The GP 14 Sailing World Championship at Skerries Sailing Club has been won for the fifth time by Englishmen Ian Dobson and Andy Tunnicliffe of Burwain Sailing Club.

Dobson had led the series from the outset until his winning streak almost disappeared during the seventh race of the championship today, Friday, when he was hounded into fourth place by arch-rival and fellow Englishman Matt Mee.

The result was that Mee and Dobson were on equal points, and Dobson only carried off the Worlds by dint of the discard rule.

Final GP14 World Championship Overall Standings are below

Neil Marsden and Derek Hill of Blackpool & Fleetwood Yacht Club complete a tack at the GP14 Worlds Photo: Bob Givens

Ireland's hopeful, Corkman Colman Grimes of the host club, had climbed to fourth overall, a position he held for several days until Friday's tricky windy conditions caused him to slip a place to fifth.

Three times Olympian, Ger Owens, of Royal St George Yacht Club was Ireland's other great hope but, despite winning a race outright (the only one of the Irish to do so) he finished fourth of the Irish behind Grimes, Ross Kearney of Royal North of Ireland YC (7th), Hugh Gill of Sutton Dinghy Club and Jane Kearney of Royal North of Ireland.

A total of 212 sailors sailed 106 boats and represented five countries in the six-day Skerries event.

Final GP14 World Championship Overall Standings are below

So where are they? The hurricanes, we mean. Or more accurately, the “decaying tropical storms” which occasionally make their ominous and often unpredictable way towards Ireland as the Summer progresses and morphs into Autumn. For as it happens, back in May the more pessimistic among us were led to believe we could expect quite a raft of them this summer.

Certainly it’s some time now since news-room reports appeared suggesting that the “acknowledged international agencies” were agreed that all the signs indicated that the approaching summer of 2022 had the makings of a particularly busy year for hurricanes in the western sub-tropical Atlantic, with some of the usual subsequent fall-out adversely affecting Europe’s weather, of which Ireland is the frontier outpost.

But thus far, on the cusp of the final full week of August, we’ve had a decidedly odd summer, with the European weather machine grinding itself into sufficient high pressure action to keep the temperate Atlantic westerlies at bay. While most of us found the virtually windless heatwave weather from North Africa far too much of a good thing – if it was a good thing at any stage – we dreamt of those typical classic Irish days of perfect-sailing temperate westerlies, which in truth are so rare that we remember each one individually.

A decent breeze with some west in it, a generous portion of sunshine, and you’ve Irish sailing perfection – Squibs in action at Kinsale. Photo: Robert Bateman

Thus our header photo is there because it is the beau ideal of our sailing weather. When we try to sell Ireland as a sailing venue of the best international standard – indeed, as a sailing venue of better than international standard - then that scene aboard the race-winning J/99 Snapshot is exactly the kind of image that speaks volumes in support of our case.

PERFECTION IS RARE

Yet such perfect days in 2022 have been conspicuous by their rarity. Tedious flat calms have never been far away. And when we do get a breeze, the wind likely as not comes from the nor’east, which is good for neither man nor beast. Recently, it has been sending in lumpy grey seas which meant that at this week’s GP 14 Worlds at Skerries, photographer Bob Givens found himself recording images of disembodied heads and sails in which we’ve to assume that people and boats are attached.

Disembodied experience…..GP14s racing in this week’s Worlds at Skerries Photo: Bob Givens

But whatever has caused it, it certainly hasn’t been any follow-on effect from the very few minor hurricanes which have so far reached the Caribbean this year. For it seems that instead of curving north and then northeast, they simply continued heading on west and have gone clean across Central America to make nuisances of themselves in the Pacific.

Hurricane Katrina on August 23rd 2005, through the Caribbean into the Gulf of Mexico, and headed for New Orleans. As Katrina made landfall west of Florida, the chances of a later effect on Irish weather were greatly reduced.

However, it would be a big mistake to start to feel complacent. The old Caribbean hands are always ready to give out their bit of hurricane-period passage-making warning doggerel, which goes:

July: Stand By;
August: Only If You Must;
September: Remember;
October: All Over.

