GP14 CraftInsure League 2023

League Winners

Gold Fleet - Keith Louden / Matteo Louden

Silver Fleet - Sam Street / Josh Lloyd

+ promoted to Gold

Bronze Fleet - Max Cully / Tighe Wardell

+ promoted to Silver

See full League positions for Gold, Silver and Bronze below.

2023 GP14 Hot Toddy

Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club

Date: Sep 30/Oct 1

Ross Kearney & Daniel Nelson take the final event of the season the Hot Toddy,  at Royal North of Ireland last weekend with a clean sweep of 6 races. While the winner was never in doubt, 3 boats tied for 2nd with Jane Kearney & Ollie Goodhead taking 2nd on countback from Ruan O'Tiarnaigh & Mel Morris 3rd with Conor Twohig & Matthew Cotter missing the podium. 

Full Afloat Report HERE

Final Results Below

GP14 Ireland

2023 Hot Toddy

Notice of Race

Now Available Below

Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club

September 30 - Oct 1st 2023

2023 Championship of Ireland

Sutton Dinghy Club

Date: 1 / 3 September 2023.

Report by : Ross Kearney

2023 GP14 Championship of Ireland

Sutton Dinghy Club

Date: Sep 12023.

Final Results - HERE

GP14 Ireland

2023 Championship of Ireland

Notice of Race

Now Available Below

Sutton Dinghy Club

September 1/3 2023

2023 Youth Championship & Summer Open

Rush Sailing Club

August 19/20

2023 Summer Open & Youth Championships

Rush Sailing Club

Date: 19 / 20 August 2023.

Report by : Sam Street

The weekend started off with the first day of racing being cancelled due to the leftovers of storm Betty. With 4 races lost across the 2 events, Sunday would see a 2 race series for both the Youth Championship and the Summer Open.  For all the Blessington sailors who travelled this was an unfortunate turn of events, but we were looking forward to another windy day on Sunday and a chance to make a mark in both events.

In the first race of the Youths there were three Blessington boats in the top 4 with last years runner-up Sam Street & Josh Lloyd taking the gun. Two time Youth champion Colman Grimes crewing for local Riaghan Boardman finished 2nd with the two young Cully’s Max (& Tighe Wardell) and Denis (& Ollie Lloyd) hot on his heels.

In the second race Max Cully & Tighe Wardell led around the windward mark followed by Jessica Greer & Sam Wray. They held on to their positions until the last reach where Jessica got overtaken to windward, wind left the sails and they capsized on top of themselves. Sam Street and Josh Lloyd finished close behind Max Cully & Tighe Wardell to take the Youth title with Max & Tighe taking the U19 Championship. Local youth Riaghan Boardman took 3rd and the U16 Championship.

These races were followed by the Summer Open in which strong tides and more boats made for a few messy starts at the Committee boat. In both races Alan Blay & Hugh McNally took two race wins only to get two OCSs. This left Niall Henry & Ossian Geraghty to take the Summer Open with Ger Owens & Mel Morris in 2nd.  

In the Bronze fleet, Riaghan Boardman & Colman Grimes were denied first place by Max and Tighe, back for more glory, after a strong performance in the Youths, finished fourth overall on the Summer Open.

A big thank you to Rush Sailing Club and everyone involved, who managed to run a great event. Looking forward to seeing all the Youths continue to give the rest of the fleet a run for their money at the Nationals in Sutton in September (Sep 1/3).

GP14 Ireland

2023 Summer Open & Youth Championship

Notice of Race

Now Available Below

Rush Sailing Club

August 19/20 2023

Gus Henry (RIP)

12/07/23

Andy Johnston

It was with great sadness the news of Gus Henry's passing filtered through early last Saturday morning. The GP14 fleet, recovering from a Friday battering at a very windy Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta were readying themselves for Day 2 of the Leinster Championship an event graced by GP14 Legend Gus for many many years including victory back in 1971 at Kilbarrack in Willi Hazard.

Gus arrived on the GP14 scene in the mid 60s when it was still the Northern Ireland Branch of the GP14 Association. He was fleet captain for an emerging Sligo fleet in 1967 that was expected to reach 13 boats in the following seasons. At this stage Gus was a keen racer and also building GP14s. In 1968 Gus requested Sligo be considered for the 1971 Purcell Trophy and was present at the July 1970 meeting where the NI Branch became the GP14 Ireland Class Assocaition and at the subsequent AGM was elected representative of Area C and a member of that first Committee.

