GP14 Ireland
Early Bird Entry - 2 Promotions
The event organisers have a
no. of early bird entry promotions that shold be of interest to the GP14 Fleet.
If we can get 25 GP14 entries by
28th February VDLR organisers will put up a €100 VDLR Hospitality voucher which may be redeemed against food and drink during VDLR. The draw for this particular voucher will
only be open to the GP14 Class.
NOTE: The VDLR organisers have confirmed that if the event does not go ahead due to Covid-19 restrictions ALL entry fees will
be refunded. So please consider entering and avail of reduced entry fee and chance to win a voucher or some nice sailing gear.
In addition VDLR are running an early bird draw for (all fleets) entries received by end of February with the winner receiving a HH Performance Sailing bag. All GP14 entries will be in both draws.
Race Weekend: 2-4 July 2021
Early Bird Entry Fee for GP14 Class : €100
Online Entry : www.dlregatta.org
2020 AGM
January 20th 2021
Folks, just a quick update with regard to our recent (2020) AGM which was held on January 20th via Zoom.
With over 30 attendees it was a great success. Thank you to everybody that made the effort to jon in. Particularly welcome were a number of new members to the Class who have joined in 2020.
There was some very interactive discussions on a wide array of topics from World Sailing news, Skerries Worlds 2022, our 2021 Event Calendar to Regionals events and the emergence of Munster venues.
The feedback to the Committee since the meeting has been extremely positive and would indicate even if we get back to a face to face AGM this year we should consider also opening it up to Zoom going forward.
The new Committee is now in place with Michael Collender taking over from David Cooke as the Class President. In addition we saw Katie Dwyer and Ger Owens come onboard with Colman Grimes stepping down. David Cooke will remain on Committee to ensure continuity with regard to arrangements for Skerries 2022.
The Committee would ask that everyone consider entering the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatt before the end of February. See note below. This would help ensure the GP14 get maximum exposure for the event and everyone entered before end of February is in with 2 opportunities to win Early Bird prizes.
Regards
Andy Johnston
Paul Rowan (RIP)
Renowned GP14 Dinghy Champion
(Afloats Betty Armstrong)
Paul Rowan was a renowned member of the GP14 class, a staunch supporter of East Antrim Boat Club at Larne and a talented helmsman sadly passed away on Saturday (23rd Jan).
Paul was a highly successful sailor despite carrying a weakness in his shoulder muscles on one side, a legacy of childhood polio. Paul had a number of coping mechanisms to overcome this - such as
using his whole body to heave in the mainsheet.
Paul's prowess in the GP14 world came to prominence in 1965 when he and crew Graham Gingles won the Northern Ireland Championship. He was runner-up in the British Nationals in 1968 and 1973.
In '68 a broken kicker on the last beat while lying a close second may have cost him the Championship which was won by John McWilliam, also from East Antrim. In 1971, they were Irish and N I champions.
In '84 and '85, sailing with Mark Nolan of Dun Laoghaire Harbour, Paul reached the pinnacle of sailing competition in Ireland winning the then Helmsman's Championship of Ireland. The duo also finished fifth at the '85 World Championships in Mumbles, Wales.
His business career took him to the position of Managing Partner in Price Waterhouse Coopers, the merged company of Price Waterhouse and Coopers Lybrand in Belfast.
His indomitable spirit as displayed on a foray in Fiona Hicks' RS Elite at Bangor. Word is that after racing he and crew Lee Stevenson and Bill Whisker stormed into the harbour entrance under spinnaker!
Fellow EABC member, long-standing GP14 sailor and current President of GP14 International Curly Morris has great memories: "Paul and I had an intense rivalry on the water, which through Club racing at least twice a week propelled us to the top of the Irish Fleet. (It was kept under control after '67 when I started sailing the Finn dinghy, aiming to go to the Olympics.) We nevertheless maintained respect for each other's abilities on and off the water and if united in a common cause worked together well and closely. One example is the first dinghy racing committee of the newly formed Irish Sailing Association when we served together with Adrian Bell, Maurice Butler and Johnny Hooper". Curly adds "In the mid' 70s my wife, Ann started sailing with me. Having Paul just in front of us was the greatest incentive for her (and me) to sit out harder as he was one of those people who we just didn't want to be beaten by - especially if it was windy! (If you need to know Pat Murphy was the other)."
Sincere condolences to Paul's widow Rosie, and daughters Julie and Nikki.
BA
Former GP14 Class President and National Champion Paul Rowan has passed away this weekend.
REMINDER
2020 AGM
(Will be held on Zoom)
January 20th 2021
8pm
The 2020 AGM will go ahead on January 20th 2021 as notified previously. The formal aspects of the AGM will be kept to a minimum but we would like to have as many members on the call to spend some time sharing ideas and getting a sense of what the membership would like for the coming season as well as what you would like to see from next years Committee.
While we already have a number of changes on Committee we would welcome addressing the gender balance and would like to have one of our female members put their names forward. Committee work is not onerous with 5-6 meetings (usually done via Zoom) through the season. Feel free to email me using email below.
The Committee have published the 2021 Calendar (see Left side of Home Page) and are already working on ideas and options for the 2022 event calendar. The Committee would welcome members thoughts and ideas on events and locations at this point. Feel free to email me using email below.
AGM Agenda
- Presidents Report (David Cooke)
- Financial Update (James Peter Hockley)
- Committee Elections
- Worlds Update (David Cooke)
- Suggested Items for Open Discussion
- Events - Venue selection & selection criteria
- Improving Communication, Collaboration - Survey
- Membership and Club Representatives
- AOB
As an added incentive to join the AGM, the LEYC and the Committee have agreed to run a draw to win free entry for the 2021 GP14 Championship of Ireland. All registered attendees of the AGM will be entered in the draw.