It used to be preceded by “June: Too Soon”, but there has been a marked tendency in recent years for the season to start earlier, which means that June is no longer too soon to expect tropical storms. Either way, there’s still quite a bit of potential poke left in 2022’s slow-to-start Caribbean hurricane programme, which affects us directly in Ireland in 2022 as the latter part of our season has us hosting an unprecedented number of international and world championships, all of which – when the weather is volatile - place an extra burden on that mysterious group, the International Race Officers.

They are mysterious simply because they are not as other people. If they are worried by the fact that their decisions on any particular day will directly affect the quality of the sport of sometimes hundreds of people, then somehow they don’t show it, whereas ordinary mortals would worry themselves into dithering incompetence.

Broad shoulders. Bill O’Hara of Ballyholme – currently running the GP14 Worlds at Skerries – has an impressive CV which includes being the Main Man in running the Volvo Ocean Race

But the top Race Officers, they have extremely broad shoulders. And it’s quite something to see the effect their arrival has at the venue for some major event. There, the Organising Committee will have been working at an accelerating pace for months or even years, and nerves are becoming frayed. There will have been increasing contact with the Race Officer. But then he or she arrives in person, on time and cool as a cucumber, and the atmosphere changes or the better. The Main Man or the Top Woman is here. The show will go on.

IRELAND’S MANY RACE OFFICERS

It may well be something to do with the fact that, from 1870 onwards, Irish sailing played a disproportionately important role is the development and codification of the International Races of Yacht Racing. But the reality is that we have an elite group of star Irish race officers who can put on a plethora of majors at much the same time without drawing on talent from outside the island. For although the demanding final weekend of the Shannon One Design Centenary at Lough Ree did bring in the services of Suffolk-based Owen Delany for a weekend of difficult decisions, he is of course of Shannon and Dublin Bay origins.

Thus in a season which has already seen Scorie Walls put in an exemplary performance in her administration of the Mermaid Championship at Foynes while David Lovegrove had to make some difficult but ultimately right decisions in Wave Regatta at Howth, we’re now into a new phase which sees Con Murphy of Dun Laoghaire in charge of the Fireball Worlds on Lough Derg, while back on the east coast, Derek Bothwell will soon be facing up to the J/24 Europeans at Howth after a masterful management of the Squib Easterns there.

Across the bay in Dun Laoghaire, they’ll be looking for the calming presence of David Lovegrove for the SB20 Worlds at the RIYC in September, while the highly-experienced Harry Gallagher of Sutton and Neil Murphy of Howth are no strangers to the hot seat on the Dublin Bay SC Committee Boats.

Con Murphy – currently running the Fireball Worlds on Lough Derg, earlier in the year he called the shots at Bangor Town Regatta on Belfast Lough. Meanwhile, his sailing experience includes holding the Round Ireland Open Sailing Record from 1993 to 2016.

All the top racing administrators are keen sailors themselves in addition to their multi-tasking abilities as Race Officers. In fact so keen are they in their general enthusiasm to help our sport in a voluntary capacity that they’ll use their unique locations to take the occasional well-judged photograph. Having opened with a photo of the Fastnet Rock being raced round on a glorious day, we’ll close with one taken this week by Con Murphy on Lough Derg as Chris Bateman of Cork Harbour and Thomas Chaix of Tralee Bay win the third race in the preliminaries of the Fireball Worlds, an image which perfectly captures the vision of the absurdly beautiful Lough Derg at its sailing best.

Lough Derg at its sailing best, with Fireball winners Chris Bateman and Thomas Chaix getting into their stride. Photo: Con Murphy

Ireland secured its first race win on the penultimate day of the GP14 World Championships at Skerries Sailing Club when three times Olympian Ger Owens and crew Melanie Morris stormed to victory in Thursday's first race of three.

GP14 Worlds Overall Standings after six Races Post Hearings are downloadable below

But Owens, from the Royal St George Yacht Club, and Morris, from East Antrim Boat Club, are still only third of the Irish ranking behind skipper Colman Grimes from the host club, who is lying fourth overall, and Sutton Dinghy Club's Hugh Gill in ninth.

Leading UK helms Ian Dobson (first) and Matt Mee (second) are just two points apart with 8 and 10 points respectively compared to Grimes' 29 points and the 21 points of third placed Nick Craig from UK club
Burghfield Frensham. But Grimes says he is still determined to upset Craig and gain a podium position for Ireland in tomorrow's last two races of the series.