As well as contributing to the Class through Committee, Gus continued to race and build succesful boats. Some of those self built boats including Willians and Willi Waw were well to the fore in the fleet. Pat Murphy, former Chairman of the Class and a multiple times National Champion well remembers the transom of Willi Hazard and Willwaw with Gus regularly leading him home. Gus was Chairman of the GP14 Ireland Class Association between 1972 and 1974 and was a member of the IYA Council in the late 70's.

While Gus never won the  Championship of Ireland he had a no. of top 10 finishes notably finishing 3rd in a fleet of 60+ boats at the 1983 Championship of Ireland in Galway behind Curly Morris and Pat Murphy. A 10th in  1983 and a 7th 1985 demonstrated his capability. 

His interest was starting to move towards race management both locally and nationally and of course he continued to build boats for his son Niall who had emerged into the GP14 scene along with a host of other young Sligo sailors that also included Tim Corcoran.

Gus became one of Ireland premier race officers, regularly handling national championships across various classes. Within the GP14 scene he was PRO for the GP14 World Championships held in Sligo in 2006.

Sligo had emerged as a great developer of Youth sailors, particularly in the Mirror Class and when the Mirror World Championships (1987) and Mirror Europeans (2010) came to the Club, Gus Henry had a big role in ensuring these events were a success on the water. 

Outside of GP14s, Gus was widely respected and played a significant role in ensuring the Enterprise World Championships (1979), Scorpion World Championships (1977 & 1980), Fireball Worlds (2011) and the ISA Dinghy Weeks in 1978 and 1983 in Sligo were the success they were. Gus was the recipient of the prestigious ISA Volunteer of the Year Award in 2004 and in 2007 was inducted into the Sligo Sporting Hall of fame.

On behalf of the GP14 Ireland fleet and Committee, I would like to extend our condolences to Niall, Conal and Aoife and the extended Henry family. 

Gus Henry RIP

Ar dheis Dé go Raibh a Anam

2023 Leinster Championship

Volvo Dun Laoghiare Regatta

Date: 7/9 July 2023.

Report by : Conor Twohig

Despite ominous weather predictions, the class managed to muster 24 brave GP14 sailors to the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta (Leinster Championship) this past weekend. These predictions were not without substance, the fleet was buffeted with 20+ knot winds while sailing off the coast Salthill.

Our first race saw the fleet racing on a trapezoid course for a change. Winds were well and truly on the limit of racing and small errors saw boats up and down the fleet heading for swims. Sam Wray and Luke Henderson took the gun in this race after a strong performance in challenging conditions.

The PRO decided to switch to the simpler (but no less interesting) windward leeward format for the remainder of the day, probably on account of the shifting winds. Alan Blay and Hugh McNally stretched their legs race two to take home a bullet. Despite the strong winds, Dublin bay would bring its signature dose of jeopardy to the last race of the day. Winds dropped to only a few knots at times and jib backing shifts bounced boats up the second beat. Ger Owens and Melanie Morris expertly navigated the tricky conditions and put their first win on the board.

Day two was variable in both wind strength and direction. The more manageable wind and oscillating breeze created superb racing conditions with plenty to be gained and lost on each leg. Sam Street and Josh Llyod came good in race four to take yet another championship race win, a new
habit of theirs it seems.

The start line was being tested all weekend by the fleet. The race committee won’t expect a Christmas card from the Lee’s this year, with both father and son being shown the U-flag among others at the start of race five. Ger Owens and Melanie Morris showed their experience
again and picked up another race win. Persisting shifts were the name of the game in race six. Sam Wray and Luke Henderson led the fleet to the finish line securing their second win of the competition. Day three wrapped up with three boats of Ger & Mel, Alan & Hugh, and Conor & Matthew sharing 14 points apiece after one discard.

Our third and final day began in lashing rain with breeze building to a forecasted peak around midday. Eager to get racing underway for the day, the PRO started the fireballs at 10:55 with military like timekeeping. The earlier start caught some boats off guard, not least of which the two Sutton boats of Alan & Hugh and Conor & Matthew. These two championship contenders became overzealous in their morning speed testing, leading to a wild dash to the line and two hook starts at the committee boat. A suitably dramatic start to the days racing!

The top three boats sailed out of their skin in the first race of the day. Ger & Mel took the gun hotly pursued by Alan & Hugh in second with Conor & Matthew taking third, leaving everything to play for in the final race. Race six saw Alan and Ger fighting for the championship until the very end. Ger & Mel managed to come off best in the end with a third place to Alan & Hugh’s fourth. Conor & Matthew struggled to make their way
through a strong pack and had to make use of their second discard in the end. Rob Lee and Stephen Lynch finished the event on a high by securing a win in the final race. A compromised committee boat start saw them tacking off early, but a steady right hand shift and some great boatspeed gave them chance at glory which they took in earnest and secured the win.

