Postponed twice due to Covid, there is now only one day to the first race of the GP14 World Championship hosted by Skerries Sailing Club.

With 106 entries, the place is really starting to get busy.

The Club with support from Fingal Co. Co. have set up an amazing tented village to cater for the many visiting crews and their families from both overseas and from around Ireland.

The GP14 Words Registration Office at Skerries Sailing Club

At this, stage almost half the entries have completed registration with entry handouts and sponsor goodie bags to encourage early registration.

The GP14 World Championships race packs issued to each of the 106 competitors

Spotted around the dinghy park already are some of the top Irish hopes for the event Ger Owens, Hugh Gill, Adrian Lee, Niall Henry and local hope Colman Grimes.

The Chief Measurer Jon Close with his small team of helpers have been busy since early morning working through the scrutineering of all boats.

Jon Close measuring sails

So, last minute checks and adjustments are keeping many of the boat crews busy and ashore before they get out for a bit of practice. In addition, there is a boat weighing service set up manned by Jon, Olive Rooney and Andy Johnston from GP14 Ireland Class and this has been very busy.

Boat weighing underway at Skerries

With Mounts Bay in 2018, the last time the Worlds were held, this is the first opportunity for many owners to see how their boat sets up. There have been a few surprises, with a busy exchange market in lead underway in the dinghy park.

Racing kicks off Sunday with the first of the nine races scheduled for the event.

The remaining schedule is for 2 races each day till Friday with a lay day on Wednesday.

The event PRO Bill O’Hara is already on site and keeping a watching brief on the weather situation. While the beautiful weather is welcome at this stage for getting settled in and getting boat ready, fingers are crossed that the event will have decent wind between Sunday and next Friday.

PRO Bill O’Hara checks in on the weather forecasts

The Opening Ceremony included a welcome from Curly Morris, GP14 International President and Brian McNally the Commodore Skerries Sailing Club, and a brass band, the event was formally opened by the Mayor of Fingal.

With a fleet of 105 boats, here are a number of the local and overseas contenders who we might see to the fore this week.

GP14 Runners and Riders World Championships Previews by Andy Johnston

Ger Owens and Mel Morris - Ger and Mel will be favourites within the Irish fleet to pressure the podium. The current weather would suit them as they favour the lighter winds, however the fast becoming the ultimate all-rounders as evidenced in breezy conditions at the recent Irish Championships where they managed a superb second place behind Shane MacCarthy.

Ross Kearney and Andrew Vaughan - A new pairing since Ross returned to Ireland and showed some early form with victory at the Ulster’s back in May. Followed that with a consistent set of results at the Championship of Ireland to take 2nd. Was also to the fore in the Pre-Worlds in Skerries a few weeks ago. 2nd at the Mounts Bay Worlds, Ross will be looking to go one better here in Skerries.

Matt Mee & Chris Robinson - Matt is back with Goachers Chris Robinson in the front of the boat. An inform pair in recent times with a second place at the recent British Nationals in Llandudno. Twice a British Nationals winner Matt and Chris will certainly be ones to pressure the podium

Ian Dobson & Andy Tunnicliffe - Probably event favourite, Ian will be keen to take back a crown he has won multiple time but not since 2014 when he won in Ireland in East Down. The pair are in form with victory in the British Nationals in Llandudno a few weeks ago.

Nick Craig & Toby Lewis - Nick is a 6-time Endeavour Trophy winner and multiple National Champion across various classes, including RS400. Went close in the Worlds in Barbados back in 2016 behind Shane MacCarthy and will be a favorite for the podium here in Skerries.

Jane Kearney and Ollie Goodhead - Jane and Ollie had a very encouraging performance in the Nationals at Royal North with 3rd place and some very consistent sailing. Jane, Ross's other half will certainly hope to be in the Top 10 here in Skerries and found the recent Pre-Worlds a very useful exercise.