The series is one race behind schedule thanks to calms which led to the cancellation of all races on three days so far of the six-day series.

Wednesday's lay day was pulled into service in a bid to catch up and three races were run in increasingly heavy seas and strong winds.

Conditions were so challenging in Wednesday's third race that dozens capsized and less than half the 106 entries finished.

The final two races are to be run on Friday and most bets favour Mee and/or Dobson in the top two places, while the success of Grime's plucky challenge for third place remains to be seen.

GP14 Worlds Overall Standings after six Races Post Hearings are downloadable below

Additional reporting by Andrew Jonhston:

Thursday dawned with well over a hundred pairs of fingers crossed. Racing lost on Wednesday meant with only 3 races completed the PRO was under pressure. Thursday morning didn't disappoint. With the breeze from south or south west and steady, things looked good from the start. The changed direction also provided a flat sea which was another pleasure for the sailors after Tuesday's confused seas state.

Race 1 got off on time, with a beautiful 12-knot breeze. From the get-go Ger Owens was to the fore on the left side. Others showing early were Jane Kearney, Peter Boyle with Ian Dobson and Matt Mee not far away. Curly Morris had a cracking start and was probably in top 10 as they neared the weather mark. By the time they reached the gybe mark, Ger Owens had 3 or 4 boat length lead from Matt Mee, with Neil Marsden now up in contention.

This quartet then battled it to the finish. With a tacking duel all the way up the last leg between Ger Owens and Matt Mee, with Ger Owens just holding on to take the gun. A similar battle was ensuing behind with Neil Marsden just pipping Ian Dobson for the 3rd spot. Nick Devereux in 5th with one of the older boats, 12654. The next best Irish boat was Ross Kearney in 8th and Adrian Lee in 10th. Colman Grimes, the leading Irish boat in the event coming in 18th. Silver fleet leader Conor Twohig added another strong finish when he came across the line in 24th.

Race 2 got underway with the breeze freshening up to 14knots. The Pathfinder for this race was Youghals Adrian Lee. First to show were Matt Mee, Colman Grimes, Hugh Gill, all gone early out of the gate and started up left. At the weather mark, it was Matt Mee followed a few boat lengths by Ruan O’Tiarnaigh, Ian Dobson and Hugh Gill. As the wind increased, Matt Mee had extended his lead over Ruan O Tiarnaigh 2nd and Hugh Gill in 3rd at the gybe mark. The reaching legs were super fast, with a few capsizes through the fleet, including Ger Owens, winner of the first race of the day.

By the end of the sausage, Matt Mee had extended his lead quite considerably Ruan O’Tiarnaigh was still holding onto 2nd, but Colman Grimes had made huge inroads and now putting Ian Dobson under pressure for 3rd on the water. Hugh Gill was in 5th with Jane Kearney up into eighth spot. Ger Owens showed how to recover from a capsize and was back up into 13th spot.

Matt Mee took the gun under no pressure. However, a thrilling finish was unfolding with local sailor and event coordinator Colman Grimes just taking 2nd from Ian Dobson on the line. Hugh Gill made another good Irish finish with 4th, John Hayes 5th and Ruan O Tiarnaigh in 6th, Nick Devereux 7th, Jane Kearney 8th and Peter Boyle in 9th.

Having lost 3 race days, PRO Bill O’Hara had scheduled 3 races to try and catch up. A third race on Thursday meant 2 races on Friday would give him 8 races, and the fleet would have 2 discards.

Race 3 got underway, with Pathfinder Graham Flynn leading around the weather mark. Followed by Tim Jones, Jane Kearney, Alan Blay, Ian Dobson and Peter Boyle. At this stage, leading Irish contender Colman Grimes was in 15th just behind Matt Mee the event leader.

Wind was still 15 to 18 knots but with a grey sky and some rain. The reaches were again fast with a few capsizes through the fleet. At the top mark second time around, Jane Kearney (RNIYC) had moved into the lead from Alan Blay with a small gap to Ian Dobson in 3rd. Matt Mee had recovered somewhat and was now up into 6th with Peter Boyle 7th and Colman Grimes up to 10th. The local man is having a storming event in all respects.

