Datchet Flyer 2021 at Datchet Water Sailing Club

 Tom Gillard and Rachael Gray beat a 99-boat fleet in their Merlin Rocket to win the Datchet Flyer, the second event of the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series.

The Merlin narrowly beat Roger Gilbert and Ben McGrane in their 505 with Jack Hopkins' Laser (ILCA 7) edging out the GP14 of Nick Craig and Toby Lewis for third place. Olympic Champion Dylan Fletcher stepped into the back of a National 18 with Michael Wilson and Ben Batchelor to finish in fifth place.

It was a diverse entry of boats with 34 classes ranging from the Topper to the Formula 18 catamaran, along with Flying 15 keelboats and National 18s. There was a big 420 turnout, the class making this one of the go-to events for the winter season.

Events in the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series 2021/22:

Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash, Draycote Water SC

20 & 21 November 2021

Datchet Flyer, Datchet Water Sailing Club

11 & 12 December 2021

Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey, Yorkshire Dales SC

27 December 2021

Burghfield Breezer, Burghfield Sailing Club

27 December 2021

Grafham Grand Prix, Grafham Water Sailing Club

2 January 2022

Bloody Mary (TBC), Queen Mary Sailing Club

8 January 2022

King George Gallop, King George Sailing Club

22 January 2022

John Merricks Tiger Trophy, Rutland Sailing Club

5 & 6 February 2022

Oxford Blue, Oxford Sailing Club

19 February 2022

 Overall Results:

Pos Class Hcap Sail No Helm Crew Club R1 R2 R3 R4 Pts

1 Merlin Rocket 980 3759 Thomas GILLARD Rachael GRAY Staunton Harold SC 1 6 ‑8 2 9

2 505 883 9215 Roger GILBERT Ben MCGRANE Netley SC 6 ‑11.5 1 4 11

3 Laser 1108 218526 Jack HOPKINS Delph Sailing Club 4 5 ‑22 4 13

4 GP14 1130 14185 Nick CRAIG Tobytastic LEWIS Burghfield / Frensham 5 ‑7 4 6 15

5 National 18 906 425 Dylan FLETCHER Michael / Ben WILSON / BATCHELOR Isle Of Man YC ‑11 8 6 6 20

6 Laser 1108 215390 Thomas BRINDLEY Redesmere SC 7 4 ‑23.5 10 21

7 RS Vareo 1093 621 Luke FISHER Emberton Park SC ‑14 14 7 2 23

8 Laser 1108 212109 Ben FLOWER Paignton SC ‑3 3 3 20 26

9 Enterprise 1153 22456 Nigel BIRD Iain BIRD R.Y.A 2 ‑25 13 14 29

10 Supernova 1077 1060 Alex HORLOCK Warsash SC ‑51.5 9 11 16 36