Sam Watson and Charlie Cotter sailed their GP14 to victory at the Robline UK Polar Chase, the first time this event has featured in the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series.
Against a star-studded fleet that included many current and recent national and world champions, Watson and Cotter were the most consistent. Along with winning the average-lap handicap race, a sixth place in the pursuit race was sufficient to give the GP14 from Nantwich Sailing Club overall victory. This was despite the GP14 briefly taking a wrong turn during the pursuit race.
Behind the winning GP14 were a number of high performers who finished on equal points. Coming out ahead on tiebreak – thanks to his victory in the pursuit race – was Simon Hawke’s K1 keelboat from Castle Cove SC. Third was Jamie Blake in an ILCA 7/ Laser representing Great Moor SC.
Also finishing on equal points but just falling the wrong side of the tiebreak were some of the best-known names in UK dinghy racing and all former winners of the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series. Tom Gillard and Rach Gray from Sheffield Vikings and Staunton Harold were fourth, just ahead of Nick Craig’s Finn from Burghfield SC.
With a near sell-out entry of 86 boats, Chase Sailing Club pulled out all the stops to put on a great event. With more than 45 volunteers and free hot drinks along with bright sunshine and moderate breeze, this was a classic day of winter dinghy racing, the like of which you would struggle to find anywhere else in the world.
With high-performance clothing brand Zhik looking to raise its profile in grassroots sailing, Zhik’s support and the Series’ ‘Old Boats’ initiative is attracting more participants who can’t afford to buy new but will want to be competitive on the race course.
Among the entries at the Robline Polar Chase were a 43-year-old Snipe, many old Toppers and ILCAs, including a 37-year-old ILCA which finished 18th overall. Paul and Ria Burgoine bought a 30-year-old Enterprise for £1500 last year and managed to finish 14th overall.
The older, more affordable boats are also attracting a higher youth entry. James Davies bought his son a 1990s vintage Laser 3000. “It’s a fantastic winter series, thank you so much,” said Davies. “My son saved and bought his boat in August last year and this was his first season out racing. He is 15 and has learnt so much, sailed in a lot of different conditions with so many other boats on the water. He has met people who have been there at every event, sailors who have given him lots of advice and encouragement. He now has the amazing opportunity to crew a 420. All this has happened due to this Winter Series and the people he has been fortunate to meet. Thank you so much!"
Even if you stayed at home and didn’t come to Chase SC, you can still get some great insights and go-faster tips from watching the GJW Direct sponsored Coaching Debrief by sailing coach and multiple champion Simon Horsfield. Here, Simon highlights a number of key moves on the busy race track, including the ability of Gillard/ Gray’s Scorpion and Luke Fisher’s RS Vareo to set themselves for huge gains at the high-traffic mark roundings…
Straight after Christmas the Series moves on to the Magic Marine Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey (currently at around 40 entries) on 27 December, closely followed by the Gill Grafham Grand Prix (currently at around 50 entries) on 29 December.
Magic Marine, with the support of North East Yorkshire Youth Sailing Association, are providing prizes at Yorkshire Dales. Online entry deadline is midday on Boxing Day, 26 December.
Please note there is an entry limit of 150 boats for Grafham and entry fees increase after 27 December. Entry includes a free pasta dish at the end of racing.
ENTER HERE
www.sailjuiceseries.com
Top 3 and other results from Robline UK Polar Chase
Final Podium
1st GP14, Sam Watson & Charlie Cotter, Nantwich SC
2nd K1, Simon Hawkes, Castle Cove SC
3rd ILCA 7 / Laser Standard, Jamie Blake, Great Moor SC
Jake WILLARS, RS600, 9.42kts
Sophie BAINES Topper, 6.36kts
CFbyLandL Youth Rankings £75 voucher
Sophie BAINES (Topper), 16 years old
14th Enterprise 21500 (30 years old)
Paul & Ria BURGOINE
The following events are in the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series 2024/25:
Sailing Chandlery Datchet Flyer, Datchet Water Sailing Club
7 & 8 December 2024
Robline UK Polar Chase, Chase Sailing Club
14 December 2024
Magic Marine Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey, YDSC
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
You can find out more about the Series here: www.SailJuiceSeries.com
Website: www.sailjuice.com
Photo Credits: Tim Olin
2023/24 Sam Pascoe (Musto Skiff)
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.
GJW Direct Insurance provides you with comprehensive cover for your dinghy with instant quotes available online. Our self-service portal allows you to manage your policy online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Offering new for old policies, cover for your kit, rapid online claims settlement and refund of entry fees if the event is cancelled and expert knowledge to assist you back onto the water quickly. Subject to exclusions and limitations, for the full dinghy insurance policy wording, please read here…
https://www.gjwdirect.com/policy-documents/
Navigators & General SailJuice Winter Series, UK's premier winter handicap racing.
