The Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series enters Season 18 with a new title sponsor – Navigators & General – and seven events on the handicap racing circuit for the 2026/27 series…
1 June 2026
After eight successful years, the SailJuice Winter Series bids a fond farewell to Seldén as title sponsor. The support of Steve Norbury and his team at Selden Mast has helped the Series continue to thrive through some of the most challenging periods in recent memory, including the disruption caused by the Covid pandemic.
The Series is now delighted to welcome Navigators & General as its new title sponsor, with the 18th edition officially named the Navigators & General SailJuice Winter Series 2026/27.
For more than a century, Navigators & General has been at the forefront of pleasure craft insurance in the UK, supporting generations of sailors and boating enthusiasts. The company joined the Series during the 2025/26 season through its support of the SailJuice coaching programme led by three-time Series champion Simon Horsfield, and the partnership will now expand into title sponsorship of the UK’s leading winter dinghy racing series.
“[Insert Navigators & General quote here. Add name and title of person in N&G. Perhaps mention how supporting the Sailjuice Winter Series is a great way of connecting with so many different types of sailing craft in the UK all in one event. N&G offers comprehensive insurance to almost all racing classes that compete in the UK.]”
Seven Events for 2026/27
The 2026/27 edition returns to a seven-event calendar (see details below), following the temporary expansion during the Covid years, when additional events provided resilience against lockdowns and cancellations.
One notable change sees the Polar Chase expand to a two-day event, while the Grafham Grand Prix is no longer included in the Series. Although hugely respected in its own right, the event’s three-race course-racing format sat outside the SailJuice philosophy of mass participation handicap racing where the entire fleet races together.
The Navigators & General SailJuice Winter Series continues to offer sailors of all classes and abilities the opportunity to enjoy competitive winter racing at some of the UK’s best-known venues, combining close competition, camaraderie and endurance across the winter months.
THE EVENTS
The following events are in the Navigators & General SailJuice Winter Series 2026/27:
Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash, Draycote Water Sailing Club
21 & 22 November 2026
Datchet Flyer, Datchet Water Sailing Club
5 & 6 December 2026
Polar Chase, Chase Sailing Club
12 & 13 December 2026
Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey, Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club
27 December 2026
GJW Direct Bloody Mary, Queen Mary Sailing Club
9 January 2027
John Merricks Tiger Trophy, Rutland Sailing Club
6 & 7 February 2027
Oxford Blue, Oxford Sailing Club
13 February 2027
Prizegiving at RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show, Farnborough
20 February 2027
You can find out more about the Series here: www.SailJuiceSeries.com
Further Information for media:
Please contact Andy Rice
email: andy@sailjuice.com
Website: www.sailjuice.com
Photo Credits: Tim Olin
Notes to editors:
Winners of the Sailjuice Winter Series
2025/26 Tom Gillard & Rachael Gray (Merlin Rocket)
2024/25 Tom Gillard & Rachael Gray (Scorpion)
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.
Navigators & General offers Sailing Boat Insurance which provides cover for all types of sailing craft up to £1million in value. Navigators & General also offers insurance for wide cruising ranges including Brest-Elbe and UK coastal as standard, with European and Mediterranean extensions available.