Hugh and Dan Gill - Another father and son team with the right mix of youth and experience, they have got their beautiful new Duffin going great this year, with a few race wins mixed together with black flags, they haven’t had the results they may be deserved. The recent Pre-Worlds saw them show great speed and only for sickness at the British Nationals in Llandudno they would have bettered 7 places where they took a race win.

Colman Grimes and Ross Gingles - Event co-ordinator and another form Irish boat from Skerries, Colman and Ross have been in superb form this year. The pair have had race wins across almost all the seasons events and most recently in the Pre-Worlds. They have shown excellent pace, are known to like the breeze but have also proved they can win in the lighter stuff.

Peter and Stephen Boyle - Peter took his first event race win in the recent Pre-Worlds with dad Stephen up the front. This followed some consistent results that gave them 4th at the recent Championship of Ireland. They started the season with two second places in Irish events, showing some great pace in the breeze and will be pushing to get inside the top 10 this week. Stephen will be looking to improve on the 4th place position he had as crew to Ruan O'Tiarnaigh back in Durban in 2022.

Neil Marsden & Derek Hill - The 2003 Champions and 3rd in Mounts Bay in 2018, Neil and Derek are back to contest another Worlds. Their victory in 2003 was in a 171 boat fleet and they pipped the legendary Richard Estaugh for the title. Not sure when was the last GP14 event they sailed, but we shouldn't be surprised if they are there or thereabouts next Friday evening.

Adrian Lee & Gareth Gallagher - A Youghal and Moville combination and one that has been on fire this season. Adrian has been a regular race winner in the last few season and they have race victories in pretty much all events this year, but the pair have now added consistency to their obvious speed. They have demonstrated at the Nationals at Royal North and the Skerries Pre-Worlds that they can deliver in both light and windy conditions.

John Hayes & Joel James - Another team in good form coming into the Worlds following 5th place that included a race win at the British Nationals and victory in the Scottish Championship earlier in the season. John has been a regular visitor to Ireland and will certainly be in the mix most days. Word on the street is his boat is on its way to an emerging GP14 Club in Northern Ireland.

Alan Blay & Hugh McNally - This is a strong team and getting stronger and finished last season with victory in the Munster Championship in November. They have shown patches of form in events so far and did well last November. strong team, won the last event of the year in 2021 and have shown showed good form early in the season. Have served their time in the class, is this year the year for them?

Ruan & Rebekah O’Tiarnaigh - The father and daughter team jumped into the class at the start of the season and have taken off very quickly. No surprise really with Ruan’s vast experience and success, former National & Helmsmans Champion and 4th in the Durban World Championships back in 2000. They have been showing some great pace, took a podium in the Spring Open in Sligo and will be looking to have a good event.

Keith & Matteo Louden - Keith teaming up with his youngest son has been great to see, a very light pairing who could cause some serious trouble if the conditions go in their favour. One of the youngest in the fleet at 14, Matteo has taken to the front of the boat like a duck to water and despite their weight have shown they can handle windy conditions as well. The pair have race wins and a no. of top 3 finishes in races throughout this seasons events.

Niall Henry & Ossian Geraghy - Recent winners of the Pre-Worlds, which followed a 7th at a very competitive Nationals in July. The pair have not sailed much for a year or two but seem to be quickly getting back to their usual competitive selves. Get a good run going and they would certainly be hoping to be in top 3 Irish boats this week and always capable of a race win.

Chris Clayton & Rory Higgins - Newcomers to the Irish fleet this season and part of an emerging fleet at Royal North of Ireland. Chris, a Mirror World Champion back in 2003 had been out of sailing for quite a while but with Rory Higgins they have not taken long to find their feet in the fleet and have gone from strength to strength since their first event in Sligo back in April. Expect them to have a good event.

The event runs from today through to next Friday with an expected lay day on Wednesday. Two races a day with 105 boat entered representing UK, South Africa, Barbados, Australia, USA and Ireland. Last night, the GP14 World Championship was officially opened, and the GP14 President Curly Morris, in his short address, captured the essence and mood of the event - 'An event deferred is an event enhanced, let the Championships begin'