GP14 Ireland 2017 Dates

2017-2020 World Sailing Racing Rules of Sailing

In force from 1 January 2017

ISA & RYA versions are now available for purchase

RYA: rya.org.uk

ISA: www.sailing.ie

Study version also available online :

The Racing Rules of Sailing 2017-2020 Study Version

http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/StudyVersionoftheRacingRulesfor20172020Final-[13380].pdf

Main rule called out is the offical introduction of the U flag for preparatory signals- rule 30.3

30.3 U Flag Rule

If flag U has been displayed, no part of a boat’s hull, crew or equipment shall be in the triangle formed by the ends of the starting line and the first mark during the last minute before her starting signal. If a boat breaks this rule and is identified, she shall be disqualified without a hearing, but not if the race is restarted or resailed.

GP14 Class Association of Ireland

Presidents Report 2016

by Stephen Boyle

AGM 2015 was held at Greystones Sailing Club who hosted the 2015 Youth Championship of Ireland. Thanks to the hard work of Norman & Una Lee and the organising committee of Greystones the Youth Championship attracted 24 Youths helms from across the country and was widely recognised as an excellent event with Sarah Byrne of Irish Sailing Association commenting that is was the best event she had attended all year. Jack Curtin sailing with Tim Corcoran of Sligo lifted the Youth Championship with Shane MacCarthy and Damien Bracken dominating the Autumn Open by large margins on the water in some of races - a sign of thing to come.

After Greystones the final event of 2015 was the Hot Toddy hosted by Mullingar sailing Club. Mullingar has proved a popular venue for the Hot Toddy in recent years with 2015 proving no different. The event attracted 28 entries with Shane MacCarthy and Damien Bracken eyeing a clean sweep of events. However Ger Owens and Melanie Morris had different designs and won four of the six races to score a comprehensive win. By all accounts a highly enjoyable event with Mullingar Sailing Club providing exceptional hospitality throughout. The sailors enjoyed tea and scones ashore while watching the Springbocks and Wales contest the Rugby World Cup semi-final before retiring to Danny Byrnes pub to watch New Zealand win over France in the final.

The 2016 season started in April with an excellent World Championship win in Barbados for our own Shane MacCarthy sailing with Andy Davis of the UK. 105 GP’s contested the largest overseas World Championship in the classes’ history. 23 Irish boats travelled to Barbados for the event with Shane & Andy prevailing over a star studded field which included reigning five time GP14 World Champions Ian Dobson & Andy Tunnicliffe, former World Champion Neil Marsden, former UK National Champion Mike Senior and multi class World and European Champion Nick Craig sailing with Toby Lewis and widely recognized as Britain’s most successful amateur sailor. An excellent result for Irish sailing and for the GP14 class in particular. Well done Shane & Andy.

With the boats retuning from Barbados in late April and without wanting to lose an event, the Class decided to utilise the Purcell Trophy, raced on Saturday as part of the qualifiers for that unique event the Riocaird O'Tiarnaigh Trophy which concluded Sunday. Shane MacCarthy continued his dominance and sailing with regular crew Damien Bracken won both the Purcell and O’Tiarnaigh Challenge. At the prizegiving GP14 Ireland President Stephen Boyle on behalf of the class presented Shane with a replica Worlds Trophy to serve as a permanent reminder of his fantastic achievement in Barbados. Thanks to organiser and PRO Peter Smyth and his crew in Swords Sailing and Boating Club, they pulled it off despite the tropical sunshine mingled and sprinkled with tropical downpours. 

The members of East Down Yacht Club in Strangford  Lough welcomed  the GP14 fleet  back for the 2016 Ulster Championships on the 25th and 26th June with their enthusiastic and warm hospitality.  This was the fleet’s first return to EDYC since the Club hosted the successful World Championships in 2014.  Shane McCarthy and Damian Bracken put in a devastating performance with three convincing wins followed by the McGuinness brothers with three second places. The thirds were shared equally between Curly Morris and Laura McFarland, Keith Louden and Alan Thompson and the Gallagher brothers. Finally an impressive new trophy to mark the achievements of ace crew Andy Thompson from Larne was presented for the first time to winning crew, Damian Bracken. Andy has, over the years, notched up title after title in the GP14 and other classes and it is fitting that the GP class in Ireland recognise his unparalleled achievements. Well done Andy.

