Tiger Trophy is event No.8 in the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series

 The John Merricks Tiger Trophy is event No.8 in the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series.

Taking place on 4 & 5 February, the dinghy classic consists of a series of back-to-back races on the Saturday and a Pursuit Race on the Sunday. Once bitten by the Tiger, sailors come back year after year in anticipation of another hotly contested event backed up by great hospitality at Rutland Sailing Club. Principal race officer and Olympic silver medallist David Wilkins has a well deserved reputation for running exciting and fair racing on England's largest reservoir.

Up to four club-based RS21 keelboats are expected to take part in the competition, which also coincides with the first weekend of Six Nations rugby fixtures. "We'll be off the water well in time for the England v Scotland match on Saturday afternoon," says David. The Tiger is also open to other small keelboats and catamarans as well as the usual spread of dinghy classes.

As ever for Rutland, there's a sit-down dinner on the Saturday night and a chance for old friends from across different fleets to catch up before the summer season gets going again and people disperse back into one-design competition.

To sign up to the Tiger Trophy and the final event of the season, the Oxford Blue, visit www.sailjuiceseries.com