One of the legendary events in the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series, the GJW Direct Bloody Mary, is hard enough to win once, but to win back-to-back editions had never been done before…
14 January 2026
Jono Pank has become the first sailor to win back-to-back editions of the GJW Direct Bloody Mary, the sixth event in this season’s Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series. Pank helmed his Firefly to victory crewed by Isobel Bretherton, the duo from Imperial Poona Yacht Club crossing the rolling finish line ahead of a 124-boat fleet competing at Bloody Mary Sailing Club.
Last year Pank won the trophy with his son Freddie, and two consecutive years of light winds have played to the strengths of the Firefly dinghy. Second place went to Angus Cook and Lucie Hopkins, also sailing a Firefly, while third place was taken by Ian Dobson and his son Ted in their Mirror dinghy.
The race was held in a north-easterly Force 2-3, with the sun making a welcome appearance throughout. The hiking boats dominated the top 10, with the faster trapeze classes unable to break through from their later starts. Here’s a video from the perspective of RS800 champions Tom Morris and Guy Fillmore who struggled to make much progress through the fleet in the light winds.
Watch “Overtaking 88 boats in 88 minutes?” video…
https://youtu.be/Bwo0QC3SsK8?
This was the 50th edition of the Bloody Mary, the most famous pursuit race in the country. The event was attended by the founder of the Bloody Mary pursuit race and former Commodore, Bryan Willis, and by Bruce Smith, who was Commodore when the event was first held in 1974, Bruce also gave the event its great name. In total seven past and present commodores were in attendance for this 50th celebration, with the presentation hosted by the current Commodore, Adam Jennings-Frisby.
Here’s a dinghy park round-up of the event by Mark Jardine from yachtsandyachting.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Navigators & General SailJuice Winter Series, UK's premier winter handicap racing.