Showing his class under pressure, Ian Dobson worked himself into contention with a couple of hundred meters to the finish. Tack for tack, he diced with Alan Blay with Ian Dobson taking the gun by less than a boat length. Jane Kearney finished a superb day by holding off the title contender Matt Mee. Peter Boyle took 10th and will be pathfinder for Race 7 on Friday morning. Leading Irish contender Colman Grimes finished 11th.

A great day's racing meant the event was very much back on track, and with no clear leader, Friday's racing will be intense. Ian Dobson leads Matt Mee by 2 points with Nick Craig and Colman Grimes battling for 3rd spot. Beyond Colman, Hugh Gill is the next Irish boat in 9th, with Ger Owens in 10th. Conor Twohig retains his lead in Silver Fleet ahead of Ciaran Keogh and Skerries sailor Doire Shiels in 3rd. In Bronze fleet, Conor Byrne leads Frankie Browne and Meg Tyrrell.

After two days with no racing, day 3 arrived, and the 106-boat GP14 World Championship fleet at Skerries in County Dublin knew they were in for a busy day. The fleet launched early off the sand in the harbour into a northerly breeze that picked up and settled at 15-20 knots for race 1.

The wind direction also made for a very big sea which became an even more confused sea state as the day went on. Considering the strong breeze, the gate starts were well behaved with few incidents across the day.

Matt Mee & Chis Robinson led Race 1 for most of the race, though he had 'finished' only to discover another leg. Reacting quickly, he recovered to take 4th behind event favourite Ian Dobson & Andy Tunnicliffe, Nick Craig & Toby Lewis and Ciaron Jones & Sam Platt.

Fleet leaders Ian Dobson and Andy Tunihill of Burwain SC (boat on right)  tack onto starboard in rough conditions alongside second-placed Matt Mee and Chris Robsinson of B&F YC in the first full day of racing (Tuesday) during the GP 14 World Championship at Skerries Sailing Club Photo: Bob Givens

The best of the Irish boats was Colman Grimes & Ross Gingles in 5th with Niall Henry & Ossian Geraghty 6th and Hugh and Dan Gill in 9th. There were 20+ retirals in Race 1 as the freshening breeze started to take its toll on some of the younger and smaller crews.

Race 2 got away clean, with Mee & Robinson again leading at the weather mark, closely followed by Ruan & Rebekkah O’Tiarnaigh. The downwind leg saw Neil Marsden & Derek Hill, Craig & Lewis along, with Dobson & Tunnicliffe back in contention.

The Irish contingent was there in numbers, with Grimes & Gingles well to the fore along with Alan Blay & Hugh McNally, Ross Kearney & Andrew Vaughan and Ger Owens and Mel Morris also showing. With gusts now well over 20+ knots and the confused sea, there were plenty of capsizes, particularly around the gybe mark. Mee & Robinson held and extended their lead, with Dobson & Tunnicliffe and Craig & Lewis completing the top 3. the O’Tiarniagh held on for a great 4th ahead of former World Champions Marsden & Hill. Grimes & Gingles continued their great form with a 7th, with Owens & Morris taking 8th.

At this stage, the sea state had worsened, and with stronger gusts, only 69 boats finished.

There were gusts well over 20+ knots and a confused sea at the GP14 World Championships in Skerries Photo: Bob Givens

Race 3 again got underway, and it was Mee & Robinson who led to the weather mark ahead of Dobson & Tunnicliffe. Irish pair Grimes & Gingles, Marsden & Hill, Craig & Lewis, and the O’Tiarnaigh were all again challenging. With a far smaller fleet still on the water, Dobson & Tunnicliffe came through to take victory ahead of Mee & Robinson and Craig & Lewis.

Grimes & Gingle confirmed their place as the top Irish boat with a 4th with Henry & Geraghty in 7th. With only 49 finishers in race 3, the fleet headed ashore exhausted but the event is now back on track.

Going into Day 4, with two races expected, Ian Dobson leads from Matt Mee & Derek Hill, with Nick Craig & Toby Lewis 3rd. Colman Grimes & Ross Gingles (Skerries Sailing Club lead the Irish in 4th with Niall Henry & Ossian Geraghty (Sligo Yacht Club) in 6th. Ruan & Rebekkah O’Tianaighs (Sutton Dinghy Club) lie 9th with Hugh & Dan Gill (Sutton Dinghy Club) in 10th.