Overall, three great days sailing completing a full schedule of eight races. Five different boats took race wins, with many more getting on the podium. A sure sign of a healthy fleet with tight racing. Congratulations to Sam Wray & Luke Henderson for 1 st silver fleet, Max Cully & Tadgh Wardell for 1 st Bronze.

Special mentions to Meg Tyrrell and Cormac Murphy for braving the blustery
conditions not once but twice on Friday when they went back out to assist in the recovery of Lara & Jennifer’s boat. A mention also to Richard Street for his slick and speedy repair of the damage to their boat, allowing them to get out and put in a strong performance on Sunday.

Full Results - HERE

Photo Credits - Michael Chester & Afloat and Andy Johnston

2023 Munster Championship

Tralee Bay Sailing Club

Date: 17/18 June 2023.

Report by : Gareth Gallagher & Adrian Lee

The weekend of the 17th /18th June saw the GP14 fleet make the trip to the southwest corner of Ireland to Tralee BaySailing Club in Fenit for the 2023 GP14 Munster Championships. This was first time the fleet has been to Fenit in  over 40 years.

26 teams took part in the championship and on arrival, were greeted with the impressive back drop of the Kerry Mountains & the Golden Sandy Beaches of Tralee Bay, a spectacular location to host a championship.
Day 1 of the event arrived with plenty of sunshine & blue skies with the wind funnelling through the valleys of the far shore, although a forecast which could only be described as variable.

PRO John Leech got race 1 away in 7-8 knots of breeze & a flooding tide. A pin end biased start line saw many of the front runners battle it out for an early advantage. Ger Owens & Mel Morris rounded the weather mark first, followed closely by Sean Craig & Stephen Boyle along with JP & Carolyn McCaldin in hot pursuit. Ger & Mel held their lead throughout the race and took out race 1, Sean & Stephen 2nd followed by Colman Grimes & Ross Gingles in 3rd
.

PRO John Leech intended to run the races off in quick succession, although this plan was quickly halted by the arrival of the thunder & lighting rolling over the hills above. The fleet was sent in the direction of shore immediately & with a yellow weather warning issued for Co.Kerry, racing was then cancelled for the day. With the fleet now safely onshore, it was time for everyone to enjoy some music & food laid on by Tralee Bay Sailing
Club.

Day 2 arrived with ominous looking skies & further yellow weather warnings for the area. Nevertheless, racing proceeded with caution & a race course was positioned on the South Side of the Great Samphire Island. Racing
began shortly after 10am with a revised race course which included a (sausage, triangle, sausage) which helped add to the complexity of the day.
After several attempts due to a shifting breeze, race 2 got underway in an outgoing tide with differences in wind pressure scattered across the race course. Norman Lee & Stephen Lynch took the win, Sean Craig & Stephen Boyle 2nd with Ross Kearney & Daniel Nelson in 3rd
.

Sean & Stephen took the bullet in race 3 followed by Ross & Daniel with Ger & Mel in 3rd. Race 4 began with a softening breeze which quickly turned into a drifter shortly after the start. The race was shortened to one lap in the end & went to the ever consistent Sean & Stephen with JP & Carolyn McCaldin sliding into 2nd with Ross & Daniel taking 3rd Place.

The silver fleet was won by Sam Wray & Luke Henderson of Sligo Yacht Club. The bronze fleet was won by Charlie Keating & Ollie Lloyd of Blessington Sailing Club. The youth fleet was won by the fast-improving Sam Street & Josh Lloyd.

Congratulations to the 2023 GP14 Munster Champions Sean Craig & Stephen Boyle who navigated the tricky race course superbly & posted a consistent score card of 2,2,1,1.

A special thanks from the GP14 Class Association of Ireland to Tralee Bay Sailing Club, especially to chief organiser Cormac Murphy & PRO John Leech but also to all the volunteers who gave up their time in preparation and during the event.

The next event on the GP14 Calendar is the Leinster Championships which is incorporated into the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, which takes place on 7th / 9th July 2017. The GP14 Class Association are looking forward to
seeing you all there.

GP14 Ireland

2023 Munster Championship

Notice of Race

Now Available Below

Tralee Bay Sailing Club

June 17/18 2023

GP14 Ireland

2023 Ulster Championship

Notice of Race

Now Available Below

East Antrim Boat Club

May 20/21 2023

2023 O’Tiarnaigh Challenge

Blessington Sailing Club

Date: 22/23 April 2023.

