Gillard & Gray take Merlin victory in the Tiger
by Andy Rice 4 Feb 22:08 PST
1-2 February 2025
Tom Gillard and Rachael Gray sailed their Merlin Rocket to victory at last weekend's John Merricks Tiger Trophy at Rutland Sailing Club. After a season of too much or too little wind for this season's Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series, event #8 delivered almost perfect conditions for the 110 entries representing a diverse range of 51 types of dinghy, multihull and sportsboat, ranging from slower boats like the Gull to the fastest - the foiling International Moth.
Gillard and Gray had to sail at their absolute best to win the two-day event and victory only came after a tiebreak with Colin and Oly Murray's Norfolk Punt, the father and son duo back on the water after a couple of years away from sailing competition. Two first places from the three handicap races in the light to moderate airs of Saturday were the tipping point in favour of Gillard and Gray.
Principal race officer David Wilkins and his team at Rutland Sailing Club set a quadrilateral course for the three back-to-back handicap races on Saturday, although the wind was shifting through more than 30 degrees at times. This either freed up or tightened up the reaching legs, making it an all-round challenge of tactics and boat handling, particularly at the more congested mark roundings.
Once everyone was ashore, it wasn't long before the bar was in full swing, many sitting down to watch the ebbs and flows of the Six Nations Rugby match between England and Ireland. Soon after it was time for the Lincolnshire bangers and mash and a few more drinks before bedtime.
Streakers run away with the Pursuit Race
On Sunday morning, the ice on the boat covers soon melted away as the sun rose across a beautifully blue sky, something that has been in short supply this winter. Although the breeze was light, by start time of the pursuit race at 1100 hours, the slower boats got away in a pleasant 10 knots of breeze. However there was a dip in the wind strength half an hour later, allowing the early starters to get away and make a break for victory.
The breeze did pick up again towards the finish time at 1300 hours, but Martin Penty from Beaver Sailing Club held on for the win in his Streaker, ahead of the RS Feva XL sailed by two youth sailors from Draycote Water, Mia Hateley and Mona Nygard. Another Streaker, sailed by Dave Borrett also from Beaver SC, was third ahead of the rapidly closing Norfolk Punt from Invergordon Boating Club.
The Murrays had enjoyed a good battle with Andy Tarboton in his Musto Skiff, the South African sailor who less than a month ago won the Musto Skiff World Championship on Sydney Harbour.
At the prize-giving, David Wilkins thanked his race team and all the sponsors including Everards Brewery, who have supported the event since its inception. This has helped support the John Merricks Sailing Trust and subsequently other local charities around Leicester and Rutland.
Tom Gillard and Rachael Gray, representing Sheffield Vikings SC and Staunton Harold SC, congratulated the organisers and thanked their fellow competitors for a hard-fought but friendly competition on a beautiful weekend of winter sailing. Simon Hawkes from Castle Cove secured third place in a K1 keelboat.
Multi-class champion Ben Flower took time out before Sunday's pursuit race for a quick chat and some tips from Rach
Simon Horsfield Coaching sponsored by GJW Direct Insurance
WhatsApp Group - chat.whatsapp.com/KFlRWkTrhxpDMkqcJbanWR
On Tuesday evening GJW Direct coach Simon Horsfield, a three-time winner of the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series, will provide an event debrief from the Tiger along with winning crew Rach Gray.
Simon Horsfield's experience, combined with Rach Gray's insights, should provide valuable lessons for sailors looking to succeed in multi-class competitions.
When
Tuesday 4 Feb 2025 · 20:30 - 21:30 (United Kingdom Time)
www.facebook.com/SeldenSailJuiceWinterSeries/videos
Enter the Zhik Oxford Blue
Event #9, the final competition of this winter, takes place on 15 February 2025. It's the Zhik Oxford Blue at Farmoor Reservoir.
Enter at www.sailjuiceseries.com
Once Oxford is complete, the 2024/25 Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series Prize Giving at the RYA Dinghy Show on February 22 at 10:15 will be a great opportunity to celebrate the winners and see over 100 prizes awarded.
The following events are in the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series 2024/25:
- Sailing Chandlery Datchet Flyer, Datchet Water Sailing Club - 7 & 8 December 2024
- Robline UK Polar Chase, Chase Sailing Club - 14 December 2024
- Magic Marine Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey, YDSC - 27 December 2024
- Gill Grafham Grand Prix, Grafham Water Sailing Club - 29 December 2024
- Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash, Draycote Water Sailing Club - 4 & 5 January 2025 (re-scheduled from November 2024)
- GJW Direct Bloody Mary, Queen Mary Sailing Club - 11 January 2025
- King George Gallop, King George Sailing Club - 18 January 2025
- John Merricks Tiger Trophy, Rutland Sailing Club - 1 & 2 February 2025
- Zhik Oxford Blue, Oxford Sailing Club - 15 February 2025
- Prizegiving at RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show, Farnborough - 22 February 2025
You can find out more about the Series here: www.SailJuiceSeries.com