Leading the Silver fleet and 13th overall, with 3 top 20 finishes, Conor Twohig & Matthew Cotter (Sutton Dinghy Club), ahead of Ciaran Keogh & Adam Leddy (Greystones Sailing Club), who also had a super day and finished 19th overall. The Bronze fleet is led by Australian entry Conor Byrne & Emer McNally (Darwin Sailing Club).

Overall results are downloadable below.

GP14 World Championships 2022 -Day Three Photo Gallery By Bob Givens

Skerries Sailing Club has waited four years to host the GP14 World Championships, so another two days to get the first race is tolerable as Monday's race schedule was upset due to lack of wind.

The wind didn't play ball, and Monday morning saw two postponements before racing was finally abandoned for the day around midday.

Another amendment saw the lay-day lost and racing now scheduled for Wed with an earlier start this morning (Tuesday).

Race Officer Bill O'Hara will try and get three races in today to get the schedule back on track by the end of Wednesday. The forecast does look promising.

Practice Race

Despite the great weather in Skerries the last few days and the apparent delight to be around a large gathering of crews once more, you can sense nervous tension and the desire to get on the water. Sunday was to be a practice race followed by the first race of the Championship proper.

In the end, the best that can be said was the fleet got to practice two more gate starts. And with very little wind and an ebb tide, the first attempt was mayhem. With the tide pushing the Pathfinder and the guard boat downwind, many of the 104 boats struggled to keep clear. The PRO had no option to abandon the race, having probably got no more than a quarter way down the fleet.

The second start was far better, with a fraction more breeze. Pathfinder John Hayes & Joel James tacked out to the left and were always looking in contention coming to the weather mark. It was hard work, however, with the tide and a pretty light breeze all having their effect. The first 8 or 10 were an even mix of boats that either went well left, right or up the middle. Best from the right was Keith & Matteo Louden (Lough Foyle), who came around the top mark a boat length or two behind the Pathfinder, with Ross Kearney & Andrew Vaughan (RNIYC) also from the right. Adrian Lee & Gareth Gallagher (Youghal) were next from up the middle, followed by Neil Marsden & Derek HilI, who seemed to come out of the left. Alan Blay & Hugh McNally (Sutton Dinghy Club) were next, and another came up the middle.

Keith & Matteo Louden - Keith has teamed up with his youngest son, 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, has shown they can handle windy conditions as well. The pair have race wins and a no. of top three finishes in races throughout this season's events Photo: Bob Givens

Kearney & Vaughan had overtaken the Loudens by the gybe mark, with Lee & Gallagher closing in. Marsden & Bell were in 5th, just ahead of Blay & McNally. However, Hayes & James were in complete control of the dropping breeze. Others in the top 10 as they made their way to the gybe mark were Sam Street & Josh Lloyd from Blessington and Ruan & Rebekkah O'Tiarnaigh (Sutton Dinghy Club)

Back in the fleet, big gains were to be made in staying high to the gybe mark and saw Hugh & Dan Gill, Ian Dobson & Andy Tunnicliffe, amongst others, make big moves. However, the signs started to look ominous as the breeze dropped. As the leader approached the leeward mark, with a couple of boats still to make the weather mark, the PRO sounded horns to abandon the race and, very quickly after that, racing for the day. It takes a bit of time and effort to tow 104 boats home, but effectively and efficiently handled by the safety and shore crews from Skerries.

Rarely is the practice race taken as anything more than a practice race, but the post-race discussions on the effect of the tide, wind shifts and gate boat protocols were somewhat animated and extensive. Talk turned to Monday, but even on Sunday, there was a sense it might not happen.

As mentioned above, PRO Bill O'Hara will try and get three races in on Tuesday and hope to get back on track by the end of Wednesday. 

See GP14 World Championships preview and runners and riders profiles by Andy Johnston here

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'

In final preparation for the World Championships in Skerries in a fortnight, the Irish GP14 fleet enjoyed the O'Tiarnaigh Challenge on the Worlds race track

The O'Tiarnaigh Challenge has always been a different kind of event. Pioneered by the late great Riocard O’Tiarnaigh, it’s an innovative occasion that encourages sailing and competition throughout the fleet, adding further uncertainty as to what might happen next. In this year’s format both conservatism and daring were to be rewarded, with short courses and overall scores from the first day all due to be counted, leading to knockout rounds and a final race where the top 3 from bronze silver and gold fleets would battle it out for the overall win. With a moderate breeze forecast on Saturday and little wind Sunday, who knew what would happen next?