Report by : Joseph Devitt

Challenging Times

The O’Tiarnaigh GP14 Challenge event was conceived almost 25 years ago with two goals. An open meeting with many short races rather than the normal 2 per day, and secondly to have many smaller flights containing a mix of Gold, Silver and Bronze sailors so that the less experienced sailors have many opportunities to be in the front row of the start line so as to have more opportunity to learn and improve their skills in a testing and highly competitive framework. Imagine motorcycle speedway without the engines, wheels or mud. The event has been staged every year since, save for covid, and draws sailors from all over Ireland.

This years running was particularly challenging, with an almost complete lack of wind and continual downpour on Saturday forcing the RO to cancel racing which meant that the whole event was to be run a single day. The forecast for Sunday was for light breezes but thankfully the rain had abated. Despite the poor forecast 28 teams were in attendance, a credit to the enthusiasm of the fleet and the marketing by the organising committee.

Choosing to run the event with a single flight due to time constraints and aiming to have as many races as possible the RO sent the fleet out on the waters of the Poulaphouca reservoir nestling in the western side of the Wicklow Mountains. With the requirement from the NOR that the first discard only coming to rescue a poor finishing position after 6 races were completed still in force and with the conditions that prevailed it very much looked like this would be a ‘no discard’ event.

Shifty and patchy were the dominating features of the wind making line and course setting tricky but after a short postponement the fleet got underway on a triangle/sausage course.

The first start looked quite pin biased, but slightly more pressure at the committee boat saw those boats establish a lead off the line. There was an element of ‘Russian Roulette’, albeit without the blood, about picking a side of the course and whereas the left looked more favorable at the early part of the leg a building breeze on the right was most influential on the fleet resulting in Rob Lee & Stephen Lynch from Greystones SC first to the weather mark closely followed by Alan Blay & Hugh McNally from Sutton Dinghy Club and Sutton ex-pat, Ruan O’Tiarnaigh with daughter Natasha who was sailing her first event with dad following her sisters move to crew for the very talented Jane Kearney formerly from the midlands area of UK, now based at Royal North. Close behind them were the veteran teams of Niall Henry & Oissin Geraghty from Sligo SC and brothers John & Donal McGuinness from Moville. In the light conditions, Ruan & Tasha established an inside overlap approaching the gybe mark to gain the lead and although the rest of the race was shifty, there was not much change in the leading group and the first race finished, Ruan & Tasha first, Alan & Hugh second, Rob & Stephen third, Nial & Oisin fourth and John & Donal fifth.

The silver fleet was led by Sam Street & Josh Lloyd, Blessington SC, Simon Cully & Libby Tierney also Blessington, and Cathal Sheridan & David Cooke, Skerries third.

Bronze fleet, Michael Collender & Brian Walker, Mullingar S.C, Denis Cully & Ollie Lloyd, Blessington and Max Cully & Tighe Wardell, Blessington third.

The second race saw former Olympian Curly Morris & Meg Tyrell (EABC/NSC) establish a commanding lead, coming from the left hand side of the course up the first beat, followed closely by Jane Kearney & Bekka O’Tiarnaigh from Royal North of Ireland YC. Ruan & Tasha, Keith & son Matteo Louden, Lough Foyle YC slightly ahead of Niall & Oisin. In the very light airs mistakes were aplenty and a poor gybe on the O’Tiarnaigh boat saw both Keith & Matteo and Nial & Oisin gain an advantage sailing higher and past. The second beat was dynamic with places gained and lost. Jane & Bekka were unfortunate to fall foul of a port and starboard and did turns. The run provided opportunity for another former Olympian and current Irish Champion of Champions team of Ger Owens & Mel Morris (daughter of the aforementioned Curly) to get back into the running making most use of the light airs. After a spirited battle on the final beat which saw a minor skirmish and tacking frenzy between Ger & Mel, Niall & Oisin and Ruan & Tasha which although frenetic was ultimately inconsequential as no places changed, the outcome was Curly and Meg chalking up a first, Keith and Matteo second, Ger and Mel third, Niall & Oisin, fourth Ruan & Tasha fifth.

Silver, and once again Sam & Josh first, Cathal & David second and Simon & Libby third

Bronze, Max and Tighe, Frankie Brown & David Lappin Skerries Sailing Club, Michael & Brian third.

