Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series - Back-to-back history for Jono Pank at the Bloody Mary
by Andy Rice 14 Jan 18:09 GMT
10 January 2026
Jono Pank and Izzy Bretherton win the GJW Direct 50th Bloody Mary © Tim Olin /
www.olinphoto.co.uk
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 ten, 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.
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.
Navigators and General Coaching debrief
Resident coach of the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series, Simon Horsfield, is providing tips and advice throughout the eight events of the season. Supported by new sponsor, insurance company Navigators & General, Simon is a three-time winner of the series and well qualified to help sailors of all levels.
Join him on Wednesday evening (14 Jan, 20:00 hours) for his debrief of the Bloody Mary; it is on Google Meet (anyone can use it in a browser), otherwise remember it will be on Youtube after the event. [Update: recorded video now available.]
Enter next event
Next event in the series is the Tiger Trophy at Rutland Water on the weekend of 31 January and 1 February.
Overall Results from GJW Direct Bloody Mary: (top 10)
1st Firefly 4400, Imperial Poona YC - Jono PANK and Isobel BRETHERTON
2nd Firefly 3695, Castaways - Angus COOK and Lucie HOPKINS
3rd Mirror 71053, Royal Thames - Ian DOBSON and Ted DOBSON
4th 2000 2203, Thorney Island SC - Simon HORSFIELD and Katie HORSFIELD
5th 2000 2190, Castle Cove SC - Benjamin PASCOE and Sam PASCOE
6th National 12 3530, Burghfield SC - Graham CAMM and Zoe BALLANTYNE
7th Merlin Rocket 3732, Hollowell SC - Arran HOLMAN and Tom PYGALL
8th RS200 1700, Swanage SC - Ben WHALEY and Isobel STEWART
9th Firefly 2065, Papercourt SC - Jason ALDOUS and Josephine MASON
10th Firefly 3007, Netley SC - Nigel WAKEFIELD and Leila FARMER
Helm prizes:
First Female Helm: Firefly - UEA/CCSC - Erin PANK (28th)
First Queen Mary Helm: RS400 - Richard GRAY (17th)
Grand Master: RS400 - Queen Mary SC - Richard GRAY (17th)
First Junior Helm: 2000 - Castle Cove SC - Benjamin PASCOE (5th)
Class prizes were also awarded to:
RS200 - Swanage SC - Ben WHALEY and Isobel STEWART (9th)
ILCA 7 - Castle Cove SC - Archie MUNRO-PRICE (12th)
ILCA 6 - Greig City Academy - Corneille LEPRINCE (19th)
505 - Netley SC - Ben McGrane and James Ross (30th)
Top speeds (based on SailRacer tracking):
Eddie BRIDLE - Musto Skiff 9.22kts
Edward CLIFFORD - Norfolk Punt 9.14kts
Andrew FRIEND - Norfolk Punt 8.97kts
Adjusted speeds:
Erin PANK - Firefly 7.29 kts (8.68kts)
Edward CLIFFORD - Norfolk Punt 9.14kts (8.08kts)
Amelie HISCOCKS - 29er 8.92kts (7.98kts)
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
- Sailing Chandlery Datchet Flyer, Datchet Water Sailing Club - 6 & 7 December 2025
- Robline UK Polar Chase, Chase Sailing Club - 13 December 2025
- Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey, Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club - 27 December 2025
- GJW Direct Bloody Mary, Queen Mary Sailing Club - 10 January 2026
- John Merricks Tiger Trophy, Rutland Sailing Club - 31 January 2026 & 1 February 2026
- Grafham Grand Prix, Grafham Water Sailing Club - 8 February 2026 (rescheduled from original date)
- Oxford Blue, Oxford Sailing Club - 14 February 2026
- Prizegiving at RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show, Farnborough - 21 February 2026
You can find out more about the Series here: www.SailJuiceSeries.com