GJW Direct Bloody Mary looks set to be a blast

by Andy Rice 6 Jan 08:57 PST 7 January 2023

The GJW Direct Bloody Mary is shaping up to be a tough race this Saturday, with a lot of big name sailors looking to win leg 6 of the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series...

With 128 boats already entered for the GJW Direct Bloody Mary, leg 6 of the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series is looking to be one of the hardest fought events so far.

It's been three years since the last edition of the pursuit race classic in south-west London, the hiatus caused by a combination of Covid and a lack of water at Queen Mary. In January 2020, Dylan McPherson and Jack Lewis blasted their 420 to victory on a day when the gusts were touching 30 knots.

The strong, southerly forecast for Saturday suggests it could be another good day to race a 420, which bodes well for the likes of Joe Warwicker /Hugo Valentine and Noa Moskovitch / Gabs Burlton. Or perhaps for former Olympic representative Paul Brotherton back in a 470, crewed by Arran Holman.

It's just over 20 years ago that double Olympic medallist Simon Hiscocks won the Bloody Mary crewing in a 49er. This time he's back in a 29er, crewing for his daughter Amelie. Others to watch from the trapeze classes include past Fireball World Champions DJ Edwards & Vyv Townend, and the Ospreys such as current series leaders Roger & Iain Blake. A strong contingent of Musto Skiffs are coming to see if they can catch the slower boats, including national champions of recent years, Sam Pascoe and Peter Greenhalgh.

You can watch the Online Briefing for the Bloody Mary here:

Online entry for all the events in the series is available at www.sailjuiceseries.com

Update on the series so far

Overall
After five events and the first discard, Roger and Iain Blake (Osprey - Great Moor SC) hold onto top spot, from Paul Young and Alex HOMER/ Nathan McGRORY (Enterprise - Midland SC). Peter GRAY and Geoff EDWARDS (Osprey - STAUNTON HAROLD SC), move up two places to complete the podium. But with four big winter events still to go, it's still very possible for the likes of previous season winners such as Gilbert & McGrane or the Horsfields to put together a winning set of scores.
enter.sailracer.org/eventsites/content.asp?eventid=224528&id=48408

Craftinsure Top Class
Laser ILCA 7s were top class at the Gill Grafham GP and consolidated their lead in the Craftinsure Top Class rankings, based on the best three results for each class across every race.
enter.sailracer.org/eventsites/content.asp?id=48394&eventid=224528&templ=

Top Club
Draycote Water SC and Great Moor SC both had strong results at the Gill Grafham GP, moving up one place each to close the gap on Top Club leaders Staunton Harold SC. Rankings based on results for each club across every race.
enter.sailracer.org/eventsites/content.asp?id=48395&eventid=224528&templ=

Seldén Sticker Competition

Best Photo - Mandy Horton (Europe)

Social Media - Pat Overs (Solo)

Extracted GBSC results, based on every race with a discard per every three races:

Female
Rachael Gray (Scorpion) holds on to top spot, Arwen FFLUR (420) and Maddie CHILDS (Radial - ILCA 6) move up to second
1 Scorpion Rachael GRAY Amy CLAY STAUNTON HAROLD
2 420 Arwen FFLUR Arlo BRAUND PWLLHELI WKSC
3 Laser Radial (ILCA 6) Maddie CHILDS KING GEORGE SAILING CLUB
enter.sailracer.org/eventsites/results_mainp.asp?eventid=224528&templ=224528&classtype=Female

Junior
1) Finlay COCHRANE (Laser 4.7 (ILCA 4) - YORKSHIRE DALES)
2) Freddie SUNDERLAND (Laser Radial (ILCA 6) - DRAYCOTE WATER)
3) Jack HODGKINS (RS Feva XL - DRAYCOTE SAILING CLUB)
enter.sailracer.org/eventsites/results_mainp.asp?eventid=224528&templ=224528&classtype=Junior

Youth
Arwen FFLUR (420) knocks defending champion Maddie CHILDS (Radial - ILCA 6) off top Youth spot
1) Arwen FFLUR (420 - PWLLHELI WKSC)
2) Maddie CHILDS (Laser Radial (ILCA 6) - KING GEORGE SAILING CLUB)
3) Joe ROWE (Laser Radial (ILCA 6) - DRAYCOTE WATER)
enter.sailracer.org/eventsites/results_mainp.asp?eventid=224528&templ=224528&classtype=Youth

Masters
1) Roger BLAKE (Osprey - GREAT MOOR SC)
2) Richard SIMS (K1 - CARSINGTON)
3) Tim BIRD (505 - BURTON SC)
enter.sailracer.org/eventsites/results_mainp.asp?eventid=224528&templ=224528&classtype=Masters

Fast Asymmetric
1) Richard SMITH (Musto Skiff - MEDWAY YACHT CLUB)
2) Jonathan CARTER (Vortex - RICKMANSWORTH SAILING CLUB)
3) Andy COUCH (VX One - BLITHFEILD SC)
enter.sailracer.org/eventsites/results_mainp.asp?eventid=224528&templ=224528&classtype=FastA

Fast Symmetric
1) Peter GRAY (Osprey - STAUNTON HAROLD)
2) Roger BLAKE (Osprey - GREAT MOOR SC)
3) James CLANCY (Merlin Rocket - DESBOROUGH SC)
enter.sailracer.org/eventsites/results_mainp.asp?eventid=224528&templ=224528&classtype=FastS

Slow Symmetric
Joe SCURRAH (RS Aero 7) swaps places with Rachael GRAY (Scorpion) at the top
1) Joe SCURRAH (RS Aero 7 - CARSINGTON)
2) Rachael GRAY (Scorpion - STAUNTON HAROLD)
3) Paul YOUNG (Enterprise - MIDLAND SAILING CLUB)
enter.sailracer.org/eventsites/results_mainp.asp?eventid=224528&templ=224528&classtype=SlowS

Slow Asymmetric
Previous overall series runner up for last two winters, jumps in at second for the Slow Asymmetric category
1) James WILLIAMS (RS200 - CHEW VALLEY LAKE SC)
2) Luke FISHER (RS Vareo - EMBERTON PARK SC)
3) Nigel PEPPERDINE (RS200 - STAUNTON HAROLD SC) enter.sailracer.org/eventsites/results_mainp.asp?eventid=224528&templ=224528&classtype=SlowA

The Events

The following events are in the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series 2022/23:

• 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