The Committee would really welcome a good turnout for the AGM. The Zoom contact details will be
issued to members via email in the next few days.
REMEMBER THE DATE
January 20th 2021, 8pm
Email GP14 news and notices to Andy on info@gp14ireland.com to get them posted here
Early Bird Entry - 3 Promotions
The event organisers have 3
early bird entry promotions that shold be of interest to the GP14 Fleet.
If we can get 25 GP14 entries by
28th February VDLR organisers will put up a €100 VDLR Hospitality voucher which may be redeemed against food and drink during VDLR. The draw for this particular voucher will
only be open to the GP14 Class.
NOTE: The VDLR organisers have confirmed that if the event does not go ahead due to Covid-19 restrictions ALL entry fees will
be refunded. So please consider entering and avail of reduced entry fee and chance to win a voucher or some nice sailing gear.
In addition VDLR will be running 2 early bird draws for (all fleets) entries received by end January for a pair of Dubarry Performance Boots of your choice and for those received by end of February we will have a HH Performance Sailing bag. All GP14 entries will also be in the draw for these items as well.
Race Weekend: 2-4 July 2021
Early Bird Entry Fee for GP14 Class : €100
Online Entry : www.dlregatta.org
Mark Valentine - RIP
A number of our GP14 Ireland sailors have been in touch over the last few days expressing shock at the news and providing their thoughts and memories of Mark.
Through holidaying close to Lough Erne Yacht Club, Mark was introduced to sailing, crewing for his father Peter in Mirror dinghies. Peter would later become Commodore of Lough Erne and introduce Mark to GP14's. Through LEYC, Mark became close friends with current Committee member JP McCaldin, with the pair sailing against each other many times on Lough Erne and sailing a no. of events together.
On hearing the news a shocked JP wrote “Genuinely one of the nicest people I have ever known and unarguably the best sailor from Lough Erne in my lifetime. Mark introduced me to the bar at Castle Archdale and my first few pints. I do remember how at LEYC all the old ladies of the club would follow around after him and loved him. He was a bit of a legend in that club."
Marks family lived in Co. Down and became members of Newtownards Sailing Club where MarK continued to sail GP14 as both crew and helm while also sailing J24 and Fairy keelboats. Nicknamed 'Super Crew', Mark was a mich sought after crew know for his agilty as well as his tactical acumen. Not content with crewing Mark developed into a very capable helm, notably taking a a 3rd overall at a J24 Nationals on Lough Erne with a very young crew.
In the GP14 Class, Mark sailed with a number of people including Ruan O'Tiarmaigh and the aformentioned JP. However the best remembered pairing was Marks partnership with Martin Hannon, the pair were very competitive and always a threat. Martin who now lives in New Zealand has recounted the following story via JP. I gather from Ruan and JP it perfectly captures Marks sense of fun, divilment and actual talent in a boat.
From Martin Hannon - 'One of my favourite stories and one that always got a great laugh from Mark was when were racing the GP14's at LEYC for either an Ulsters or a Hot Toddy. It was reasonably windy and we headed out on the morning after the Saturday night. A quick dunk of our heads over the side of the boat to freshen us up. As pointed out, once the starting sequence got underway Mark "casual" approach became a little more competitive especially against a few of the other guys in the fleet.
We got off to a good start, picked a few good shifts crossing tacks with Damian Bracken who was pretty racey and competitive. Anyhow they just pip us around the top mark and we then set off down the reach. I get an elbow in the ribs and Mark says hold this. He then hands me the tiller and main sheet whilst I have the spinnaker sheet. He then the proceeds to light up a cigerette. At this point we are sailing over the top of Damian. We could hear below us Damian asking his crew what is Mark doing. Damian's crew responds, "Mark is lighting up a cigerette and I think he's going faster" Needless to say, that didn't go down well when we rolled them. ha ha'
Mark sailed for many years at Newtownards SC, was active on committee and later became Commodore of the Club, sailed a Dart 18 catamaran out of Ballyholme YC while also sailing keelboats. Mark for a time was a regular crew on former GP14 sailor Burton Allen's Sigma 33 Starshine Challenger.
Mark married Sara Jane and had a son Charlie, and with parenthood Mark regularly brought the family back to his roots at Lough Erne for holidays and to renew and extend family friendships. Keeping a caravan and a cruiser Red Rambler they would spend weekends and holidays during the summer exploring the islands and waterways of the Erne and passing his love of sailing onto Charlie and Sara Jane. However, as recently as 2020, Mark showed he still had a competitive streak by buying a Yeoman and winning the LEYC 2020 Championship Shield.
Funeral is 13th January. Sadly due to current government regulations house and funeral will be private.
No flowers by request please. Donations in memory, if desired, to R.N.L.I. c/o Gilmore Funeral Directors Ltd., 13 The Square, Comber BT23 5DX Tel 02891872949.
Ventura Restoration - Afloats Betty Armstrong talks to Derek
Check out the link to Afloats article and catch up on the progress being made to bring Ernie Mawhinneys boat back to sailing condition.
GP14 Ireland Dates 2021
Events & Venues
Jun 19/20 - Ulsters
Newtownards
Jul 3/4 - Leinsters
Blessington
Aug 13/15 - Nationals
Lough Erne YC
Sep 11/12 - AOYC
Sutton Dinghy Club
Sep 25/26 - O’Tiarnaigh
Mullingar
Oct 23/24 - Hot Toddy
East Antrim BC
Nov 6/7 - Munsters
Cullaun
Guidance for Operating Fleets and Leagues
Guidance for Operating Fleets and League[...]
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