Strong winds have been the theme of the 2012/13 season of the GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series, and strong winds is what the current pre-entry of more than 160 boats are likely to experience this weekend at Rutland Water. It’s the 20th anniversary of the John Merricks Tiger Trophy, the annual winter handicap event held in memory of the Olympic silver medallist who won the inaugural event  at his home club, and who was renowned as a speed demon in strong winds.... 

Following a record advance entry the gusting winds and chilly conditions excited more to venture out and a monster 340 boats took to the water. Officially the Virtual Rigger 40th Bloody Mary Pursuit was the largest race since 2000.

What has been a windy start to the GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series looks set to continue at this weekend’s Virtual Rigger 40th Bloody Mary in London. The forecast for the pursuit race classic is a moderate to strong easterly breeze, but that hasn’t stopped 256 boats entering in advance, with the prospect of many more entering on the day.

Audio (4:30 min) and text interview: 2008 Olympic Champion Anna Tunnicliffe was smaller and lighter than most of her competitors in the Laser Radial Olympic fleet, but she makes up for lack of stature with phenomenal fitness. Here she talks about some of her on-the-water training drills, including the Pyramid of Pain (our words, not hers, but once you've heard it you might agree)...

With a high-wind forecast, no one could have expected all 170 entries to follow through with the trip to today’s Grafham Grand Prix, but the 145 that got out of bed early to brave the conditions would be rewarded with a spectacular day’s handicap racing. The average wind strength might have been in the late teens to early 20s, but it was the severity of the gusts - up to 35 knots - that provided the real test. There were capsizes aplenty although, amazingly, no broken masts.

With the 2012 Brass Monkey at Yorkshire Dales SC being part of the GJW Direct Sailjuice Winter Series, a bumper entry was expected, and sure enough entries had to be closed as capacity was reached weeks before the event date.

With a forecast of sunshine and strong wind on 27 December, and entry already full, the Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey looks set to be a humdinger of an event. The first time it has been included the GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series, the Brass Monkey already has over 120 entries in 32 different dinghy classes. Event organiser Keith Escritt said: “It’s a pity we can’t make the lake bigger, but 120 is all we reckon can fit comfortably on the water and ashore. So we’re asking if anyone who has entered but reckons they won’t be able to make it on the day, to let us know in advance so we can pass their spot on to another boat.”

With raging storms and lashings of brutal rain flooding parts of England overnight, the conclusion of the Draycote Dash looked uncertain on Sunday morning. With winds blowing in excess of 20 knots at the start of the 100-minute Pursuit Race, some competitors in the slower boats seemed reluctant to....

The GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series gets under way this weekend at the Draycote Dash, the first of six major winter handicap events in this tough Series.