The Irish GP14 fleet made the trip to the southwest corner of Ireland to Tralee Bay Sailing Club in Fenit for the 2023 GP14 Munster Championships on the 17th/18th of June.
It was the first time the fleet had been to Fenit in over 40 years.
Twenty-six teams took part in the championship and, on arrival, were greeted with the impressive backdrop of the Kerry Mountains & the Golden Sandy Beaches of Tralee Bay, a spectacular location to host a championship.
Twenty-six teams raced in the GP14 Munster Championship on Tralee Bay
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 in 2nd, and Colman Grimes & Ross Gingles in 3rd.
Sean Craig and Colman Grimes cross tacks on Tralee Bay
PRO John Leech intended to run the races off in quick succession, although this plan was quickly halted by the arrival of the thunder & lightning 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.
GP14 Munster Championships PRO John Leech at work on Tralee Bay
With the fleet now safely onshore, it was time for everyone to enjoy some music & food laid on by Tralee Bay Sailing Club.
There were some calms during racing at the GP14 Munster Championship on Tralee Bay like this at the start of race four on day two
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 10 am with a revised race course which included a (sausage, triangle, and 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, quickly becoming 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 scorecard of 2,2,1,1.
Tralee Bay Sailing Club's Anthony Clifford presents the winners Sean Craig (centre) and Stephen Boyle (right) the GP14 Munster Championship trophy
Ger Owens & Mel Morris presented with the Race 1 Trophy at the GP14 Munster Championship on Tralee Bay
Race two winner Norman Lee
The O'Tiarnaigh Family at Tralee Bay
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.
