Exe Sails GP14 World Championship at East Down Yacht Club - Day 1

Exe Sails GP14 World Championship day 1 © Boyd Ireland / www.boydireland.com

Exe Sails GP14 World Championship day 1 © Boyd Ireland / www.boydireland.com

Today was the first day of the event with race 1 starting at 12.00 in wind speeds of 17 knots. 88 boats were "Tallied Out" (this is a safety system that ensures the event organisers know which boats are on the water and who is in each boat). Towards the finish of the first race the Race Officer decided that due to worsening weather conditions the second race of the day would be cancelled.

The signal for race cancellation was displayed and the safety boat crews were informed that racing for the day was finished. The fleet started to head ashore when a strong squall of 31 knots passed over the race area.

The effect of this was that some of the boats capsized - this is not an unusual situation and crews are trained on how to right their boat. Unfortunately a further stronger squall registering 37 knots followed the first, capsizing a further number of the fleet.

Apparent media reports of 80 boats being capsized in a 'major incident' would be incorrect as there would have been no more than 10-12 boats capsized at any one time. The capsizes where being successfully handled by the competitors and the team of 13 safety boats that had been accompanying the racing fleet.

The Race Officer then made the correct decision, as a precaution, to contact the Coastguard should the weather conditions worsen, and in fact the weather conditions improved after 15 minutes.

As regards to injuries, apart from 2 competitors with suspected broken limbs no one in the event was seriously injured other than minor scratches, cut and bruises, consistent with the sport at this level.

Exe Sails GP14 World Championship day 1 - photo © Boyd Ireland / www.boydireland.com

The GP14 World Championship website is at www.gp14world.com with both a Twitter feed and Facebook group.

Editor's Note: We used the BBC and Maritime and Coastguard Agency for updates on what was happening on Strangford Lough, together with sources at the event. It seems other media decided to 'embellish' their headlines a bit. The Daily Mail wins the prize for 'most sensational headline' in my book. See www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2721959/Major-rescue-operation-launched-huge-wave-leaves-97-people-water-dinghy-sailing-event.html

Results after Day 1: (one race)