Please select your home edition
Edition
Trinidad and Tobago - Sail Service Stay

The oldest video footage of GP14 racing dinghies

by Magnus Smith 29 Sep 04:00 PDT
GP14 racing in Libya, circa 1960 © Robin Page

Our video archive is fully searchable, and updated weekly with the latest sailing videos, but here we look back at early sailing in the GP14 class. We have footage from 1964 to 1985 for you to enjoy seeing all the old technology, wonderful clothing, and excellent haircuts.

Sadly we cannot find anything from the fifties, so the oldest video we can offer is the 1964 National Championship at Thorpe Bay YC. The winner was A E Stetford in 5526 'Rumbletub' (the class keeps records of winners). If you want to match names to faces see the TBYC discussion about this video.

All the other 1960s videos are of unknown year. If you can shed any light on more exact dates, do get in touch with your clues.

For now, I guess this means we proceed in random order. First up is the lone black&white entry. At least the location is known, if not the date: Sailing at Lymington Town SC - and it is great to see a focus on female sailors racing. Skip to 3m20s if you are only interested in GP14s.

Judging by the sail numbers, I'll put this video next: Fleet launch from a Welsh beach full of holidaymakers!

Probably from the later part of the decade is this family home movie where you need to skip to 8m14s to bypass the dull stuff (the sailing then ceases at 11m00s).

While we are on the 1960s, note that the class has an archive of videos that are not on Youtube. Please see gp14.org/galleries/video/vintage-cruising-videos which has footage from the Watkins Trophy and the Compass Trophy in 1964.

I'm afraid 1970s club sailing on a UK lake is not the most exciting video. But I present it here as an exercise in identifying which sailing club it could be...

Part 1 of World Championship 1985 at Mumbles is shown here, and Part 2 also includes the Laser UK Nationals 1996 (but feel free to just watch the first half of that).

What of the rest?

Do you know the location of any other old GP14 videos, particularly in the 1950s or 1970s? We would love to share these with sailors worldwide. You can submit video links for immediate review.

Keep watching with:

Related Articles

GP14 Northern Bell Finale at Windermere
A beautiful but foggy start to the day The last event of the Northern Bell GP14 circuit was held at the Royal Windermere Yacht Club on the 19th of October. Posted on 28 Oct
GP14 Hot Toddy at Lough Erne
34 team undeterred by the warnings of Storm Ashley The weekend of 19/20 October saw the GP14 fleet return to Lough Erne Yacht Club for the Hot Toddy, the final event of the 2024 calendar. The event was kindly supported by Fermanagh & Omagh District Council the Boatyard Distillery. Posted on 22 Oct
GP14 Masters Championship at Welsh Harp
19 competitive boats face challenging conditions The GP14 Masters, held over the weekend of 5th & 6th October at Welsh Harp Sailing Club, brought together 19 competitive boats facing challenging conditions that tested both skill and strategy. Posted on 15 Oct
GP14s at Hampton
Launching much improved by the club's new pontoon bridge and slipway Promising forecasts earlier in the week for a good easterly breeze and some sun changed somewhat on race day at Hampton SC on the River Thames. As it transpired the wind was very light until late in the afternoon and skies were grey. Posted on 8 Oct
Full story of the West Lancs 24-Hour Dinghy Race
A remarkable contest / the races within the race The WLYC 24 Hour Race made its return to the yachting calendar with a bang after an over-long break. The healthy entry of 51 clubs sailing Enterprises and GP14s had more than a smattering of star sailors vying for the prizes. Posted on 26 Sep
West Lancs 24-Hour Dinghy Race
Southport's iconic event concludes with thrilling finish The 53rd West Lancashire Yacht Club (WLYC) 24-Hour Dinghy Race came to a spectacular close on Sunday, with Budworth Sailing Club (SC) claiming victory after 24 hours of sailing non-stop on the Marine Lake in Southport. Posted on 23 Sep
Iconic WLYC 24 Hour Race returns this weekend
The much-loved West Lancashire YC event at Southport Marine Lake is back after a 5 year break! The WLYC 24 Hour Race - dinghy sailing's premier endurance race - is back! Under the burgee of West Lancashire Yacht Club (WLYC), this much-loved event will be returning this weekend, marking the 53rd edition of the race on the Marine Lake in Southport. Posted on 17 Sep
2024 GP14 Worlds at Pwllheli Overall
A very mixed week of conditions for the 85 boat fleet After a very mixed week of conditions where the weather gods threw either too much wind or too little, the 85 boat entered the final day hoping for two races to allow the second discard kick in. Posted on 17 Aug
GP14 Bell Trophy at Poole
The weather gods appeared keen to show off their powers by treating visitors to everything This event is unique to Poole Yacht Club consisting of two races around the harbour islands on Saturday and a conventional open meeting on the Sunday with four races around the cans. It was well attended with 19 GP14s including 12 visitors. Posted on 23 Jul
GP14 Inland Championship at Staunton Harold
Takeaways from the weekend: check your rudder is secured Having been postponed by the storms of April the light winds forecast for the weekend of the 13th of July may have put some sailors off entering along with them being committed in other classes. Posted on 21 Jul
Trinidad and Tobago - Sail Service StayMaritimo 2023 S600 FOOTER