Almost 50 boats had amassed to get their Worlds practice in, gates starts and all.

Racing got underway on Saturday with a moderate and shifty offshore breeze. Hugh and Dan Gill led the fleet away as pathfinder, and with everyone successfully away, those sailing through the middle were able to take advantage of some big oscillations, join the dots of pressure and trade tacks. The weather mark rounding was the usual and expected busy affair, with the crew of Coleman Grimes & Ross Gingles squeezing in ahead of Josh Porter & Sara Gowdy closely followed by, Ross Kearney & Andrew Vaughan and Adrian Lee & Gareth Gallagher. The following reaches saw the exchange of places with Lee / Gallagher and Kearney / Vaughan rolling through to weather ahead of the gybe mark. A luffing battle ensued between this pair on the next leg that subsequently allowed Grimes / Gingles back in and close out the positions for the race on the next beat.

Peter & Stephen Boyle took on pathfinder duties for race two with great success. Coming in from the right-hand side they were able to round at the top pack and secure a race win from there on. Norman” Lee & Alan Leddy showed their form and enjoyed bagging the second spot. For some of the fleet, the left looked promising off the start, as they could see additional pressure coming down the course. It was only Jane Kearney & Ollie Goodhead who could convert this strategy into a gain, by getting far enough to the right at the top of the beat. They subsequently took the third spot. Lee & Gallagher had a terrific race to finish first over the line but failed to round the weather mark ahead of the windward finish, this leading to the first of their two DSQs for the same misdemeanour. They weren’t alone by any means, with many re-reading the race instructions later that evening.

Race three saw Keith & Mateo Louden lead the fleet away as pathfinder, and like the Boyles in the previous race, they had great success converting their duties into a well-earned 1st. Lee & Gallagher again showed great skill on the water to bag their almost 3rd podium, but subsequent 2nd DSQ. Josh Porter & Sara Gowdy took home 2nd with Alan Blay & Hugh McNally taking the 3rd spot. Race 4 saw Grimes & Gingles take on pathfinder duties, and with the fortune of a lasting lift from the gun, they could convert this into a 2nd, reaching down to a shortened course to finish just behind Steven & Daniel Nelson, with John & Donal McGuiness close behind claiming 3rd.

Curly & Abby Kinsella prepare to launch their GP14 dinghy

Having set the fleet away on 4 excellent “World-sized” races with 2 beats in 3 of 4 of them, the Race Officers Liam Dineen and Bill O'Hara called an end to the days proceedings and sent the fleet ashore, to attempt to count up the scores and determine who was fairing the best in each fleet.

The overnight positions on Saturday and most consistent were:

Gold fleet, Kearney & Vaughn 19 points, Grimes & Gingles 26 points and John & Donal McGuiness on 26 points.

Silver fleet, Christopher Clayton & Rory Higgins 52 points, Doire Shiels & Graham Burnes 58 points, Bill & James Johnson 73 points.

Bronze fleet, James & Colm Hackett 97 points, Meg Tyrell & Sorcha Donnelly 107 points, Daniel O’Hare & Muriel Carthy 109 points.

Worlds’ Preparation, through a rules talk with Czema Pico, an international juror who shared his wisdom and stimulated great discussion on the good, the bad and the ugly.

International juror Czema Pico gave a rules talk at Skerries

With the wind dropping off, the racing format changed that night, and Sunday would now see the slate wiped clean and the whole fleet battle it out for the top spots overall and in their divisions.

After an initial abandoned race, and a competitor-gate boat-pathfinder sandwich, the fleet were off to see if they could complete a race in the now very light onshore flow.

Those in phase and able to keep momentum fared well, though either side of the beat could be made to pay. A rare mistake from Kearney & Vaughan saw them unable to gain clear air off the start, a mistake they couldn’t recover from. The pairings of Ruan & Bekka O’Tiarnaigh, Lee & Gallagher, Grimes & Gingles, Blay & McNally and Curly Morris & Abbey Kinsella were going well. Having started early, they could all eek out an initial lead.