Race three was once again tricky with variable breeze on the beat, but dying towards the gybe mark. The lead boats which included Ger and Mel, Ross Kearney & Daniel Nelson, RNIYC, Daniel having joined Ross after Andrew Vaughan’s departure after the worlds last year, Paddy O’Connor & Adiran Lee (Sligo/Youghal). However the weather gods were playing dice and some ‘ultra light’ expertise from JP & Carolyn McCaldin, Lough Erne YC. & Sutton’s Katie Dwyer & Michelle Rowley saw them sneak over the top of a group of boats to get in to the front of the fleet for the finish at the leward mark. With Ger & Mel first, JP & Carolyn second, Ross and Daniel third, Katie and Michelle fourth and Paddy & Adrian fifth.

Silver, Simon & Libby, Sam & Josh, Cathal & David.

Bronze, Denis & Ollie, Max & Tighe and Jennifer Bryce & Cormac Murphy, Newtownards Sailing Club third.

At this stage, and with no discard in sight the scores were: Ger & Mel, 7, 3, 1 Tot: 11, Ruan & Tasha, 1, 5, 6 Tot: 12, Ross and Daniel, 6, 8, 3 Tot 17 Niall and Oisin 4, 4, 12 Tot: 20. One mistake could prove very costly indeed.

In what turned out to be the last race of the day the weather once again proved to play its own role. Once again the leaders came from the left hand side with age and experience showing its class seeing Curly & Meg first to round followed by Coleman Grimes & Ross Gingles, Skerries SC and Ross & Daniel in close quarters, the following group included event contenders Niall & Oisin, Ger & Mel and Ruan & Tash. The second offwind leg was to prove key to the race and the event with the RO shortening the course at the leward mark. Ross & Daniel went high, Curly & Meg low but it was the middle lane which proved successful for Coleman & Ross who pipped Curly for the race win. The event overall was still in contention and half way down the reach it looked like Ruan & Tasha might pull the event out of the bag when they rolled Ger & Mel to leave them equal on points. Another place was needed between them as Ger & Mel had better count back, but it was not to be. The fickle zephyrs of Blessington quashed their hopes when light airs filled in from both above and below. Ger & Mel, though forced to go low, came out smelling of roses with a dart across the line in third, Keith & Matteo 4^th, Ross & Daniel 5^th, Ruan & Tasha dropping to 8^th and Niall & Oisin hopes dashed entirely with a 15^th.

Silver, Sam & Josh, Simon & Libby and Cathal & David third.

Bronze, Michael & Brian, Jennifer & Cormac and Denis & Ollie third

The fleet repaired to the shore where well earned and much appreciated hot pizza awaited. When the scores were counted, Ger & Mel were clear winners on 14pts, Ruan & Tasha second on 20pts, Ross & Daniel third on 22 pts and Curly & Meg 4^th on 29pts.

Thanks were given to Blessington Sailing club and its members for such a warm welcome and to Commodore Richard Street RO, Joe Crilly DRO, Tom Duggan ARO and Alannah Maguire keeping them all in check on the comedy vessel which it was noted with some poignancy was named in memory of a former and much loved Blessington GP14 sailor Peter Hannon.

Looking ahead, the GP14 season is chock full with events across the country. Next is the Ulsters in Larne, followed by trips to Tralee Bay, The Volvo at Dunlaoghaire, Rush Sailing Club, Sutton for the Championship of Ireland and finally the Hot Toddy at Royal North.

If this event was anything to go by the GP14 fleet in Ireland is in rude health. Boats travelled from all parts of the country including Dathi & Arann Murphy from Tralee Bay and teams from Moville, EABC, Donaghadee, Youghal, Lough Erne, Lough Foyle, Sligo, Greystones, Sutton, Royal North, Newtownards and Ballyholme. Also noted are the number of youth teams particularly from Blessington as well as the many new young crews ensuring the future of the class. With the age range of 14 to 79 and a great mix of male and female teams the GP14 fleet in Ireland is certainly thriving. The craic is pretty good too. Long may it continue. The last word should go to Anthony Johns and James Lloyd of Blessington who notched up an impressive 100pts but despite that were battling hard to the end. Keep it up lads and remember adversity makes you tougher. See you in a few weeks in Sunny Larne, May 20/21.

GP14 Ireland

2023 O'Tiarnaigh Challenge

Notice of Race

Now Available Below

Blessington Sailing Club

April 22/23 2023

February 28th 8pm

EGM

via Members Zoom

The motion to adopt a Constitution for The GP14 Class Association of Ireland was carried unanimously last night.

Thank you to all those who attended and who contributed and reviewed various drafts over the last few months.

The Constitution document can be viewed under the Contact Us drop down on website home screen.

You'll find more useful information about our association and activities here:

• Downloads: download our membership application form. You can also find our statutes here.
• Interesting links: more information from partner sites
• Market place: our members' site for buying and selling