GP14 National Championship 2023 at Looe Sailing Club - Overall

The fleet left the beach on Thursday refreshed but on reaching the race area the wind dropped and the fog rolled in. Whilst they waited, they were entertained by dolphins coming to see what they were up to. Luckily the fleet had already read the fog protocol in preparation, and all remained safe until the Race Officer called it a day and they headed back to shore. This gave them extra time to prepare their outfits for the fancy dress disco.

The Race Officer then changed the SI's to start an hour earlier and to carry across a race to the Friday.

Race 6 sponsored by Clamcleats

After Thursday's disappointing postponement, the fleet were now chomping at the proverbial lobster's claw to get their teeth into another race. The day started off lighter than expected and there was concern that a repeat of Thursday may happen, but the race team had patience and confidence and duly got us away for Race 6 without too many issues. There was little tide running and a light to moderate wind with a sloppy sea state.

Matt Mee, Redwarf Bay SC and Chris Robinson, Blackpool and Fleetwood SC owned the Pin end and nailed the start again. Closely followed by Fergus and Jasper Barnham, Snettisham Beach SC. The right side of the course paid dividends and Matt and Chris rounded first and popped the kite with their usual snappiness, sailing into the distance and not to be challenged for the remainder of the race.

Olli Goodhead and Ellie Wheeldon, South Staffs SC rounded next with Ross Kearney, Royal Northern Ireland YC and Ed Bradburn, South Staffs SC and Fergus and Jasper in close parade. Bronze fleet sailors Fin and Nigel Waterhouse, Budworth SC popped in a tidy beat to round 10th.

A rare incident (for these championships) where Russ and Ali Cormack, Budworth SC closed the door on Hugh Gill, Newtonards SC and Richard Street b, Blessington SC caused several boats to have to do a few turns. This enabled boats who had fared badly on the start and first beat to make some significant race position gains. Significant gainers were Sam Watson, Nantwich and Borders SC and Darren Roach, Looe SC catching up from 21st to 7th and Silver fleet winners Hugh Devereux and Malcolm Bird, Budworth SC from 23rd to 13th.

Second place was retained by Oli and Ellie with 3rd being captured by Fergus and Jasper.

Hugh Gill and Richard Street - GP14 Nationals 2023 at Looe - photo © Richard Craig / www.SailPics.co.uk

Race 7 sponsored by Rooster

The breeze was up for the next race, the sun was shining and truly this was what we had all come for, but the tide was running, and the race officer took a fancy for the white and red of the U flag. The fleet were inspired to push the line hard and Darrell Sleep and Charles Saunders, Staunton Harold SC ventured a half boat length over the line a few seconds early, finishing their race at the windward mark with their sail number displayed on the chalk board. In their own words they went to wait the race out in the naughty corner.

First round the windward this time were Ross and Ed, closely followed by Sam and local boy Darren, with Fergus and Jasper in 3rd and Matt and Chris languishing in 4th.Tim Jones Holyhead SC, and Dale Knowles, Bolton SC, were finding their way in the top end of the fleet with son Kieron Jones Holyhead SC and Sam Platt, Bolton SC were now having a better day.

Oli and Ellie held on to the lead for the race with a decisive win, with Sam and Darren in 2nd and Matt and Chris managing to creep past Fergus and Jasper into third place.

Curly Morris and Meg Tyrrell - GP14 Nationals 2023 at Looe - photo © Richard Craig / www.SailPics.co.uk

Race 8 sponsored by Goacher Sails

The sun had gone in for the day for the start of our final race. Matt and Chris again took ownership of the pin end and showed yet another textbook start. Others didn't have such a great start and had to work hard to gain some resemblance of order for the race. The usual top few were in the top slots on first rounding, with Kieron and Sam finding their form in 4th and John Hayes RYA and Joel James, Southport SC, in 5th, Tim and Dale in 6th and Hugh and Malcolm very happy to be rounding in 7th.

The wise appeared to see the benefit of the right of the course for the rest of the race, and there were some big gainers on the right and losers on the left. The win was taken by Matt and Chris, stamping their overall superiority on the rest of the fleet, with Sam and Darren in 2nd and 3rd was taken by Alan Blay and Hugh McNally, Sutton DC.

The fleet returned to shore to post race beers and snacks to start packing their boats away before getting ready for prize-giving.

Jane Kearney and Rebekah OTiarnaigh - GP14 Nationals 2023 at Looe - photo © Richard Craig / www.SailPics.co.uk

The top two mixed boats raced each other all week. Ellie Wheeldon commented, "it was very tight racing between us & Russ/Ali all week fighting for first mixed boat. In 5 out of the 8 races, we were one after the other over the finish line. We wore the bib day 2, they held it for the next racing days and then we won back the first mixed on the final day."