Ruan & Bekka O'Tiarnaigh finalise their rig before going afloat

With a little more pressure coming from the right, the race was then on to get across to it. Niall Henry & Ossian Geraghty showed their vast experience as they calmly glided through the fleet, with the Loudens doing likewise, however, Blessington's Simon Cully and young Lukasz Flynn came through to be first at the weather mark.

The gybe mark saw the top 4 boats congregate with Grimes & Gingles having to give mark-room to Henry & Gerraghy, then the Loudens. Grimes & Gingles were fortunate that Cully & Flynn were being “more like Jane” and didn’t capitalise on their momentum and the space left to squeeze through on the inside. The wind continued to drop and the positions for the podium held. For the rest of the fleet, the clock started once Henry & Geraghty crossed the line, and only 27 of the 49 could cross in time, with Josh Porter & Sara Gowdy picking up an unusual prize for them, in being the last placed boat.

Niall Henry & Ossian Geraghty from Sligo Yacht Club took the overall win.

Results are downloadable below

Overall 2022 Riocard O'Tiarnigh Winners: Niall & Ossian with Muriel O'Tiarnaigh

1st Silver fleet - Simon Cully and Lukasz Flynn 

1st Bronze fleet - Max Cully and Tighe Wardell

With less than three weeks to go to the GP14 World Championships, the Irish GP14 fleet continues their preparations this weekend (July 30/31) for what will be a massive event in Skerries next month (August 14-19).

With 40+ boats in Royal North for the Championship of Ireland a few weeks ago, the fleet re-acquainted itself with gate starts. Not content with that, six Irish crews headed to Llandudno last weekend for the thre days of the British Nationals. This weekend the GP14 Ireland fleet head for Skerries for a full event but with an eye to Worlds preparation very much to the fore for sailors and the Race Management team alike.

The Worlds has attracted an entry of 105 plus boats, including the top end of the Class from the UK.

And with gate starts involved, the World Championship PRO Bill O'Hara, supported by Liam Dineen, will this weekend get an opportunity to put the full Race Management apparatus under the kosh before the big event gets underway.

Event organiser and competitor Colman Grimes (busy man!!) from Skerries and the GP14 Ireland Class Association have managed to encourage almost 50 boats and crews from the Irish fleet to the famous O'Tiarnaigh Challenge. This event has always had a different style to it than your regular event and this year is no different. Branded the Pre Worlds (for the year that's in it) the main focus of the weekend is to get a lot of gate start practice at the Worlds venue with 8 one round races on Saturday. The top 3 in each fleet (Gold, Silver & Bronze) get through to Race 2 on Sunday and a little lie-on. The remainder will return for Race 1 on Sunday with the top 6 in each fleet going through to join Saturday's qualifiers (27 in total) in Race 2. Race 2 and 3 will then whittle the 27 down for Race 4 (The Medal race), consisting of 9 boats that qualified from Race 3.

The top 3 Gold, Silver & Bronze boats will race together for the overall positions. Sunday will be Olympic courses with gate starts.

Skerries have organised international umpire Cxema Pico to be on the water. So not for the faint-hearted but it should produce plenty of thrills and hopefully honing of skills across the board.

The World Championships kicks off on August 14th, with boat measurement starting on Saturday 13th and finishes on August 19th. The preparations in Skerries have been immense, having originally planned for a 2020 World Championship. Skerries is a great attraction at the best of times, and with this being one of the biggest sailing events in Ireland this summer, it should be well worth visiting at some stage over the week.

In a warm-up for the 12-day long GP14 Worlds in Skerries in early August, a very competitive 40-strong fleet came to the line for the Ridgeway Irish GP14 Championships hosted by the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on the south shore of Belfast Lough last weekend. The competitors travelled from all over Ireland; from Sligo to Greystones, from Blessington to Youghal and from Lough Foyle to County Down; a great spread of interest throughout the country.

Sutton Dinghy Club's Conor Twohig and Matthew Cotter (14165) and Keith and Mateo Louden from Lough Foyle

And it was the 2016 World Champion Shane MacCarthy from Greystones teamed up with Andy Thompson, who began the event with a win and went on to dominate the fleet with three more firsts and two seconds, finishing very comfortably in first place 12 points ahead of Ger Owens and Mel Morris from Royal St George and East Antrim. Ger Owens won the event last year at Lough Erne in Fermanagh with Brendan Brogan.

