Champion's walk-through of Season #17 of Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series

by Andy Rice 11 Nov 2025 21:31 PST

2020 Seldén SailJuice Winter Series: Simon Horsfield & Katie Burridge © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Resident coach for the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series, Simon Horsfield, joins circuit organisers Simon Lovesey and Andy Rice to chat through the eight-event travellers series for 2025/2026...

Event No.1 of this season's Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series is fast approaching. It's the Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash, which takes place on the weekend of 22 & 23 November at Draycote Water Sailing Club. Entry closes sooner than most events, and to get a spot you need to have completed online entry by Tuesday 18 November.

Enter here

Three-Time Winner Coaches Again

As the only three-time series winner (racing in a 2000 with wife Katie), Simon Horsfield brings invaluable expertise back to his coaching role, this time supported by new series sponsor, insurance company Navigators & General.

Horsfield joined circuit organisers Simon Lovesey and Andy Rice for an online chat where they preview what's to expect this winter.

While his main role will be to support other competitors with expert coaching input, Horsfield said he looked forward to squeezing in a few events as a competitor.

As with last year, Horsfield's primary focus remains on providing accessible coaching, an often-overlooked aspect of dinghy sailing outside of youth and Olympic squads. His coaching philosophy is rooted in practical advice using video footage from a rib, offering insight into what "good looks like" at the front of the fleet and identifying opportunities for mid-fleet sailors to gain five or ten places. Horsfield also mentioned the importance of having the coach on site to provide alternative entertainment and boat-park tips on days when conditions are too light or too heavy for racing.

Horsfield says the busy start lines and mixed-fleet racing environment are fantastic for keeping skills sharp during the off-season.

Enter for this season for £20 off Magic Marine kit

Entries are open for all eight events, starting with the Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash. Technical clothing specialist Magic Marine, after their sponsorship of last summer's Sailjuice Challenge, are offering a £20 voucher for anyone who enters two or more events before the Draycote Dash weekend. As usual, the handicapping will be run under the Great Lakes Group, a well established set of handicap numbers, a variation from the standard RYA Portsmouth Yardstick numbers.

Enter the series here

The Events

The following events are in the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series 2025/26:

Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash, Draycote Water Sailing Club - 22 & 23 November 2025
Datchet Flyer, Datchet Water Sailing Club - 6 & 7 December 2025
Polar Chase, Chase Sailing Club - 13 December 2025
Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey, Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club - 27 December 2025
Gill Grafham Grand Prix, Grafham Water Sailing Club - 4 January 2026
GJW Direct Bloody Mary, Queen Mary Sailing Club - 10 January 2026
John Merricks Tiger Trophy, Rutland Sailing Club - 31 January 2026 & 1 February 2026
Oxford Blue, Oxford Sailing Club - 14 February 2026