Top Crews Set for GP14 World Championship on Belfast Lough

5th August 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Colour Rush — GP14 crews set colourful spinnakers on Belfast Lough during championship racing, where a world-class fleet will contest the 2026 GP14 World Championships at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club

The countdown is on to the 2026 GP14 World Championships, with one of the strongest fleets in recent years preparing to race on Belfast Lough. Hosted by the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club from 8-14 August, the championship has reached its 100-boat entry limit, attracting crews from Ireland, Britain, Canada, South Africa, Pakistan and Australia.

Olympians, World Champions and national title holders are among those chasing one of the class's biggest prizes.

Current Irish champions Ger Owens and Mel Morris head the favourites. The experienced pairing has dominated much of the Irish circuit, but the GP14 World Championship title has so far eluded them.

Mark Mastery — GP14 crews round the leeward mark under colourful spinnakers during class racing, highlighting the close tactical battles that have made the dinghy a favourite for generations

One of the most intriguing entries is Olympic sailor Robert Dickson, who is listed to compete alongside Adrian Lee. However, Dickson is currently racing at the Los Angeles Olympic Classes Regatta, which concludes this Saturday. It is still conceivable the double Olympian can make the 14 hour LA to Belfast flight and return in time for next Monday's opening race.

Host club Royal North will also be represented by a strong challenge. Former Mirror World Champion Ross Kearney teams up with multiple Irish champion Daniel Nelson, while local pair Chris Higgins and Rory Clayton will look to use their knowledge of Belfast Lough to good effect.

Brothers John and Donal McGuinness bring decades of experience, while Coleman Grimes and Ross Gingles arrive with proven World Championship pedigree after finishing fifth at the 2022 Worlds in Skerries.

Father-and-son crews are expected to feature strongly. Keith and Mateo Loudens arrive in form after success at the Munster Championship, while Peter and Stephen Boyles will also be among the title contenders.

Full Flight — Bright spinnakers power a GP14 fleet downwind in testing conditions, showcasing the speed, teamwork and tactical racing that define one of sailing's most enduring classes

The youth challenge is equally impressive.

David Evans and William Draper continue their rapid rise through the fleet, while Oli Hale and Harry Shaw arrive from Britain after a series of standout performances. Connor Twohig and Matt Cotter will also attract attention after winning this season's Ulster Championship. The pair recently finished runners-up at the Fireball Irish National Championship and have built a substantial online following through their sailing content.

Elsewhere, Jennifer Brice and Vivika Timmer will lead the all-female challenge, aiming to improve on previous World Championship performances.

Other crews expected to feature near the front include Andy Smith and Alastair Rimmer, John Hayes and Joel James, Sam Street and Josh Lloyd, Adam and Emily Torrens, Jessica and Mark Greer, Niall Henry and Ossian Geraghty, Daniel Corbett and Daniel Pemberry, and Paul Hamilton and Hana Stolkova.

With Olympic talent, international experience and emerging young sailors all on the same start line, the championship promises close racing throughout the week. Racing takes place from 8-14 August at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on Belfast Lough.

Published in GP14, Northern Ireland Waters, Belfast Lough

Published in GP14

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The GP14 is a popular sailing dinghy, with well over 14,000 boats built.

The class is active in the UK, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and parts of north-eastern USA, and the GP14 can be used for both racing and cruising.

Designed by Jack Holt in 1949, with the assistance of the Dovey Yacht Club in Aberdyfi. The idea behind the design was to build a General Purpose (GP) 14-foot dinghy which could be sailed or rowed, capable of also being powered effectively by a small outboard motor, able to be towed behind a small family car and able to be launched and recovered reasonably easily, and stable enough to be able to lie to moorings or anchor when required. Racing soon followed, initially with some degree of opposition from Yachting World, who had commissioned the design, and the boat soon turned out to be an outstanding racing design also.

The boat was initially designed with a main and small jib as a comfortable family dinghy. In a design philosophy that is both practical and highly redolent of social attitudes of the day the intention was that she should accommodate a family comprising parents plus two children, and specifically that the jib should be modest enough for "Mum" or older children to handle, while she should perform well enough to give "Dad" some excitement when not taking the family out. While this rig is still available, and can be useful when using the boat to teach sailing, or for family sailing, and has some popularity for cruising, the boat is more commonly seen with the full modern rig of a mainsail, genoa and spinnaker. Australian boats also routinely use trapezes.

GP14 Ireland Event Dates 2026

April 25–26 — O’Tiarnaigh Trophy, Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
May 9–10 — Munster Championship, Cullaun Sailing Club
June 6–7 — Ulster Championship, County Antrim Boat Club
June 11–14 — UK Nationals, Llandudno Sailing Club
July 4–5 — Leinster Championship, Howth Yacht Club
August 1–2 — Championship of Ireland, Carrickfergus Sailing Club
August 8–14 — GP14 World Championships
September 19–20 — Autumn Open / Youth Championship, Sligo Yacht Club
October 17–18 — Hot Toddy, Mullingar Sailing Club

At A Glance – GP14 Dinghy Specifications

Crew 2
Draft 1,200 mm (47 in)
Hull weight 132.9 kg
LOA 4.27 m (14 ft)
Beam 1.54 m
Spinnaker area 8.4 m2
Upwind sail area 12.85 m2