Cheaper entry to the GP14 Nationals at Pwllheli

Zhik GP14 National Championships at Brixham 2015 © Gareth Fudge / www.boatographic.co.uk

The World Championships earlier in the year may have put a dent in people's annual leave allowance but the Nationals still promises to be a fierce competition and a hell of a lot of fun!

Taking place 20 to 26 August with five days of racing planned this year's National will be at Pwllheli Sailing Club. To date we know the current World Champion (Shane MacCarthy), the Inland Champions (Mike and Liz Senior), the Southern Champions (Nick Devereux and Geoff Edwards), Youth Champions (Sarah Jarman and Ellie Devereux) and the Masters Champions (Mark Taylor and Andrew Clewer) are all competing. Also throw into the mix Sam Watson and Andy Hunter and it is going to be a brutal fight for National Championships bragging rights.

There will be fleet winner and spot prizes up for grabs from Typhoon Covers, SP Boats, Zhik and English Braids as well as daily 'Naff Award' prizes for those epic fails we would all rather forget!

Proving that it is a class for all ages, elder statesmen Ian Willis and Keith Dutton (first Great Grandmasters at the recent Masters) will be mixing it up with the young guns which include youths Jacob Murry and Richard Abendstern (Toddbrook); Ben Swainson and Poppy James (Southport); and Joe Butterworth and Toby Champman (Solent). Hotly tipped for the top five this year is youth Nick Devereux (Budworth):

"Pwllheli is one of my favourite venues as my first time sailing on the sea was there. In a decent force 3-5 from the SW you can get some stable winds and stable waves of about 6-12 foot.

"The new Welsh sailing centre, Plas Heli, creates a modern vibe to what has always been a basic layout. The fleet standard will always be high at any nationals and with names such as Shane MacCarthy and Mike Senior already entered this year will be no exception.

"Me and Geoff finished eighth in Brixham last year at the Nationals and so this year we are looking for some consistent results and hoping for a top seven finish, all improvement is an improvement."

It wouldn't be a GP14 event if there wasn't something for everyone and this year's Nationals is no exception. For the Vintage Fleet those with older boats there is a new trophy for the oldest series 1 boat that takes part, for the Cruising Fleet there are five days of cruising an ice cream planned. For non-sailing partners a day out on one of the sailing days is also in the planning.

For the Drinking fleet the social is coming along a treat! We have Joule's Brewery and Cwrw Llyn providing post-race beer and Ginger Boats also providing post-race sponsorship and Nigbo Palletised Distribution sponsoring beer and pasties at the Cornish Night. The OK fleet will also be sharing half of the event and we are looking to have a GPs vs OKs events starting with a Quiz on the Saturday and then a BBQ on Sunday, games night on Monday.

The AGM and an Irish Band will take place on Tuesday, go-karting on the spare race day on Wednesday a Cornish Night on Thursday with pasties and a live Band on Friday after prize giving.

Full entry fee for the Racing is £175 (with heavy discounts for youth sailors) and £100 for the cruising. Late entry fee applies after 31 July.

www.gp14.org/events/2016-gp14-national-championship