With 75 entries for another breezy event in this season’s stormy Seldén SailJuice Winter Series, Arran Holman and David Bromilow’s 420 dominated the Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey...
The breezy theme for this season’s Seldén SailJuice Winter Series continued with a windy outing at the Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey. This time it was the turn of Olympic campaigner Arran Holman crewed by David Bromilow to enjoy the planing conditions in their 420 to win both races of the one-day event.
With 75 entries from 32 classes and 40 different clubs, there was also a big youth contingent taking part, with the youngest sailor being just 12 years old. The RS Fevas made the Brass Monkey their class North Winter Championships, with five boats entered.
With Storm Gerrit predicted to batter the UK after Boxing Day, the forecasts were suggesting some extreme weather conditions for the Brass Monkey. However, after some deliberation Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club decided to give it a go, and were rewarded with good racing conditions, with the predicted stronger winds not arriving until much later in the day.
Even if the conditions were softer than expected, they were anything but easy. At least the temperature was balmy, even lifting into double figures. But with lots of rain and winds of 15 to 20 knots with occasional gusts over 30, it was still a very challenging outing. It made for great entertainment not just for the sailor but for those that came to enjoy the great YDSC hospitality and warm atmosphere in the clubhouse.
It was perfect 420 conditions, with Holman and Bromilow (Hollowell SC) winning by over a minute on corrected time in both races. Multiple dinghy champion Tom Gillard (Streaker - Sheffield Viking SC), had two seconds in his Streaker to be 2nd overall and Ben Flower (ILCA 7 - Paignton), two thirds to be third.
Principal Race Officer Phil Whitehead and the team at YDSC did a great job to deliver a fantastic event in challenging conditions and brought a positive can-do attitude to making sure the sailors and spectators enjoyed a thrilling day in beautiful surroundings.
Top Speeds from the day
RS400 Ollie Groves and Tom Parkhurst (Beaver SC) - 11.87 kts
MUSTO - Robert Richardson (Royal Windermere YC) - 11.86 kts
Top Speeds corrected on handicap
RS200 - Adam and Martyn Catlow (Leigh and Lowton SC) - 11.3 kts
RS200 - Will Taylor and Faye CASWELL (Lymington Town SC) - 11.09 kts
OVERALL RANKINGS AFTER 3 OF 8 EVENTS
After three events, Ben Flower’s ILCA 7 takes the overall lead with Fresh Abendstern and Ross Kemp’s Graduate up 15 places to second overall, and Rob Richardson’s Musto Skiff up one to third overall.
NEXT UP: GILL GRAFHAM GRAND PRIX
Next up, it’s the Gill Grafham Grand Prix on 30 December, and more than 120 entries signed up in advance...
Keep an eye on the weather, though, as the forecast looks strong. Here’s an official update from Grafham Water Sailing Club
"The forecasts for Saturday are showing strong and gusty winds for the day. However at the time of writing (Thursday am) conditions look sailable. We have therefore taken the decision to go ahead at this stage, though it is possible that conditions on the day will necessitate cancellation. Remember it is your decision alone as to whether to come on the day, and whether to go afloat."
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
Photo Credits: Tim Olin
Notes to editors:
Previous winners of the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series
2022/23 Peter Gray & Geoff Edwards (Osprey)
2021/22 Roger Gilbert & Ben McGrane (505)
2020/21 Simon Horsfield & Katie Burridge/ Natalie Johnson (2000)
2019/20 Simon Horsfield & Katie Burridge (2000)
2018/19 Simon Horsfield & Katie Burridge (2000)
2017/18 Alistair Goodwin (Laser)
2016/17 Matt Mee & Emma Norris (RS200)
2015/16 Ian Dobson & Andy Tunnicliffe (GP14)
2014/15 Nick Craig & various crews (Merlin Rocket)
2013/14 Michael Sims (Solo)
2012/13 Tom Gillard & Simon Potts (Fireball)
2011/12 Peter Gray & Rachael Rhodes (Scorpion)
2010/11 Andy Peake (Musto Skiff)
2009/10 Olly Turner & Richard Whitworth (Merlin Rocket)
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