There where battles throughout the fleets across the whole week, and every boat on the water saw tight racing action. Personally, the fight for bronze fleet was a fierce one, with Jude and I, Oscar Hoult, fighting the Waterhouse's for the win. We were next to each other on the table all week, but my helm and I managed to sneak the win in the end. On a bitter-sweet note, Jude and I were the only junior boat, so looked after the light-blue jerseys all week and took home the prize.

The race management was absolutely class, and with every tally off the water a beer was exchanged (unless of-course you were a junior). The fleet was treated to a variety of conditions, from challenging swell to no races on day 4 due to a lack of the blowy stuff. I think it's safe to say everyone had a blast this week, and I look forward to racing them all again next year at Pwllheli.

Charles Saunders the Class president commented, "In the final race we kept meeting Curly at various points on the course, first at the windward mark where he squeezed in underneath us and still there on the final beat where he nicked a place almost on the line - that's all those years of experience for you."

Prizes:

• National Champions- winning race 1 The Dovey trophy, race 4 The Holyhead Trophy race 5, race 6 The NW sailboat trophy and race 8, The Holyhead Rose bowl for leading crew and the Bell trophy for the winning helm are Matt Mee from Redwarf bay and Chris Robinson from Blackpool and Fleetwood SC.
• 2nd place- winning the Martini Trophy, winning race 3 and keeping the Hamble Trophy Anchor as the highest placed boat from the same family are Fergus and Jasper Barnham.
• 3rd place- winners of race3 receiving the GP Association Trophy (Bassenthwaite Fox) are Ross Kearney and Ed Bradburn form Royal Northern Ireland YC and South Staffs SC
• 4th place - winning the Hollyhead Trophy and Sam Watson Nantwich and Borders SC and winner of the crews race Darren Roach Looe SC.
• 5th place - winning the Marlow Trophy are John Hayes sailing under the RYA and Joel James from Southport SC.
• 6th place are Alan Blay and Hugh McNally
• 7th place -first female crew winning the Gwen Davies trophy is Ellie Wheeldon from South Staffs SC and the first mixed boat with helm Ollie Goodhead.
• 8th place- winning the Banner Mendus Memorial trophy is the helm and crew who are both aged over 45 years of age; are Hugh Gill from Sutton Dinghy club and Richard Street from Blessington SC.
• 11th in gold fleet, 17th in silver fleet and 20th in Bronze fleet the club with the highest placed sailors are Budworth SC winning the team trophy - The Sandgrounder cup.
• 13th place- winning the female helm Small Craft trophy Our first female helm and boat are Jane Kearney and Rebekah OTiarnaigh from Royal Northern Ireland YC
• 17th place- winning the Sussex and Berkshire Trophy for first in Silver Fleet are Hugh Devereux and Malcolm Bird from Budworth SC.
• 19th place - winner of Bronze fleet and the Nauticus Trophy, The Castanet Junior trophy for the helm Jude Stanely and Oscar Hoult of Hayling Island Sailing club. The youth prize is sponsored by EXE sails
• 20th place is second bronze fleet youth helm Fynlay and dad crew Nigel Waterhouse of Budworth Sailing club
• Second in silver fleet in 21st place from Newtonards SC are Michael Cox and Rachael Stewart.
• 22nd place and third in Silver fleet from Budworth Sailing Club are siblings Simon and Roseanna Joyce. Silver Fleet Prizes are sponsored by Impact Marine.
• 25th place Third placed bronze fleet boat, sailed from the host club was Esther Bowdler and Tom McLaren. Bronze fleet prizes are sponsored by HDsails
• 33rd place winning race 2 and only sailing 2 races due to being ill are Jonathan Carter and Gareth Wilkinson from Chelmarsh SC
• 35th place Winning the Marsden Plate - the first boat with a sail number below 13200 is boat 4615 from York Sailing club sailed by Steve Parry and Oliver Gabbitas.
• 40th place and entering his first championship of any kind is Nigel and Freedy Cosby of York Sailing club.
• 42 place and winner of the Endeavour trophy is Adam Chaplin and crewed by our youngest competitor Mark Taylor.

Matt Mee and Chris Robinson win the GP14 Nationals 2023 at Looe - photo © Richard Craig / www.SailPics.co.uk

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the GP14 nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here

Jude Stanley and Oscar Hoult, 1st Youth Boat - GP14 Nationals 2023 at Looe - photo © Richard Craig / www.SailPics.co.uk