Seldén-sponsored winter sailing series kicks off this weekend

The 15th edition of the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series gets underway in the UK this weekend (18-19 November 2023) with the Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash in Warwickshire. 

Back for the fifth year as title sponsor, Gosport based Seldén Mast Ltd continues its support of the popular off-season sailing series, which aims to provide the fairest possible handicap racing for small boats in the UK.

The Draycote Dash is the first of eight events across the winter months, culminating with the series prizegiving on the main stage of the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show at the end of February 2024. 

Last season saw 77 different classes and 108 clubs represented, confirming the importance of the series to UK dinghy racers. 

“We’re looking forward to the start of the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series, which I’m sure will be as popular as ever,” says Seldén Mast Ltd’s managing director, Steve Norbury. “Various members of the team here will be taking part over the course of the series, including myself in my RS400 at the Draycote Dash, Datchet Flyer, Bloody Mary and the Tiger Trophy.

“We’re delighted to be able to support sailors, like us, who want to get out on the water and continue sailing and competing all year round. It’s also a fantastic way for our team to connect with the sailors using Seldén equipment and gather the valuable feedback that allows us to continue to innovate and develop our market leading dinghy spars and deck hardware.”

Andy Rice, founder and co-organiser of the series, comments: “It’s great to have Seldén’s continued support for the series which has become a focal point for dinghy racing in the winter months.

“Steve Norbury and his team at Seldén are as passionate as we are about keeping the competitive fires burning all through the year, even in the cold months. Year after year we see many of the same faces return, which must say something about how much they’re enjoying the events.”

The races that will form the 2023/2024 Seldén SailJuice Winter Series are as follows:

• 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
• Grafham Grand Prix, Grafham Water Sailing Club – 30 December 2023 
• 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