Royal St. George's Ger Owens Retains Title as GP14 Sailors Take Top Three Places in Champions' Cup at Sutton Dinghy Club

8th October 2022

On the water judge Gordon Davies umpires the GP14-based Champions' Cup at Sutton Dinghy Club on Dublin Bay Credit: Afloat

Ireland's top GP14 dinghy sailors ruled the waves at the annual Helmsmans' Championships, rebranded as the Champions' Cup for this year's 75th edition, at Sutton Dinghy Club on Saturday.

The defending title holder Ger Owens of the Royal St George Yacht Club, won the one-day series – being sailed in GP14s – in which 16 of Ireland’s best sailors competed for the silver salver trophy.

Owens, a three-time Olympian in the 470 dinghy, was defending the title he won last year when the event was sailed in the three-man National 18 dinghy at Royal Cork. This year, he won the event with Melanie Morris, his long-standing crew of 23 years.

16 invited helmsman competed in the 2022 Champions' Cup at Sutton Dinghy Clu Above, Flying Fiffteen pairing Peter and Juliette Kennedy (13977) take the pin of a start in the qualifying rounds Photo: Afloat 16 invited helmsmen competed in the 2022 Champions' Cup at Sutton Dinghy Club. Above, Flying Fifteen pairing Peter and Juliette Kennedy (13977) take the pin end of a start in the qualifying rounds Photo: Afloat

A two-day competition format was squeezed into Saturday, due to the adverse weather conditions forecast for Sunday.

Conditions were ideal for the racing, with westerly winds up to ten knots in the north of Dublin Bay.

Two qualifying fleets raced from mid-morning to decide the eight finalists, which then sailed a four-race finals series.

GP14 sailors were well represented in the competition that controversially did not include invitations to other classes such as the ICRA and 1720 sportsboat fleets.

Current GP14 national champion Shane MacCarthy, a former world champion, appeared unstoppable by winning the first two races, while Owens was second in both.

Current GP14 national champion Shane MacCarthy sailing with Josh Porter in the 2022 Champion's Cup at Sutton Dinghy Club Photo: Afloat

Then Dun Laoghaire sailor Owens (Royal St George YC) won the next race, and the stage was set for a final race showdown.

This saw Owens duelling MacCarthy (Greystones SC), who was slightly ahead, and a match race was in prospect until the Wicklow sailor was penalised for not giving way to another boat.

The supplied GP14 dinghies approach a start at the 2022 Champions's Cup at Sutton Dinghy Club Photo: Afloat

Owens slipped ahead into fourth place, enough to secure the championship, while MacCarthy dropped back to seventh place in the race and third overall.

Champions' Cup winners Ger Owens and Mel Morris pictured here competing in a GP14 class event Photo: Afloat

Jane Kearney, with her husband Ross Kearney of Royal North of Ireland YC, took second overall in the GP14 domination of the event.

2022 Champions's Cup overall results

Published in All Irelands, GP14, RStGYC

Published in All Irelands

Tagged under

GP14

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