Please select your home edition
Edition

Sam Pascoe wins the GJW Direct 48th Bloody Mary

by Tony Bishop 6 Jan 11:16 PST 6 January 2024

Musto Skiff sailor Sam Pascoe won the GJW Direct Bloody Mary pursuit race, the fifth leg of the Selden Sailjuice Series, held at Queen Mary Sailing Club on Saturday 6 January 2024.

The winning helm from Castle Cove Sailing Club, crossed the line ahead of a 185 boat fleet accompanied by sailors representing 52 boat classes from 84 sailing clubs. A dry north westerly force 2 to 3 wind greeted the sailors, with the sun poking holes in the clouds during the race, competitors had no complaints about the conditions.

Winning helm, Sam Pasco said: "It's a very great feeling, I've chased it for quite a long time, brilliant to win it. I got a second last year, matching my Dad's result in a 2.4 from 17 years ago, so a good one to tick off the list!"

See full interview by Mark Jardine:

Martin Pue, race director, said: "The 48th GJW Direct Bloody Mary was an extremely competitive race leading to prizes being awarded to the top ten boats across six different classes. A huge success overall with a great turnout, it was impressive to see nearly over 20 youth helms, and 38 Grand Masters.

"The race was well organised and a huge thanks must go to the volunteers, the race management team, safety teams and staff who worked tirelessly throughout the day. We would like to thank our title sponsors GJW Direct and also the Selden SailJuice Winter Series."

Overall Results: (top ten)

1. Sam Pascoe - Musto Skiff, Castle Cove S.C.
2. Tom Gillard & Rachael Gray - Merlin Rocket, Sheffield Viking S.C.
3. Jack Holden & Robert Anderson - RS400, Chichester Y.C
4. Graham Camm & Anya Camm - National 12, Burghfield S.C.
5. Philip Meakins & Richard Anderton - Osprey, Warsash Y.C.
6. Sam Barker - Musto Skiff, Castle Cove S.C.
7. Ian Martin & Chris Martin - Merlin Rocket, Burghfield S.C.
8. Ian Walker & Anna Warren - RS400, Warsash Y.C.
9. Matt Reid & Libby Watkins - RS400, Parkway Y.C.
10. Ben Saxton & Lottie Fields - Merlin Rocket, RYA

Helm prizes:

  • First Lady Helm: Ann Jackson & Alan Skeens - Enterprise, Burghfield S.C
  • First Queen Mary Helm: Griff Tanner Musto Skiff, QMSC.
  • Grand Master: Philip Meakins & Richard Anderton - Osprey, Warsash Y.C.
  • First Junior Helm: Edwin Cross ILCA 6, Shoreham S.C.
Class prizes were also awarded to:
  • ILCA 6 - Edwin Cross, Shoreham S.C.
  • ILCA 7 - Jamie Blake, Great Moor S.C
  • Merlin Rocket - Tom Gillard & Rachel Gray, Sheffield Viking S.C
  • RS200 - Thomas Goodey & Verity Hopkins, RNSA
  • RS400 - Jack Holden & Robert Henderson, Chichester Y.C
  • RS800 - Ben Palmer & Dicken, Hayling Island S.C
  • Topper - Sam Mason, Silver Wing S.C
The GJW Direct Bloody Mary was proudly supporting the RNLI's 'All Hands on Deck' campaign.

Related Articles

ILCAs at the Queen Mary Summer Series Week 8
RO takes advantage of the breeze to set a course making full use of the water 21 ILCAs eventually found their way down to the distant committee boat starting line at the very far end of the reservoir. The race officer had taken advantage of the nice 7 to 12 knots NW breeze to set an excellent course. Posted on 24 Jul
Selection trials announced for Team Racing Worlds
The RYA is now urging teams to save the date A selection trials will take place in London this autumn for teams wanting to represent Great Britian at the World Sailing Open Team Racing World Championships. Posted on 16 Jul
Sailingfast ILCA Thames Valley GP at Queen Mary
A very decent turn out of nearly 40 boats Queen Mary Sailing Club hosted the a Thames Valley Series ILCA / Laser Open on Sunday in a shifty 4 to 10 knots. Posted on 4 Jul
ILCAs at the Queen Mary Summer Series Week 4
Races 7 and 8 held in a very light and disappearing breeze The usual enthusiastic Queen Mary ILCA fleet arrived promptly for the expected 3 knots westerly forecast. However, this rapidly diminished as they were greeted with a glassy lake and no discernible wind direction. Posted on 26 Jun
ILCAs at the Queen Mary Summer Series Week 3
Two races held in a gusty and shifty westerly breeze 22 ILCA7s and 3 ILCA6s went out in a 10-15 knots gusty and shifty westerly breeze, completing one 3-lap race and one 4-lap race. Posted on 18 Jun
UK Women's Keelboat Team Racing Championship
Lochan Cup inaugural event at Queen Mary in Sonars Oxford & Cambridge Sailing Society take the first UK Women's Keelboat Team Racing Championship for the Lochan Cup title Posted on 17 Jun
ILCAs at the Queen Mary Summer Series Week 2
Frequent large shifts and gusts for the sailors Doing a couple of half windward legs before the start, I felt there were frequent large shifts and gusts meaning the sides would be dangerous and the right side approaching the windward mark may have less wind in general. Posted on 10 Jun
ILCAs at the Queen Mary Summer Series Week 1
A gusty and shifty 5 to 14 knots from the north with wall-to-wall sunshine 22 ILCAs lined up for the first 2 races of the QMSC summer series. The wind was a gusty and shifty 5 to 14 knots from the north with wall-to-wall sunshine. The race team set a good course making use of the full width of the reservoir. Posted on 4 Jun
Queen Mary Sailing Club Spring Series Week 11
Southerly is usually the steadiest direction, however it was anything but 25 ILCAs launched for the final day of the Queen Mary Spring Series, into 8 knots from the SSE which built by start time into an unusually shifty, gusty 10-14 knots from a broadly Southerly direction. Posted on 28 May
Hadron H2 Inlands at Queen Mary
Not a great day for the heavyweights! 22 Hadron H2's, representing 18 different clubs from the length and breadth of England, arrived at a glassy smooth Queen Mary reservoir for Round 2 of the H2 Travellers Trophy. Posted on 21 May