Panks spank faster boats to Firefly their way to Bloody Mary glory
by Andy Rice 14 Jan 16:54 UTC
11 January 2025
Jono and Freddie Pank win the GJW Direct Bloody Mary 2025 © Tim Olin /
www.olinphoto.co.uk
Jono and Freddie Pank used their light-airs skills to edge their Firefly to victory at last Saturday's GJW Direct 49th Bloody Mary. This is the most famous pursuit race in the UK dinghy racing scene, and it was event #6 in this season's Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series.
So far this winter has been dogged by weather of one extreme or another. After an incredibly light one-race event at Draycote Water the previous weekend, the breeze was even less for the 99 boats entered for Queen Mary Sailing Club's annual event.
With such a light forecast on the cards, after a 30 year gap since his last assault on the trophy, Jono Pank decided this was his year to bring out the Firefly. "I've looked at doing it a few times but the timing or the weather has never been quite right," said the 50 year old father of Freddie, age 13. "I mean, if the forecast is over 10 knots you're not going to bring a Firefly along, are you!"
While the Fireflys were out in force this year, the Fireballs and other trapeze boats were notable by their absence. But after the past four editions of the Bloody Mary were won by trapeze boats of various kinds, perhaps it was only fair that the slower boats would get the rub of the green this time.
When the Toppers were first to start at midday, the reservoir was more like a mill pond. As other faster boats started, the Toppers had scarcely moved. It was turning into a parking lot. When a zephyr of breeze arrived an hour or so later, some spectators wondered if this was the day for the Thames A Rater to shine. With its 40ft tall rig, perhaps the team of Jamie Stewart, Ben Palmer and Dicken Maclean would find an extra puff that the rest of the fleet would never be able to catch.
Having moved ahead of the other Fireflys and into the lead, Jono Pank was certainly concerned about the A Rater's progress, as well as a particular Scorpion. "When that bit of breeze came up, Tom [Gillard] and Rachael [Gray] were really smoking through the fleet in their Scorpion and the A Rater looked like it was going to do some damage. But once the breeze went back to nothing, we reckoned we'd have the advantage in the Firefly again. We can tack better than anyone and we've got less drag, but it was a bit nervy at times."
So the Panks stayed ahead to take the winner's gun across the moving finish line at exactly 1430 hours. Gillard and Gray took second in the Scorpion with Stewart's A Rater in third. It was a Who's Who of great sailors just outside the top three, with Olympic campaigner Ben Flower stepping out of his ILCA 7 and into an RS Aero 9 to take fourth place, ahead of some past winners of the Bloody Mary. Two-time winner Ben McGrane said he couldn't convince his wife or kids to join him in a doublehanded option so he raced his Solo to fifth, ahead of another two-time winner Graham Camm, this time racing with Blue Camm in the front of the National 12. There were nine different classes in the top 10, so not even the Fireflys managed to dominate in their favourite conditions.
Despite the light airs it was a gloriously sunny winter's day and provided great slo-mo entertainment for the spectators on shore. Another triumph for the staff and volunteers at Queen Mary Sailing Club.
Simon Horsfield Coaching sponsored by GJW Direct Insurance
Aside from sponsoring the Bloody Mary, GJW Direct has also been supporting a brand new initiative this season, coaching for competitors, many of whom have never experienced coaching in their sailing careers. Three-time winner of the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series, Simon Horsfield, was competing at the Bloody Mary and is running a debrief of the Bloody Mary tonight, Tuesday, 14 January, at 20:00 hours.
Clip Clop! It's time for the Gallop
After one race on one side of London, it's off to the far side of the capital to compete this Saturday at the Magic Marine King George Gallop. Already some big names entered including Nick Craig who's barely off the plane back from Sydney at the B14 Worlds. He's back to Blighty with a bump, ready to compete in colder climes aboard his Finn singlehander.
To get the cheapest price on your entry fee, make sure you beat the deadline of 23:59 on Wednesday 15 January 2025. After that, entry fees rise by an extra £10. Entry on the day is also possible, but the price increases further still. So enter today and save yourself the extra.
Enter at www.sailjuiceseries.com
The following events are in the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series 2024/25:
- Sailing Chandlery Datchet Flyer, Datchet Water Sailing Club - 7 & 8 December 2024
- Robline UK Polar Chase, Chase Sailing Club - 14 December 2024
- Magic Marine Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey, YDSC - 27 December 2024
- Gill Grafham Grand Prix, Grafham Water Sailing Club - 29 December 2024
- Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash, Draycote Water Sailing Club - 4 & 5 January 2025 (re-scheduled from November 2024)
- GJW Direct Bloody Mary, Queen Mary Sailing Club - 11 January 2025
- King George Gallop, King George Sailing Club - 18 January 2025
- John Merricks Tiger Trophy, Rutland Sailing Club - 1 & 2 February 2025
- Zhik Oxford Blue, Oxford Sailing Club - 15 February 2025
- Prizegiving at RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show, Farnborough - 22 February 2025
You can find out more about the Series here: www.SailJuiceSeries.com