Tag: Sailing Southwest

Winter Sailing Series

With the traditional Dinghy Sailing season coming to an close eye can now turn to the chilly months to come. Fortunately D-Zero sailors are a hardy bunch and love to keep sailing all year round.

For those who fancy something a little different there are a lot of opportunities to get out on the water over the winter months….

D-Zero Winter Series 2019-2020

Yes, it is back again and the winner gets to sail with the coveted ‘W’ on their sail. Current holder, and D-Zero poster boy, Tom Southwell has been absent for a little while but hopefully he will make a return to defend his title and let the boat make him look good again.

The event are as follows, all except the Steve Nicholson Trophy are part of the Selden Sailjuice Winter Series and entry must be done online. Do note that the events have tended to not allow on the day entries so make sure you have a confirmed entry before you travel.

23rd/24th November 2019 – Draycote Dash – Online Entry
7th/8th December 2019 – Datchet Flyer – Online Entry
27th December 2019 – Brass Monkey – Online Entry
29th December 2019 – Grafham Grand Prix – Online Entry
11th January 2020 – Bloody Mary – Online Entry
25th January 2020 – Steve Nicholson Trophy – Online Entry
26th January 2020 – King George Gallop – Online Entry
1st/2nd February 2020 – Tiger Trophy – Online Entry
15th February 2020 – Oxford Blue – Online Entry

Of the 9 events just 4 will be needed to count towards the series.

Sailing Southwest Winter Series

For those not based in the middle of the country our friends down at Sailing Southwest are running their own Winter Series so D-Zeros based over that way can keep sailing. Their events are as below:

2nd November 2019 – Porthpean Pursuit
3rd November 2019 – Penzance Pirate
23rd November 2019 – NDYC Wrecker
1st December 2019 – Christmas Cracker
19th January 2020 – Starcross Steamer
25th January 2020 – Sutton Bingham Icicle
9th February 2020 – Roadford Rocket
16th February 2020 – Channel Chop
15th March 2020 – Exmoor Beastie
21st March 2020 – Torbay Tornado

More details and online entry can be found by clicking here.

Harken Largs Winter Series

For those north of the border Largs are again running a winter series. The ever increasing Scottish D-Zero fleet are sure to have a strong presence here. For just £99 you can sail at Largs (and get some handy practice at the 2020 D-Zero National Championship Venue). The series starts on the 27th October 2019, runs through to December. The fee also includes the New Year race and Spring Series. More details on the Winter Series can be found by clicking here.

D-Zeros at the Roadford Rocket 2018


David Bartlett working his way upwind at the Roadford Rocket. Photo Copyright Sailing Southwest

On the 28th January 3 D-Zero sailors headed to Roadford Lake for round 5 of the Sailing Southwest Winter Series. On what has been described as a grey but balmy January day with winds around the force 3 mark Steve Bolland and Stacey Bray kept close company for the majority of the 2 1/2 hour pursuit race with only 1 boat between them at the finish.

Steve Bolland works his way through the fleet. Photo Copyright Sailing  Southwest

Steve managed to post 6th overall in the competitive fleet of 64 boats with Stacey coming home in 8th with David Bartlett coming home a respectable 34th.

Full results can be found by clicking here and a link to the event report by Sailing Southwest can be found by clicking here with a good photo gallery here.

In the series standings this leave Stacey in 1oth, 1 place and 1 point ahead of Steve in 11th. this can all change with 5 events still to go in the busy winter calendar.

Sailing Southwest Winter Series R3 – Penzance Pirate


Kian Andrews and Pierre Photo copyright Lottie Miles/Sailing Southwest

Our friends at Sailing Southwest had a testing weekend at Penzance. As you can see from the report below by Jonathon Miles a couple of our hardy D-Zero south west contingent decided to brave the 40kt gusts and give it a go. Kian Andrews obviously impressed the local wildlife with ‘Pierre’ the dolphin coming to say hello.

Jonathon Miles from Sailing Southwest reports on the event as follows:

The day started at Penzance SC with a few early birds arriving at 8.30 to be greeted with white water in Mounts Bay and winds gusting offshore at over 30kn. As discussion over abandonment started the wind seemed to drop a little and 11 intrepid sailors including several visitors who braved the weather for the trip into Cornwall, ventured out into the harbour.

The Race Officer gave the all clear to get on the water for the scheduled 10.30 start. Everyone was equipped with a Sailing Southwest GPS tracker to keep an eye on things. As the race start times approached the local Mirror sailors Lloyd and Sebi Williams launched but wisely turned back. The conditions were worsening and the gusts within the harbour were severe.


He is in there somewhere….. Photo copyright Lottie Miles/Sailing Southwest

Nine boats made it out of the harbour braving a gusty exit past the threatening concrete walls and the 5 knot speed limit – broken by all!

Into Mounts Bay and the sole remaining Enterprise of Colin Stephens and Simon Lees blasted off on the downwind reaching start. Touching speeds of 14.8 knots, the Enterprise was moving rapidly to the gybe mark and the first of several capsizes (while racing).

3 minutes later Laser sailor Ben Flower raced off the start line hitting the overall top speed of 18.6kn soon afterward. The D-Zeros and Blazes, an RS100 and RS Aero were all out on the water ready for their starts, when a friendly dolphin, known locally as Pierre, popped in to check on the sailors, giving local sailor Kian Andrews a fantastic show as he danced around the D-Zero.

The wind had increased to over 30 knots and gusting more, so time was called on the race. Ben had demonstrated a masterclass for heavy weather sailing, bombing around the course and putting two laps in before a rescue boat could catch him to tell him the race was abandoned.

The fleet took a few more capsizes as they battled the conditions but eventually a complete group of damp sailors returned to the bar, all grinning from ear to ear!


Pierre generously gives Kian some tips on how to survive in the conditions. Photo copyright Lottie Miles/Sailing Southwest

Well done to the race team and especially the rescue team in gathering up the stragglers and escorting them home.

But the day wasn’t quite over for everyone… The rescue crews offered to test their search and rescue skills, as they ventured out once more to locate a tracker that had gone overboard! They were guided to its location using the GPS system, and managed to pluck the tiny device from the ocean. Their radio message of success raised a fantastic cheer in the clubhouse.

Is this a Laser hitting 18.6 knots? – photo © Jonathan Miles / Sailing Southwest
Is this a Laser hitting 18.6 knots? – photo © Jonathan Miles / Sailing Southwest
The race may have been abandoned, but for fun, the race committee used the GPS tracker results to determine the fastest boats and awarded their Pirate Prizes to some terrifying speeds.

Roll on the Christmas Cracker at Paignton and hopefully calmer weather as the Sailing Southwest Winter Series continues. For information, updates and series standings, visit www.sailingsw.co.uk/sw-series

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