2 races sailed today and hats off to our PRO Derek Bothwell for managing to complete the full schedule. 

Ger Owens & Brendan Brogan won both races to just pip Shane MacCarthy & Josh Porter by a point but it was a nail-biter that went right to the wire.

According to the mathematicians in the fleet, only 2 wins would do for Ger & Brendan and he took a clear victory in the mornings first race. Colman Grimes & Ross Gingles were 2nd with Ross and Shane fighting it out for the 3rd spot.

With Ger and the leaders on their way up the last beat, the PRO was left with no choice but to apply the dreaded blue flag and sailing through the line downwind SI which claimed a good portion of the fleet. A harsh lesson for many Silver, Bronze and the odd Gold fleet sailor.

Into the deciding last race and a great start on the left by Ger looked like the Championships was now his to lose as Shane and Ross were buried in the fleet on the other side of the course.

If Ger thought he just needed to sail to the finish he soon realised it wasn't the case, as Katie Dwyer & Michele Rowley paced them all the way around and Ger & Brendan couldn't shake them off. Meanwhile, following the poor start Shane & Josh came from way back to move into 3rd. No one was quite sure but Ger by holding off Katie Dwyer & Michelle Rowley on the last beat ensured they clinched the deal.

A superb 4th following his 6th in Race 7 from James Hockley & Alan Thompson (Lough Foyle) gave them 5th Overall and Silver fleet victory from Steven & Daniel Nelson (Newtownards) and fleet newcomer Patrick Hamilton & James Dewhurst (East Down). Gold Fleet next year guys!

Bronze fleet victory went to Sutton Dinghy Club  new-comers Matthew Cotter & Tom Mulligan who just held off a late rally from locals Michael & David Brines (LEYC) to take the honours.  Class President Michael Collender & Brian Walker ( Mullingar) were 3rd.

A superb 4th Overall including a Race 4 win by Yin Tang helped ensure Hugh and Dan Gill took the Masters Championship.

The new boats under Hugh and Norman Lee were very quick and should mean a few enquiries to Alistair Duffin before next years Worlds.

Ciaran Keogh and Adam Leddy finished 20th Overall and took the Youth Championship.

JP McCaldin along with LEYC Commodore Neil Ireland presented the prizes. The PRO Derek Borhwell was given a great reception and complimented for his efforts in getting a full schedule completed.

JP and Michel Collender, Class President thanked everybody, and particularly the Youth sailors for getting up to Lough Erne making it such a great event and  encouraged a good turnout for the next event which is the  Autumn Open & Youth Championship to be held in Sutton Dinghy Club on Sep 11/12.

Lough Erne Yacht Club have provided the Notice of Race for the upcoming 2021 GP14 Championship of Ireland.

There will be a daily prize giving including individual race trophies, and spot prizes throughout the fleet, at 7pm on Friday and Saturday.

Complimentary breakfast and hot drinks will be provided on all 3 days.

There will be a BBQ on Friday evening, a Championship dinner on Saturday and lunch available on Sunday.  Please see attached menu.  Please note all meals must be pre-booked, payment can be made at registration on Friday morning.

We have a band organised for Saturday night.

There is plenty of space for camping on the club site but we ask that you please notify us if you are intending to pitch a tent / park a campervan.  A local accomodation list is provided BELOW for those looking for a bit more luxury!

Registration will be from 9.30am on Friday morning, we would appreciate it if all competitors could please confirm their intention to enter the event by Wednesday 11th August.  Everyone who has confirmed attendance, and enters, will be placed into a free draw to win their entry fee back.

To confirm attendance and for any other information required please contact:

• JP McCaldin
• jpmccaldin@hotmail.com
• 0044 7989963821.

Different event,  same result. Following their  success at the Ulsters two weeks ago, Ger Owens and Mel Morris were crowned GP14  Leinster Champions at Blessington Sailing Club last weekend.  (Jul 3/4)

Originally earmarked as part of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, the Leinsters attracted 34 boats to Blessington and Blessington did not disappoint. 

On Saturday, tough flukey conditions saw a long delay before racing got underway at 2:15 but our PRO Joe Crilly held his nerve to get in 3 great races. 