Sutton Dinghy Club hosted a combined Leinster Championships and Mirror National Championships with the Mirror Nationals Sailed over the Friday, Saturday & Sunday and the Leinsters in their usual two day six race format. It was fitting that the class should be sharing this event with the Mirror Nationals as many of the current GP14 sailors began their sailing careers in this class and indeed the current GP14 fleet boasts more than its fair share of past Mirror National Champions. With 3 Olympians and a World Champion in the GP14 Leinster Fleet that weekend in Sutton, the Mirror sailors and their parents were seriously interested in the events progress. In an event full of twist & turns, conditions to severely test, Scorie Walls and her team coped admirably with the GP14 and Mirror fleets and Sutton provided superb racing for competitors from all over the country. Thanks to Sutton Dinghy Club for their exceptional hospitality and for organising an event to remember. Winners were Shane Mac Carthy & Damien Bracken with Katie Dwyer and Michelle Rowley first in Silver and Peter Boyle top Youth Helm.

Five Irish boats travelled to the UK Nationals held in the Welsh National sailing academy Plas Heli in Pwhelli Wales in the week immediately preceding the Championship of Ireland in Skerries. A fantastic weeks sailing served as the perfect tune up for the Irish Championship and those who travelled thoroughly enjoyed a mix of top class racing and social. At the AGM Curly Morris was elected Vice President of the International Association as Ann Penny assumed the hot seat from outgoing President Duncan Greenhleigh. It was notable that a large UK youth contingent sailed in the event and it was great to see our own youths forming strong bonds and friendships with these sailors. This is something we should encourage as a class going forward.

The Irish Championship in Skerries saw the fleet restored to full strength with 38 boats including three UK entries encouraged over in response. As ever Skerries Sailing Club excelled in providing top class racing in a very popular venue for the class. I was delighted to receive their offer of hosting the World Championships 2020 as we had outstanding Worlds at Skerries in 1997. 

One of the initiatives the committee is undertaking is to collect information on the history of the GP14 Class in Ireland and in order to launch this program invitations were sent to a number of former members to attend Skerries on the Saturday and bring along any photos of memorabilia they may have. I’m happy to report that the original minute books from 1957 have been located and should greatly assist with this initiative. The program will continue with a number of regional meetings to be scheduled over the coming year.

Skerries also hosted our Youth Training event supported by the Howard Davies Memorial Fund, EXE Sails and the ISA in the two days immediately preceding the Championship of Ireland. 18 youth sailors participated and the association gained 10 new youth members in the process. Thanks to Colman Grimes for his hard work in organising this very successful event. Coleman is also responsible for the resurgence in interest in the GP from Rush Sailing Club.

I would like to thank Norman Lee who is stepping down after number of years on committee. Norman brought passion to his role and was primarily responsible for nurturing the fleet in Yoghal and encouraging them to participate in regional competitions. He was also instrumental in forcing change in the ISA and demanding that the Irish sailing authority refocus on grass roots sailing in support of the dinghy classes and away from the large boat focus which they assumed in recent years. Melanie Morris is also stepping down to focus on family matters. Congratulations to Melanie on the birth of her daughter and many thanks for getting control of the Association trophies by instituting a Trophy Register with photograph of all trophies currently in circulation.

I’d also like to thank all of those who gave their time both on and off committee to the class during the year; Shane MacCarthy for PR, Laura McFarland who is an excellent Secretary and keeps the website updated with the latest event details and news, Michael Collender who keeps us on track financially, Ossian Geraghty who organises the calendar each year and Andy Johnston is assisting with the initiative to document the class history as well as being very active on the Twitter and Facebook and with photography and event reports.

2017 will see the Leinster Championships return to the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta as a three day championships (7-9th July 2017) after a very successful outing there in 2015. This event is hosted by the big four Dun Laoghaire waterfront clubs and includes a full social program which attracted over 400 boats and 3000 sailors in 2015. Ferry deals will be available to accommodate overseas visitors but you will need to book early to avoid the late entry fee. Full details will be available at www.dlregatta.org and via the GP Ireland website.

Ken & Norman Lee's Father

Sad news that Ken & Norman's father, Fred Lee, passed away Saturday October 22nd 2016.  Fred was the founder and former owner of Industrial Packaging Ltd, Bray.

 
Reposing at his daughter Monica’s home Thursday 27th Ocotober from 7pm.   Service to be held Friday 28th October, 1.30pm at St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland, Greystones. 

Burial immediately afterwards to Redford Cemetery followed by tea and snacks in Greystones Sailing Club.