Cream rising to the top at big winter events

Ben Schooling wins the Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash 2013 © Malcolm Lewin / www.malcolmlewinphotography.zenfolio.com/sail

Datchet Flyer day 1 © Tristan Beckett

Action from the Draycote Dash © Malcolm Lewin / www.malcolmlewinphotography.zenfolio.com/sail

But entry is already full for next weekend's Brass Monkey in Yorkshire

After the first two events of the GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series, Ben Schooling leads the way in his Musto Skiff. Just 6 points behind Schooling, who won the Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash, is the Merlin Rocket of Jasper Barnham and Graham Sexton, while a 2nd place at the Badger Ales Datchet Flyer has put Nathan Batchelor and Sam Pascoe's Fireball in 3rd overall.

The series has attracted some of the UK's finest dinghy talent, including Endeavour Champion Nick Craig in his Devoti D-1, Fireball World Champion Tom Gillard sailing a Solo, and 49er Olympic medallist Simon Hiscocks in his International Moth. Winner of last weekend's Datchet Flyer was a newcomer to the Fireball class, Luke Patience. Aided and abetted by national championship-winning crew Richard Anderton, however, the London 2012 silver medallist in the 470 class soon got to grips with the quirks of the Fireball.

"I had a good crew showing me the ropes," said Patience, who was also the guest speaker at the Saturday night black-tie party. "The great thing about sailing is I learn every time I go on the water." As to learning how to sail the Fireball quickly without any prior experience, he said: "It's about priorities, working out what's important. Boats are like dogs; you push the right buttons at the right time and they are putty in your hands!"

Now in its fifth season, the GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series has pioneered the use of Great Lakes PY handicap numbers to create a more responsive form of handicapping which reflects actual performances at these large multi-class winter events. So far the first two events have seen a broad spread of classes doing well, although a 'one-two' at Datchet suggests the Fireball is still a particularly strong candidate in strong winds.

SailRacer, which manages the online entry and scoring of the series, reports a rise in advance entries from last year. "Next weekend's Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey is already booked up and online entry is closed early," said SailRacer's Simon Lovesey. "We're also seeing more boats competing at the first two events, with 27 entering both events compared with 14 last year. With increased interest in these events, you're best off entering early to guarantee your place."

The Brass Monkey takes place on 27 December, closely followed by the Grafham Grand Prix on 29 December. Then it will be the inaugural Oxford Blue on 4 January which, like the Datchet Flyer, will be using live GPS tracking. To look back at the tracking coverage from last weekend, go to www.sailjuiceseries.com - click on the 'Datchet Live' button near the top left-hand side to replay the battles that took place over the weekend.

With two events done, but just four of eight events to count in a competitor's series score, there's still plenty of opportunity to win the GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series if you enter soon.

Enter here: www.SailJuiceSeries.com

GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series 2013/14 Results so far: (top ten, 2 events)