While Hugh Gill might be waiting for his new GP14 from Alistair Duffin,  it certainly doesn't stop him getting into other boats and making them sail fast. With another loaner for the Leinsters, he led the first race from the start, chased by Ger Owens, Shane MacCarthy, Norman Lee and Colman Grimes, only relinquishing the lead on the last leg in to the line. 1, 2 Shane & Ger,  with Hugh hanging on for 3rd.

A couple of windshift induced AP's led to Black Flag start on Race 2 but with everyone away, it didn't take long for Shane and Ger to renew rivalry again with Curly Morris well to the fore. By end of the race Ger was in the ascendancy with Keith Louden coming through to take 3rd. Curly 4th and Colman Grimes taking 5th. 

Race 3 saw Ger,  Shane, Curly,  Keith and Colman all to the fore from early on. A stronger breeze brought some welcome fast spinnaker reaches. With Keith splitting Shane and Ger, it now looked like some order was taking shape going into Sunday. Not a bit of it! It was still all still to play for.

Sunday saw PRO Joe Crilly out promptly on the water and now aided by the visiting Derek Bothwell from HYC.  The day started with fresher and more consistent breeze for the first race. This time Curly Morris with event organiser Richard Street in the front of the boat, split Ger and Shane with the pair now level on points.  The 5th race saw a clean start, but with plenty of port-starboard incidents as well as the unusual sight of Ger Owens in the water after losing his footing. An improving David Johnston looked likely to be first to the weather mark, but a windshift saved a nosebleed by letting Shane and Colman nip in ahead. The Class saw Diana Kissane (Sutton Dinghy Club/HYC) back in the fleet for the first time in 10 years and a 4th in Race 5 suggests it won't be long before we see her exert pressure at the top of the fleet. A great recovery saw Ger fight his way back into contention from his early bath but Shane hung on for the bullet with Ger having to settle for 2nd. 

Silver fleet was led at this stage by the very consistent Conor Twohig & Meg Tyrrell (Sutton Dinghy Club) who had posted 5 top 10 finishes to lead Steve Nelson (Newtownards SC) and Stuart McCormack (Mullingar SC).  The host Clubs Matthew Street led Bronze fleet from Class President Michael Collander (Mullingar SC) going into the 6th and final race.

With dark rain clouds forming and moving down the valley, Joe and Derek got the final race off without a hitch. A ding dong match race ensued between Ger and Shane as they struggled to gain the key advantage. Ever consistent now in 2 events, Skerries Colman Grimes injected himself into the frame and made the outcome even more interesting. A major windshift on the sausage prompted the PRO to shorten the race  and with Colman now in 2nd, Shane's 3rd meant Ger & Mel were to take the Championship.

With the rain now starting to lash the fleet, 34 boats made a bee-line for the shore.  

Derek Bothwell who will be PRO for GP14 Championship of Ireland in August came down to get acquainted with the Class and with 34 boats, quality racing at all 3 levels of the fleet he must have been impressed and  I am sure he will now be looking forward to Lough Erne in August.

A great turnout from the host Club, strong Youth attendance and with 16 Clubs represented across the 34 boat fleet, 2021 has highlighted the interest in competitive, affordable racing within Irelands largest 2 handed Class. With quite a few notable absentees in Blessington and also a no. of new boats on the way an even better turnout may be expected for the Nationals at Lough Erne Yacht Club in August. All preparation for the GP14 Worlds in Skerries in Aug 2022.

Richard Street as Event Organiser with Class President Michael Collander presented the Leinster Championship McDowell Trophy to Ger Owens and Melanie Morris. The Leinster Youth Trophy went to Peter Boyle & Joe Doherty (Sutton Dinghy Club) with the Leinster Junior U19 Trophy going to Sam Street and Rian O'Hailin (Blessington).

