Fireflys at the GJW Direct Bloody Mary 2026
by National Firefly Association 14 Jan 07:58 GMT
10 January 2026
Jono Pank and Izzy Bretherton win the GJW Direct 50th Bloody Mary © Tim Olin /
www.olinphoto.co.uk
Six hardy Fireflys kicked off their 80th Anniversary year by joining the 125-boat fleet at Queen Mary Sailing Club for the GJW Direct 50th Bloody Mary on Saturday, 10th January.
Despite the previous week of wild weather battering the UK, Saturday's outlook showed 5-10 knots with some potentially bigger gusts in the very detailed forecasts provided for the fleet by Steve Carver at Ocamet. A step up in breeze from the previous year's drifter, but still definitely a forecast with Firefly potential, as long as the gusts didn't prevail too much, giving the trapeze boats a chance to stretch their legs.
This year's course was a full 12-buoy tour of Queen Mary, predominantly around the edges, with a couple of dog legs to the middle to provide an additional beat and to avoid the spit.
Many of the slow boats had been deterred by the forecast and stayed at home, so the Fireflys got away (cleanly) at 12:20, for their 130-minute pursuit with only a Mirror, a Topper, a Feva, and a handful of ILCA 4's ahead.
Thommie Grit & Steve Carver rounded the first windward mark leading the swarm, and set off in search of the next mark, only to see Jono Pank & Izzy Bretherton and Angus Cook & Lucie Hopkins find some additional pressure on a slightly higher line, both pulling through by the bottom of the leg. With the ILCA 4's all overtaken by mark 3, the swarm then set about chasing down the front of the race.
Towards the end of the first lap, the Feva & Topper headed off to the wrong mark, leaving the course clear for Jono & Izzy and Angus and Lucie to lead the swarm in hot pursuit of the lone distant Mirror of Ian & Ted Dobson. The Mirror had pulled out a huge lead by the end of the first lap, but the very variable pattern of 4-8 knots, puffs, holes and shifts would ensure there was still plenty of golf in the hole!
The swarm held out against the approaching armada of faster boats for a full hour, till the leading Streaker managed to squeeze past Erin Pank & Georgia Evans on the bottom reach, then they promptly overtook it again upwind to regain the formation.
Well beyond the halfway stage of the race, the swarm were still holding 6 of the top 10 places!
At the 2hr mark (30 minutes left), with the front of the race on the far left side of the reservoir, the swarm still held 5 of the top 6 places, only the lone Mirror out front, but two 2000's had ominously pulled out of the melee behind to mount their own challenge.
On the next beat, back up to the far side of the spit, the Mirror struggled in a hole for a while, offering a glimmer of hope, whilst the swarm marched on behind. Thommie & Stevie bravely held the rearguard defence intact for a full 10 minutes, before being eventually overhauled by the 2000's on the next downwind.
With 10 minutes to go, the swarm still held 4 of the top 5 places. Nigel Wakefield & Lelia Farmer sternly provided the next obstacle for the encroaching faster boats, Nigel offering sound advice to the 2000's (carrying spinnakers on a fetch) that there was no chance on earth that he was going to let them pass to windward, but they'd be most welcome to sail below him.
At the same time, slightly further up the course in front of the club, Jono & Izzy finally found a passing lane on the Mirror to snatch the lead.
With 5 minutes to go, Nigel & Lelia's heroic defence started to wane as the first 2000 crept through, followed by the other 2000 and then the National 12 of twice Bloody Mary winner Graham Camm. The swarm still held 3 of the top 4 places, but the battle was definitely on, as Jason Aldos and Chloe Harding stepped into the breach.
With 2½ minutes to go, Jason & Chloe still held 4th against the 2000's (not easy on a very broad reach vs. a spinnaker boat) whilst Angus & Lucie had successfully reeled in the Mirror.
After 150 minutes of racing, the gun fired & Jono & Izzy took the win & the ribs dropped the finish. Angus & Lucie followed closely behind to take 2nd from the Mirror, who just held off the leading 2000 for 3rd.
The additional few minutes it takes for the rest of the leading group to reach the finish line allowed the faster boats an opportunity to use their additional canvas, with the 2000's, the N12 & a Merlin Rocket, squeaking past Jason & Chloe in the final meters to the line.
What an amazing way for the swarm to kick off its 80th Anniversary year.
The Fireflys smashed the 50th Bloody Mary, taking 4 of the top ten places and 5 of the top fifteen.
Jono & Izzy 1st (the first person to 'retain' the Blood Mary following his 2025 win with Freddie)
Angus & Lucie 2nd
Jason & Chloe 8th
Nigel & Lelia 10th
Thommie & Stevie 14th
Erin & Georgia won the First Ladies Trophy in 28th
The whole fleet then moved onto the White Hart in Southwark for the annual Firefly Winter Drinks!