Prepare for Take Off at the Datchet Flyer

by Andy Rice 8 Dec 2017 06:17 GMT 9-10 December 2017

GJW Direct SailJuice Datchet Flyer 2016 © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

It looks set for a windy weekend at the Datchet Flyer, round two of the GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series...

The Datchet Flyer looks set for a windy weekend, when round two of the GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series takes place on 9 & 10 December. Online entry closes end of Thursday 7 December, although there's still a possibility of entering on the day provided the entry limit hasn't been reached.

The forecast suggests moderate breezes from the west for the handicap races on Saturday, but big westerly winds are on the cards for Sunday's Pursuit Race. This could favour local Contender maestro, Stuart Jones, who knows the water and knows how to get the best out of this challenging singlehanded trapeze boat.

Turner James from Shoreham SC is the first winner of the use of an RS Aero, and the 49er sailor will be giving the popular singlehanded hiking boat a go at Datchet this weekend. Competition will be hot among the Merlin Rockets with one of the latest entries being Ben McGrane crewed by Christian Humphries.

Ian Dobson, crewed by Gemma Dobson, has won events in the GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series before, as well as becoming outright champion a couple of years back. Even though the hiking boats tend to struggle against the trapeze boats in strong winds, Dobson is a GP14 World Champion and has beaten the faster boats in strong breeze before.

If you're quick you might still beat the entry deadline at www.sailjuiceseries.com

The story so far...

After Round 1 of the GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series, the Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash was won by Andy Couch (Phantom), here's a round-up of other news in the Series...

Winter Cat Series

Cats are welcome to compete at three of the 2017/18 GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series Events: Datchet Flyer, Grafham Grand Prix and the Tiger Trophy which will form the basis of the Winter Cat Series. Enter now to secure your place. More...

GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series prizes and rankings

In addition to the overall top 10 rankings there are numerous other specialist awards and a chance for every one to win. Over 100 prizes were awarded across the series last winter:

Allen Performance Challenge

Chris Brown (RS100) topped the rankings, based on analytics showing the best progression towards the front of the fleet in each race. More...

Dinghy Rope Top Class

The Laser Class opened its defence to make it a hat trick of wins but were pushed hard by the Solo Class at the Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash. The Dinghy Rope Top Class rankings are based on the best three results from each class across every race, with prizes for sailors from the top three classes who qualify for the GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series with the highest number of points. More...

Trident Top Club

With a big home entry, Draycote Water SC headed the Trident Top Club rankings after GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series Round 1, looking to win this prestigious award and Trident Vouchers for the club to spend. Based on the best three results for each club across every race. More...

Gul Top Lady

Previous winner and runner up last Winter, Eleanor Craig (Radial) leads the Gul Top Lady Rankings after GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series Round 1, but pushed hard by Val Millward (Challenger). More...

Youth and Junior Rankings

It was great to see a big Youth and Junior turnout at Draycote, with Ben Flower (Laser) topping the rankings, Hamilton Roaf (Graduate) 2nd and last Winter's winner George Coles (Laser) completing the podium in 3rd. More...

SpeedSix Challenge

With some great SpeedSix prizes awarded at Draycote for those recording the highest sustained top speeds by the SailRacer GPS trackers both on an actual and corrected basis, Colin and Olly Murray (Norfolk Punt) achieved the best corrected speeds across every race. More...

Win an RS Aero

As part of the initiative to encourage increased youth participation in the 2017/18 GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series, we are pleased to announce the competition for under 18s (during 2018) to win an RS Aero for one of the events this winter. More...

Free SpeedSix HydroPro

Enter two or more of the SpeedSix Challenge events in the GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series (Draycote, Datchet and Oxford) and you will receive a sling-shot can of SpeedSix HydroPro to help you go even faster. More...

2017-18 GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series

Online entry is open for the 2017/18 GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series, now in its 9th season and again the focal point of winter racing. Last winter saw 1,000+ competitors, representing 89 classes and 278 clubs showing the series continues to go from strength to strength. A number of events sold out last winter and many are now only accepting online advance entry via the Series website. So, if you intend to race this winter do not delay in entering, you can easily enter one event through to all seven. More...

Youth support - discounted entry fees

As part of GJW Direct's drive to encourage more Youth Sailors (18 and under during 2018) to compete in the Series, these sailors will be eligible for a third off their entry fees when entering two or more events at the same time. More...

Try a new class at the GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series

Many class associations have used the GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series to allow people to try their boats and compare to the other 89 classes racing. You can now request to try a boat via the GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series website; classes already signed up include: Buzz, Hadron H2, National 18 and RS Aero. More...

Four out of Seven

The same seven events are back from last year's Series. With one event completed, there's still time to count your best four results from these seven events. Of course, you're welcome to enter and compete in as many events as you like - all of them if you're big enough to take on the challenge. This will give you more shots at getting a set of four good scores to put on the board.

The Events

The following regattas constitute the GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series 2017/18):