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GP14 Scottish Championship at Loch Ryan Sailing Club

by Fred Fuller 28 Jun 2010 12:22 BST 26-27 June 2010
GP14 Scottish National Championships © Fred Fuller

Last weekend Loch Ryan Sailing Club hosted the joint GP 14 and Laser 2 Scottish Championships sponsored by McMillan Hotel Group. A North Westerly F 3/4 occasional F 5 combined with unbroken sunshine throughout the weekend provided perfect sailing conditions for the two fleets.

The GP's were celebrating the 60th anniversary of the class and although the turnout was slightly down from the previous year the local welcome made sure the fun was as good. The Laser 2's were likewise down in numbers but both fleets had local crews who did the club proud. The Race Committee had set perfect Olympic courses giving plenty of excitement and challenges for competitors, spectators and safety boat crews.

In the GP 14 fleet the racing was dominated by a formidable combination of current World Champion Andy Tunnicliffe and current National Champion Chris Robinson from Royal Windermere Sailing Club. They took 5 wins out of the scheduled 6 races showing great boat speed and skill and were untroubled throughout.

Behind them in every race was father and son combination Mark and Duncan Greenhalgh from Annandale Sailing Club who kept the rest of the fleet behind them but could not make an impression on the front pair. Out of the chasing pack Colin Midgely and Neil Smith also Annandale had the more consistent results to take third spot.

Local boys Ewan Dewar and Dylan Griffiths sailing a vintage boat lovingly restored in time for the event took First Youths.

Both fleets thanked Loch Ryan Sailing Club and its members who had laid on such a great weekends racing and social programme and hopefully will return in future years.

Results

1st - Tunnicliffe/Robinson
2nd - Greenhalgh/Greenhalgh
3rd - Midgely/Smith