Superstars and other Weekend Warriors line up for the Sailing Chandlery Datchet Flyer
by Andy Rice 4 Dec 2025 00:05 PST
6-7 December 2025
Plenty of big names and ordinary mortals lining up for the second event of the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series this weekend, the Sailing Chandlery Datchet Flyer...
The Sailing Chandlery Datchet Flyer has a reputation for being one of the most challenging events in the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series. Last season it took all the skill of multiple champions Nick Craig and Toby Lewis to negotiate the ravages of Storm Daragh to take the 2024 victory in their RS400.
The mild and moderate forecast for this weekend is altogether more appealing than the dreaded Daragh. Breeze is still looking strong for Saturday's handicap races, although well within range, going into lighter yet still reasonable winds for Sunday's pursuit race.
Get your entries in ASAP...
Tough Competition for the Series Leaders
Following their win at last month's Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash, Tom Gillard and Rach Gray are looking to make it back to back wins in their Merlin Rocket. However there's plenty of hot competition for the team from, including reigning B14 World Champions from Starcross Sailing Club in the south-west, the Irish skiff duo of Chris Bateman and Lucy Loughton.
Sam Pascoe, who was outright winner of the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series two years ago in his Musto Skiff, and winner of the World Championship a few months later, is this time crewing for his son Benjamin. Together they won the 2000 Nationals at Hayling in the summer, and will be in formidable form. Sam's sister Megan Pascoe is one of the world's best in the 2.4mR sit-in keelboat, although the moderate to strong forecast may not play to her strengths on the Great Lakes PY handicap numbers. With the prospect of good trapezing weather, local Contender hero Stuart Jones could be one to watch, and among the Musto Skiff entrants, reigning National Champion Eddie Bridle starts as favourite.
Parents and Olympic Aspirants
Ian Dobson won the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series exactly 10 seasons ago when he raced a GP14 with Andy Tunnicliffe. This weekend he's campaigning a Mirror dinghy with his son Ted. The series organisers have always been keen to promote more adults sailing with kids, so it's great to see the Pascoes and Dobsons among a number of entries in this winter's events thus far.
Also good to see Olympic campaigners Arran Holman and Alex Hughes teaming up to race an RS400 together. Not only are these handicap events fun, but the roll call of big-name winners of the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series over the past 16 years shows that it's very relevant cross-training for improving your skills for one-design competition at the summer open meetings and championships.
Navigators & General Coaching with Simon Horsfield
Resident coach of the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series, Simon Horsfield, is providing tips and advice throughout the eight events of the season. Supported by new sponsor, insurance company Navigators & General, Simon is a three-time winner of the series and well qualified to help sailors of all levels.
Magic Marine Extracted Rankings
Here are the category rankings across the races held so far, with an additional discard after every 3 races...
FastA
1st: Musto Skiff, Robert RICHARDSON, Royal Windermere (3)
2nd: RS800,Tom MORRIS & Guy FILLMORE, Hayling Island SC (6)
3rd: RS400, Jon HEISSIG & Nicky GRIFFIN, Llangorse SC (7)
FastS
1st: Merlin Rocket, Thomas GILLARD & Rach GRAY, Sheffield Vikings SC (3)
2nd=: Osprey, Roger BLAKE & Jamie BLAKE, Great Moor SC (8)
2nd=: RS600, Will RUSSELL, Grafham Water SC (8)
SlowA
1st: RS Vareo, Luke FISHER, Emberton Park SC (3)
2nd: RS200 Adam CATLOW & Martyn CATLOW,, RS Sailing (4)
3rd: RS200, Alistair HODGSON & Ella SPAIN, Draycote Water SC (6)
SlowS
1st: Streaker, Peter GRAY, Staunton Harold SC (3)
2nd: GP14 & Ellie DEVEREUX, Fergus BARNHAM, Draycote Water SC (6)
3rd: RS Aero 7, Joe SCURRAH, Notts County SC (10)
Junior
1st: ILCA 4 / Laser 4.7, Toby TURNER, Draycote Water SC (4)
2nd: ILCA 4 / Laser 4.7, Faith TURNER, Draycote Water SC (5)
3rd: ILCA 4 / Laser 4.7, Oscar ROWE, Draycote Water SC (6)
Youth
1st: ILCA 6 / Laser Radial, Will SADLER, Reading SC (3)
2nd: ILCA 4 / Laser 4.7, Toby TURNER, Draycote Water SC (6)
3rd: ILCA 4 / Laser 4.7, Faith TURNER, Draycote Water SC (7)
Age 19-30
1st: Musto Skiff, Robert RICHARDSON, Royal Windermere (4)
2nd=: RS600, Will RUSSELL, Grafham Water SC (6)
2nd=: Snipe, Matthew WOLSTENHOLME & Lloyd ROBERTS, Bough Beech SC (6)
Age 31-60
1st: Merlin Rocket, Thomas GILLARD & Rach GRAY, Sheffield Vikings SC (3)
2nd: RS800, Tom MORRIS & Guy FILLMORE, Hayling Island SC (5)
3rd: Streaker, Peter GRAY, Staunton Harold SC (7)
Masters
1st: GP14, Jasper BARNHAM & Graham SEXTON, Snettisham Beach SC (3)
2nd: Osprey, Roger BLAKE & Jamie BLAKE, Great Moor SC (5)
3rd: RS Vareo, Luke FISHER, Emberton Park SC (7)
Female
1st: Fireball, Katie BYNE, Draycote Water SC (3)
2nd=: Fireball, Chloe WILLARS, Notts County SC (6)
2nd=: ILCA 4 / Laser 4.7, Faith TURNER, Draycote Water SC (6)
The Events
The following events are in the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series 2025/26:
- Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash, Draycote Water Sailing Club - 22 & 23 November 2025
- Datchet Flyer, Datchet Water Sailing Club - 6 & 7 December 2025
- Polar Chase, Chase Sailing Club - 13 December 2025
- Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey, Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club - 27 December 2025
- Gill Grafham Grand Prix, Grafham Water Sailing Club - 4 January 2026
- GJW Direct Bloody Mary, Queen Mary Sailing Club - 10 January 2026
- John Merricks Tiger Trophy, Rutland Sailing Club - 31 January 2026 & 1 February 2026
- Oxford Blue, Oxford Sailing Club - 14 February 2026
Prizegiving at RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show, Farnborough - 21 February 2026
You can find out more about the Series at www.SailJuiceSeries.com