Class President Michael Collander thanked Blessington Sailing Club for all their efforts in making it such a great event. Remarking on the no. of event first timers in Blessington he reminded everyone of the Classes ' Adopt a Sailor'  campaign and asked regular attendees to help encourage and support someone in their Club to get along to the next GP14 event. Be it issues with trailers, tuning or a crew sometimes a little bit of help and support can make the difference in getting someone to their first event. He praised Steven Nelson from Newtownards and Shane MacCarthy for supporting and encouraging Jennifer Bryce/Lara Sunday and Ronan Beirne/Dave Mulvin to make it to Blessington.  With nearly 6 weeks to our next event, the Championship of Ireland (August 13-15), Michael encouraged those who can make it to attend the Skerries Regatta on July 24/25 where a GP14 start will be provided.

Photos courtesy of and John Channin and Ruairi O'Hailin, .

Youth (U22)
Peter Boyle & Joe Doherty (Sutton Dinghy Club)
 

Junior (U19)
Sam Street & Josh Lloyd (Blessington Lakes SC)

Bronze Fleet
1 Matthew Street & Riain O'Hailin (Blessington Lakes SC)
2 Michael Collender & Brian Walker (Mullingar SC)
3 Des McMahon Pat Biesty (Cullaun SC)

Silver Fleet
1 Conor Twohig & Meg Tyrrell (Sutton Dinghy Club)
2 Steve & Daniel Nelson (Newtownards SC)
3 Stuart McCormick & Bernie Briody (Mullingar SC)

Gold Fleet
1 Ger Owens & Mel Morris (RStGYC)
2 Shane MacCarthy & Josh Porter (Greystones SC)
3 Colman Grimes & Ed Coyne (Skerries SC)

Blessington Sailing Club having stepped into the breach to hold the Leinsters following cancellation of the Volvo Dun Laoghiare Regatta have issued the events Notice of Race.

Further details regarding Online entry will follow in the next few days.

Please take note of the additional Covid procedures provided by Blessington Sailing Club

Check out Full Results and Photos By Bob Given Photography

Folks

While the cancellation of the Volvo was a disappointment for the GP14 Class, what with the GP14 likely to be the largest represented Class with 30 boats registered, I am delighted to say that our 2021 Leinster Championships will go ahead but not in Dun Laoghaire. 

Since news of the VDLR cancellation came through, the Committee have been working behind the scenes considering possible alternate venues for the event.

As with last year, a big shout out to Richard Street and the Committee in Blessington for committing to run the event at such short notice. Remember Richard & Blessington managed to run our only event of 2020 The Autumn Open & Youth Championships.

The re-arranged event will be run over 2 days the week-end of July 3-4. More details will be communicated in the coming weeks.

Great news for the GP14 fleet...we can confirm that our Ulser Championships will go ahead in Newtownards Sailing Club on weekend of June 19/20. Newtownards members have been back sailing for almost a month now and have good numbers out on the water.

The organisers have a max limit of 40 boats (at this time) and will only be taking entries Online via the portal link attached. With 10+ GP14 boats sailing in Newtownards, entries will be on a first come first served basis. Closing date for entries is June 17th.

Good news is that there should be bar and food, subject to prevailing restrictions. Full details on the attached link below.

The Club have confirmed they will have plenty of camping facilities available on site.

With our first (qualifying) event since 2019 looming with the Ulster Championship in Newtownards on June 19/20, I am delighted to confirm that Craftinsure will once again sponsor our GP14 Fleet Leagues.

The final League situation at the end of the 2019 season can be found HERE on our Fleets and Leagues page.

For those new to the Class, the guidelines to how the Class manage and administer the Fleet can be found on the attached document.

Folks

Following discussions between the Class and Cullaun Sailing Club we have made the decision to postpone the Munster Championship till a later date in the season. With only a limited lifting of restrictions expected for the end of April, we believe it is highly unlikely we would have been able to proceed with our initial dates of May 15/16.

The event has been rearranged for November 6th / 7th 2021. 

Fingers crossed that we will be able to make the journey to Newtownards in June for the Ulster Championships. As of this weekend we have 27 boats entered for the Leinster Championships which will be raced as part of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta in early July. The early bird entry has been extended till April 16th.

The Class Committee are meeting regularly and we will keep you informed of any further developments  with regard to getting back sailing.