Bloody Mary Open Event

The Bloody Mary Pursuit Race is the largest inland dinghy race held in the UK. In 2011 it will be in its 38th year and will take place on Saturday 8 January, the first weekend of the London International Boat Show.

Open to all dinghy classes with a PY number equal to or lower than that of the International Topper, it takes the form of a Pursuit Race with the slowest boats starting first and the faster boats starting progressively later depending on a handicap rating which is set by the Race Committee. This iconic event draws competitors from all over the UK and from the Continent.

Event Report Bloody Mary 2010

The 37th Bloody Mary Pursuit Race took place on Saturday 9th January 2010 in freezing temperatures, snow flurries and gusting northerly 25 knot winds. Cited in Yachts and Yachting as one of the top sailing 5 events in the world, and despite the appalling conditions in the week leading up to the event and on the day itself, 61 boats entered.

In previous years, the only classes eligible to win the main Bloody Mary Pursuit Race Trophy have been those with an RYA published Portsmouth Yardstick Number. As of the 2010 Bloody Mary, all monohull dinghies, including foilers, and those keelboat classes accepted by Queen Mary Sailing Club were eligible to win the Bloody Mary Trophy.

The full range of dinghies entered from a Topper to an RS600 FF. The lead was progressively taken from the Topper by a Miracle, a Laser and a Merlin.

With 20 minutes to go a 505 sailed by Andy Smithy and Tim Needham took the lead and retained it until the end despite an RS800 snapping at their heels. Andy and Tim from Staunton Harold Sailing Club who had only just purchased the boat were the successful winners of this first ever fully open Bloody Mary.

Winner of the Ladies Helm was Sarah Allen from Royal Southern helming an RS200 with Mark Ampleford , the Hyde Sails Foilers Trophy was Geoff Carveth in an International Moth. The first Queen Mary Helm was James Boyce sailing with Sam Tozer in an RS200.

Class prizes were won by Jim Downer and John Price (RS400) of Royal Victoria and Andrew Hurst (Laser) from Queen Mary.

Prize winners walked away with a bag of goodies including vodka and tomato juice, tickets for the London Boat Show, fabulous watches from Nautica and free subscriptions to sailjuice.com.

The winners thanked the volunteers and staff of the Club who worked so hard to make this happen in such extreme weather conditions