The first ‘major’ in the Irish GP14 calendar saw 28 boats from across Ireland and the UK line up on a foggy morning in Skerries Sailing Club, ready and eager to contest this year’s Leinster Championship (27th – 28th June 2009).
As is the norm with the Irish GP14 Fleet, the standard of competition is very high with little distance separating the fleet, in fact only 5 points separated the first 6 boats after three races.
Liam Dineen, OOD, expertly laid an Olympic triangle course round which Hugh and young Dan Gill from Sutton Dinghy Club showed the way through the fog and light wind conditions to achieve their first victory in Race 1.
With the wind slightly increasing and the fog becoming intermittent, Niall Henry and Oisin Geraghty from Sligo Yacht Club decided it was time for their first race win of the event, with Carl Jeffs and Jim Toothill from the UK snapping at their heels.
Race 3 saw an increase of the wind to a force 3 and the fog almost lifting completely. Everyone was up on the rails fighting hard for that extra inch on the line. They fought so hard that the OOD made two general recalls and used the final sanction of the black flag on the third start.
John and Donal McGuinness form chased the Gills in a close match at the end of which Hugh and Dan Gill managed their second race win. The 28 boats returned to shore though the fog to a well deserved barbecue hosted in SSC, going on through most of the night.
Day 2 was unfortunately abandoned due to lack of wind and dense fog. Hugh and Dan Gill took a well deserved overall victory with the special addition of Dan becoming the youngest winner of the GP 14 Leinsters at 14.
Skerries Sailing Club ran a very professional event with all the sailors exceedingly happy with the club due to its great venue and warm hospitality. The next in the calendar is the Ulster Championships at Newtownards Sailing Club on the 25th/26th of July which promises to be another great event.
Pictured below: Tim Corcoran and Brendan Brogan of Sligo Yacht Club chase hard in Race 3
RESULTS
Gold Fleet – 1 CH1, Hugh Gill/Daniel Gill, Sutton DC, 10pts; 2 Humble Pie, John Chambers/Conor Clancy, RStGYC, 12pts; 3 Carl Jeffs/Jim Toothill, Trimpley SC, 12pts.
Silver Fleet – 10 Pie in the Sky, Simon Cully/Libby Tierney, Blessington SC, 32pts; 11 Gringer, Cathal Sheridan/David Cooke, SSC, 35pts; 15 Always Late, Ben Lynch/Jake Mealy, Howth YC/Blessington SC, 43pts.
Bronze Fleet – 20 Wave Dancer, Shay McGee/Stan Hynes, SSC, 62pts; 21 No Name, Noel Clarke/Paul Kelly, SSC, 65pts; 70 Stewart McCormick/Fran Kelleher, Mullingar SC, 70pts.
