Event: Musto Skiffs at Oxford Blue, Oxford Sailing Club, 2023/24 Seldén SailJuice Winter Series, 17 February 2024 (non-circuit)
Report Sam Pascoe
3 Musto Skiffs turned up to a sunny and warm Oxford Blue. Just as we went to launch, the gusts built to a nice 15 knots.
Race 1
Race one Sam Barker won the committee boat and put the nose down hard. Andy Rice stuck his boat in high mode of the pin end. Sam Pascoe got spat out the back of this battle so tried to tack out, but his new harness hook had the rubber grommet on it. So made a spectacular mess when he couldn’t unhook. This let Barker run away to an unassailable lead. Andy rounded the windward just in front of Pascoe. Down the first run, Pascoe stayed in a nice puff to drop inside Andy. Then unfortunately Andy took a dip a lap later when he over committed on a 2 sail reach. This is how the places stayed to the finish.
Race 2
Barker won the committee boat again and Pascoe was at the pin. At the windward mark, Pascoe was right on Barker’s transom. Starting behind the slow and medium fleet made the first lap very busy, especially on the reaches that we could mostly hold our kites for. On the first bottom reach, Barker and Pascoe both dropped. Pascoe then rehoisted to get clear of the slow boats that dragged Barker high. By the next mark, there was still nothing in it. It wasn’t until the second run that Pascoe gybed off early and passed Barker. Up the final beat, Barker tried to start a tacking match but tied his feet in knots and capsized letting Pascoe away. This is how the places stayed to the finish.
Race 3
Pascoe won the pin with Sam Whaley wrapping his WASAP foils around the anchor chain of the pin boat. Barker was a few boats up but tacked off before a 30-degree shift with an extra 5 knots came in. Pascoe and Andy tacked on it. Andy, unfortunately, underestimated it and had a quick swim but was still on Barker’s transom at the windward. This is how the places stayed to the finish.
Overall, Pascoe was 3rd, Barker 7th, and Andy 84th.
This meant there had been a Musto Skiff on the podium at all the winter events, bar Yorkshire Dales. In the series overall, Pascoe has won and has dominated, only being beaten in 2 races by other Musto Skiffs – Sam Barker has come third and Dan Vincent fourth. We would like to say a big thank you to all that have helped organise and run this year’s Seldén SailJuice Winter Series. We are now looking forward to the Ovington Inlands in March. Let’s hope our winter training pays dividends.
Overall Results - Musto Skiffs
Results for the Musto Skiff class at Oxford Blue – 2023/24 Seldén SailJuice Winter Series (from 102 boat entry):
- 1st Musto Skiff – Sam PASCOE (3rd place overall)
- 2nd Musto Skiff – Sam BARKER (7th place overall)
- 3rd Musto Skiff – Andy RICE (84th place overall)
Podium Results - All boats
Results for the Oxford Blue – 2023/24 Seldén SailJuice Winter Series (from 102 boat entry):
- 1st Place – RS Vareo (621) – Luke FISHER – Emberton Park SC
- 2nd Place – GP14 (14023) – Matt MEE & Chris ROBINSON – Burghfield
- 3rd Place – Musto Skiff (636) – Sam PASCOE – Castle Cove
Overall Results: https://enter.sailracer.org/eventsites/content.asp?id=50557&eventid=225490
GPS Tracking (BM): https://enter.sailracer.org/eventsites/live-screen-tracking-club.asp?eventid=225490&labels=S (Select ‘Blue’ to view GPS tracking)
2023/24 Seldén SailJuice Winter Series event website: https://enter.sailracer.org/eventsites/new.asp?eventid=225490
Feature image: Sam Pascoe at Oxford Blue – 2023/24 Selden SailJuice Winter Series (© Tim Olin)
