one to third overall.

 

 

 

 

NEXT UP: GILL GRAFHAM GRAND PRIX 

 

Next up, it’s the Gill Grafham Grand Prix on 30 December, and more than 120 entries signed up in advance…

 

Keep an eye on the weather, though, as the forecast looks strong. Here’s an official update from Grafham Water Sailing Club

 

"The forecasts for Saturday are showing strong and gusty winds for the day.  However at the time of writing (Thursday am) conditions look sailable.  We have therefore taken the decision to go ahead at this stage, though it is possible that conditions on the day will necessitate cancellation.  Remember it is your decision alone as to whether to come on the day, and whether to go afloat."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credits: Tim Olin

 

 

Notes to editors:

 

 

Previous winners of the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series

 

 

2022/23 Peter Gray & Geoff Edwards (Osprey)

2021/22 Roger Gilbert & Ben McGrane (505)

 

2020/21 Simon Horsfield & Katie Burridge/ Natalie Johnson (2000)

 

2019/20 Simon Horsfield & Katie Burridge (2000)

 

2018/19 Simon Horsfield & Katie Burridge (2000)

 

2017/18 Alistair Goodwin (Laser)

 

2016/17 Matt Mee & Emma Norris (RS200)

 

2015/16 Ian Dobson & Andy Tunnicliffe (GP14)

 

2014/15 Nick Craig & various crews (Merlin Rocket)

 

2013/14 Michael Sims (Solo)

 

2012/13 Tom Gillard & Simon Potts (Fireball)

 

2011/12 Peter Gray & Rachael Rhodes (Scorpion)

 

2010/11 Andy Peake (Musto Skiff)

 

2009/10 Olly Turner & Richard Whitworth (Merlin Rocket)

 

 

 

SailJuice.com is the ‘how to sail and race faster’ website, with hundreds of articles and exclusive interviews with National, World and Olympic Champions. Professional sailing journalist and editor of SailJuice.com, Andy Rice, came up with the concept of the SailJuice Winter Series (originally known as the SailJuice Global Warm-Up) as a way of increasing participation levels in dinghy racing during the off-season in the UK.

 

 

SailRacer manages event websites and processes online entry for major National, International, Youth and training events, providing online scoring, analysis and advanced sports presentation including GPS tracking and live video.

 

 

Seldén Mast Ltd is the world leader in dinghy spars. More races are won by Seldén Spars than any other brand. Dinghy spars are made using Seldén unique XPS aluminium with CNC cut tapers, automated welding and heat treating resulting in the highest quality and most consistent dinghy spars available. Seldén also produces about 400 carbon masts per year for boats including high performance dinghies and race yachts using state of the art Mandrel Filament Moulding Technology.