Warming up for the Gallop
by Andy Rice 16 Jan 20:18 NZDT
20 January 2024
The King George Gallop now forms part of the Great British Sailing Challenge © Tim Olin /
www.olinphoto.co.uk
While the cold weather is set to get even icier this week, it should thaw just in time for this Saturday's King George Gallop, event No.6 in this season's Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series...
Almost 40 boats are entered for this Saturday's King George Gallop, the sixth event in the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series. Taking place at King George Reservoir in North London, the current icy spell of weather looks set to turn mild just in time for the weekend.
Entry numbers are up and confidence appears to be returning after all the upset of the Covid era. To join in and take part, sign up via www.sailjuiceseries.com
Meanwhile here's an update of the drama thus far after five events, most recently the GJW Direct Bloody Mary...
Overall Standings in the Series after five events
The first discard has now kicked in, so quite a few changes in the overall rankings. In total, 387 boats have now gained ranking points, already 10% more than across all events last winter, and still three events to go.
With four wins from the first five events, Sam Pascoe (Musto Skiff - Castle Cove SC), jumps back to the top spot after the discard. The Musto Skiff class now has three boats in the top ten, with Sam Barker and Dan Vincent both making big gains.
Full Overall Standings here...
Top Class
An impressive 78 different classes have now competed this winter. With three boats in the top 10, Merlins were the best class at GJW Direct Bloody Mary, just one point ahead of the RS400s. Overall after 15 races, the Top Class rankings are still very close with the ILCA 7s holding onto top spot, from the RS200s and Musto Skiffs.
Top Class Ranking here...
Top Club
147 different clubs have now been represented across the 2023/24 Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series. Warsash was the Top Club at the Bloody Mary. Overall Draycote Water SC are still top, with Castle Cover SC up one to second and Great Moor SC, last winter's winners up three places to third.
Top Club Ranking here...
Top Lady
Ann Jackson crewed by Alan Skeens (Enterprise - Burghfield SC), was top lady at the Bloody Mary. Overall Imogen Wade crewed by Hugo Valentine (420 Draycote Water SC), is Top Lady after 15 races, previous winners Val Millward (Challenger - Rutland SC) and Ellie Craig (RS Aero 6 - Bassenthwaite), completing the top three at this stage.
Top Lady Ranking here...
Top Youth
Youth sailors made up a quarter of the entries at the Bloody Mary, with Edwin Cross (ILCA 6 - Shoreham SC), coming out top. Overall Imogen Wade and Hugo Valentine (420 Draycote Water SC) are Top Youth sailors, followed by last winter's winner Finlay Cochrane (ILCA 6 - Yorkshire Dales SC), who is also Top Junior.
Top Youth Ranking here...
Other Categories
Other GBSC extracted rankings here...
Seldén goodies for Kieran and Tom
Winners of the Seldén sticker photo competition from the GJW Direct Bloody Mary are Kieran Shrimpton and Tom Parkhurst (Portchester Sailing Club) racing their Merlin Rocket.
NEXT EVENT: THE KING GEORGE GALLOP
Next up is the King George Gallop on 20 January. To sign up for this and the other events in the Series...
www.SailJuiceSeries.com
THE EVENTS
The following events are in the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series 2023/24:
- Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash, Draycote Water Sailing Club
18 & 19 November 2023
- Datchet Flyer, Datchet Water Sailing Club
9 & 10 December 2023
- Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey, Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club
27 December 2023
- Gill Grafham Grand Prix, Grafham Water Sailing Club
30 December 2023
- GJW Direct Bloody Mary, Queen Mary Sailing Club
6 January 2024
- King George Gallop, King George Sailing Club
20 January 2024
- John Merricks Tiger Trophy, Rutland Sailing Club
3 & 4 February 2024
- Oxford Blue, Oxford Sailing Club
17 February 2024
- Prizegiving at RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show, Farnborough
24 February 2024
You can find out more about the Series here: www.SailJuiceSeries.com