Ruan and Rebekah O'Tiarnaigh (14215) finished 12th. Not long after a busy Bangor Town Regatta in Excession

In third slot were the host club’s Ross Kearney and Andrew Vaughan, a new pairing for this year, who had shown some early form with victory at the Ulsters back in May.

Best placed in the Silver Fleet was another RNIYC crew, Chris Clayton and Rory Higgins who came 13th overall and in the Bronze, it was Kerri-Ann and Megan Boylan from Skerries at 26th.

A 40 strong GP14 fleet on Belfast Lough 

Day 1 saw the fleet very keen to get afloat but like a good Race Officer at a start, the Beachmaster had to be satisfied everyone was complying with the ‘rules’. Hence the grid lock but once they got off, it was an Olympic course. Principal Race Officer Nigel Kearney set gate starts which a 105-strong fleet can expect at the Worlds.

A steady 12- 14 knots with gusts of 17 persisted through Races 1 and 2 with a slight easing for Race 3. With the lull came a shift shortly after the start causing fetch to the windward mark and that race was abandoned. It was restarted but the restart had to be abandoned too and then it was finally off. A long day and the fleet returned ashore around 5.30.

The Sunday brought a stronger breeze resulting in minor gear damage with some crews to shore and then going back to the race area. There were lots of position changes, Ross Kearney and Andrew Vaughan were knocked out of the number 2 slot to finish third overall.

This Saturday the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club is hosting the Ridgeway GP14 Irish National Championships on Belfast Lough and event director Gerry Reid casts his eye over the 40-boat fleet and looks at some of the runners and riders (in no particular order).

The championship is a prelude to the class World Championships being staged in Ireland in Skerries, North Dublin in mid-August.

Ger Owens and Mel Morris
Ger and Mel are certainly the ones to beat this year, having cleaned up last year. They favour the lighter winds but are fast becoming the ultimate all-rounders, they will be hot favourites for another National title.

Shane MacCarthy and Andy Thompson
2016 World Champion MacCarthy teams up with Andy Thompson. This team haven’t sailed this year in the GP but they will be up to top speed from the get-go and a good bet for overall winners.  

Peter and Stephen Boyle
The Boyles started the year with two second places in the lead-up to the Nationals, showing some great pace in the breeze and generally an “in form pairing”. 

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 races wins mixed together with black flags they haven’t had the results they may be deserved. 

Alan Blay and Hugh McNally
This strong team, won the last event of the year in 2021 and showed good form early in the season. Have served their time in the class, is this year the year for them? 

Colman Grimes and Ross Gingles
Another strong pairing, Colman and Ross have been flying this year, with numerous race wins. They have shown excellent pace and another boat that like a bit of breeze to work with!

Jane Kearney and Ollie Goodhead
Back helming again this year after a number of years at the front of the boat, Jane and Ollie hope to pick up where they last left off taking third place in Skerries at the 2019 National Championships. 

Ross Kearney and Andrew Vaughan
A new pairing for this year, showing some early form with victory at the Ulster’s back in May. A range of conditions will suit these two.

Ruan and Rebekah O’Tiarnaigh
The father and daughter team jumped into the class and have taken off very quickly. No surprise really with Ruan’s vast experience and past success in the class, they are showing some great pace and will be right up there at the front.

Keith and 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. They will hope that their efforts in driving up from Derry to race in the spring series at Royal North will pay dividends with local knowledge.

One of the great joys with the current Irish GP fleet is that the competition is so strong the whole way through, there will be many teams aiming to compete in the top 10, Adrian Lee and Gareth Gallagher, Curly Morris and Meg Tyrell, Katie Dwyer and Michelle Rowley (fighting hard for first lady helm) and the McGuiness brothers to name a few.

Not to forget the battles throughout the Silver and Bronze fleet with new categories this year in addition to the youth overall prize, a Junior trophy (U19) and the first Lady Helm trophy will be awarded.

All in all, it looks to be a fantastic event, looking like 40 plus boats and half-decent weather forecast.

Racing starts on Saturday 2nd July at 12noon at Cultra on Belfast Lough.