South West Winter Series announced

Are you the best sailor in the South West, can you handle a variety of conditions from Reservoir to Sea? Well now is the time to prove it. The South West has a new challenge for all winter sailors. Roadford, Starcross and Wimbleball Clubs are holding races on consecutive Sundays in March to find out just how good you are. All the events will be using the Sailjuice handicap numbers and will be open to all monohull dinghies with a handicap from Cadets to Foiling Moths (1350 to 500).

The Roadford Rocket is a new event and will be held on Sunday March 8th, venue Roadford Lake, Broadwoodwidger, W Devon. Roadford Lake is the largest inland water in the W Country and offers the ability to set testing courses in all wind directions. The race will be a long distance endurance handicap race, duration 2.5-3 hours, start time 12.30pm. In addition to the monohull dinghies the event is open to small keelboats (Flying Fifteen and smaller). The NOR is now available on the RLSC website: www.roadfordlakesailingclub.org.uk. The SIs will be published by the end of January and online entries only will be through a link on the website and will be open Feb 1st -March 1st. Contact the organiser Richard Willows,

The twenty third annual Starcross Steamer Pursuit race sponsored by Exe Sails will be held on Sunday 15th March 2015 on the river Exe. The first start will be at 12 noon, the race duration is 150 minutes high water is at 13:09. Entry to the Steamer will open a month before the event and must be made via the club web site (www.starcrossyc.org.uk). Due to the popularity of the event numbers will be limited to 100, the entry fee of £15.00 will be payable at the Club on the day. The Sailing Instructions, Notice of Race, Handicap Numbers and Consent Forms will also available on the club website when you enter. For further information email

The third race in the series, the Exmoor Beastie, will be hosted by Wimbleball Sailing Club on Sunday 22nd March. The reservoir is situated half way between Tiverton and Minehead within the boundaries the Exmoor National Park. This is a 3 hour pursuit race sponsored by Exmoor Ales. The first start will be at 12 noon. Further information will be available before the event on the club website at www.wimbleballsc.org.uk. Further information can be obtained by email from Tony Appaine

Prizes will be awarded at Wimbleball after the Beastie to the first three competitors who complete all the events. So good luck – let the best sailor be it man or woman in the South West win.