Davis & Rayner score 420 hat trick at the Oxford Blue
by Andy Rice 19 Feb 19:04 GMT
18 February 2023
Alice Davis and Oliver Rayner made the most of strong breeze for the final event of the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series, the Oxford Blue...
After a predominantly light airs season for the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series, the Oxford Blue delivered a windy climax to the nine-event competition.
Robust breeze averaging 20 knots with a few bigger gusts, courtesy of Storm Otto, made for an exciting and hectic race track on Farmoor Reservoir on Saturday 18 February. It was perfect weather for Alice Davis and Oliver Rayner (Draycote Water SC), to show what a well-sailed 420 can do in blustery conditions.
These top 420 sailors and 2022 GBR representatives at World Youth Championships blitzed the event. skilfully keeping their 420 at full throttle throughout the day for three straight wins.
It was a good outing for the Hollowell SC team, as Jack Lewis & Morgan Smith raced their 2000 into second place ahead of club mate Arran Holman aboard an RS Aero 7. This made Holman the top finisher at the RS Aero Winter Championships taking place at the event.
In total 85 entries from 37 classes competed at the Oxford Blue, another diverse entry from RS800s and Musto Skiffs to Toppers, with a few more unusual classes such as the Sunfish and Dart 16.
Top speeds
With a good consistent breeze, nearly half the fleet saw sustained speeds in double figures as recorded by the SailRacer GPS trackers.
Ben Schooling (Musto Skiff) was fastest at a sustained 12.61 kts, closely followed by local Carl Tagoe (Contender) 12.48kts and in third the RS200 of Ben Whaley and Lorna Glen recorded an impressive 11.97 kts.
On handicap-adjusted speed, Ben and Lorna were top, followed by Series stalwart Val Millward (Challenger).
Seldén sticker competition winners
RS800 sailors Liz Watton and Chris Williams (Leigh & Lowton SC) were the Seldén sticker winners at the Oxford Blue. The RS800 duo win an R60 ratchet block from the Seldén range, thanks to the photo taken by series photographer Tim Olin.
Prizegiving this Saturday, 1015am at the Dinghy Show
The prize-giving for the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series always attracts one of the biggest crowds at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show which takes place in Farnborough this weekend. The prize-giving starts at 1015am on the Main Stage, on the Saturday morning of 25 February, soon after doors open for the weekend.
Overall Results from the Oxford Blue can be found here.
Seldén SailJuice Winter Series 2022/23 Events:
- Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash, Draycote Water Sailing Club
20 & 21 November 2022
- Datchet Flyer, Datchet Water Sailing Club
3 & 4 December 2022
- Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey, Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club
27 December 2022
- Burghfield Breezer, Burghfield Sailing Club
27 December 2022
- Grafham Grand Prix, Grafham Water Sailing Club
2 January 2023
- Bloody Mary, Queen Mary Sailing Club
7 January 2023
- King George Gallop, King George Sailing Club
21 January 2023
- John Merricks Tiger Trophy, Rutland Sailing Club
4 & 5 February 2023
- Oxford Blue, Oxford Sailing Club
18 February 2023
- Prizegiving at RYA Dinghy Show, Farnborough
25 February 2023
You can find out more about the series at www.SailJuiceSeries.com