GP14 Irish Championship at Newtownards Sailing Club

by Bob Torrens 31 Aug 2010 07:32 BST 28-30 August 2010

Newtownards Sailing Club hosted this year's GP 14 Championship of Ireland. The event was sponsored by Ards Tourism and attracted 46 boats from throughout Ireland and Great Britain. Race Officer Nigel Kearney set excellent courses in what was some of the most testing conditions in recent years.

For race one the weather conditions were steadily worsening; average wind speeds were in excess of 20 mph with gusts to 25 mph and occasionally 30 mph. The dark heavy sky laden with squalls added to the drama. As the fleet got underway boats capsized on and after the starting. The strong wind made tactics of less importance than just sheer boat handling.

Rarely for the GP fleet many competitors opted not to fly the spinnaker on the downwind legs and those that did ran the risk of a capsize especially at the gybe mark which got very congested with upturned boats. The windward legs sapped the energy of helm and crew. The race was won by Tim Corcoran from Sligo.

Race two and the weather seemed to deteriorate further. Adding to the problem was the sea state - in a unusual swell for the North end of Strangford Lough and after the gruelling first race gave the competitors even more to contend with. Winner of the second race was Carl Jeffs from Trompley Sailing Club. The second day's sailing was cancelled due even stronger winds.

As a total contrast day three was glorious sunshine but light winds. Tactics came into play here and the English pairing of Andy Tunnicliffe and Chris Robinson reigned supreme, winning both races to give them the Championship overall.

Bronze Fleet Report from Maurice Baalham

As someone who only took up the sport of sailing four years ago and as what you would call a late starter at the age of fifty I can say that it is something I regret not doing in my younger days. I have not been able to compete in as many of the association events as I would like but as a member of the bronze fleet I feel that the only way to improve is to get as much time on the water as possible. However, it is only when you enter association events that you really get to improve you skills because of the size of the fleet especially during race starts. Listen and talk to other members of your club and the association, ask questions about improving boat speed and what to do in different situations, then try to put it all into practice. This is what I did in the lead up to the Championships of Ireland and on day one of the event with the wind blowing a strong 20 – 25 MPH I listened and took note of what other sailors were telling me. I got some help with the boat settings for the strong wind conditions and went afloat.

Gary Brown my crew has sailed all his life but has not raced dinghies for at least 15 years was a great help and mentor. He was able to talk me into a better start position than I have ever been in before. Day one over and two challenging races with even gold fleet boats capsizing we were sitting in joint first place in a fleet of twelve Bronze boats and ahead of some silver fleet boats. Unfortunately day two was cancelled due to the ever-increasing wind and was a day for some fine-tuning.

On the morning of day three the wind was light and I thought that this would be the end of our chances to do well. However, no matter what the conditions it is the same for everyone so you just have to keep going and try to catch the pockets of wind. With a good start and a place in the twenties I am pleased to report overall Bronze Fleet winner.

Remember, keep trying, and ask for help to rig your boat and spend time on the water with the same crew, work as a team. A big thanks to Gary for all his help and expertise.

Hope to see more bronze boats at the association events in the future.

Overall Results:

1st Andy Tunnicliffe and Chris Robinson (RWYC)
2nd and top Irish boat Tim Corcoran and Bendan Brogan (SYC)
3rd Carl Jeffs and Steve Parker (TSC)

Silver Fleet
1st Cathal Sheriadan and David Cook (Skerries SC)
2nd Lawrence Baalham and Tony Brown (Newtownards Sailing Club)
3rd Adam Scott and Dianna Kissane (SSC)

Bronze Fleet
1st Maurice Baalham and Gary Brown (Newtownards Sailing Club)
2nd Bill Johnston and Styephen Byrne (LFYC)
3rd I Beattie Orr and R Murray (SDC)

Full Results:

Pos	Helm	Crew	Club	Sail No	Fleet	R1	R2	R3	R4	Pts
1	A.Tunnicliffe	C. Robinson	RWYC	14021	Gold	45	2	1	1	4
2	T.Corcoran	B Brogan	S.Y.C.	13801	Gold	1	8	5	2	8
3	C.Jeffs	Steve Parker	Trimpley S.C	7	Gold	16	1	4	3	8
4	N.Henry	Conlon	S.Y.C.	13993	Gold	2	3	3	45	8
5	S.McCarthy	R.Adams	G.S.C.	14061	Gold	3	5	2	4	9
6	R.Kearney	A.Thompson	RNIYC & EABC	14059	Gold	4	4	9	9	17
7	P.Maguire	S.Boyle	S.D.C.	13982	Gold	7	45	10	6	23
8	G.Owens	M.Morris	E.A.B.C.	13917	Gold	45	6	7	13	26
9	KeithLouden	D.Hughes	L.F.Y.C.	14055	Gold	10	11	12	8	29
10	A.Duffin	P.Whittcombe	N.S.C.	14040	Gold	14	17	11	5	30
11	R.O'Tairniagh	B.Willis	RNIYC & CAYC	1405	Gold	12	12	6	45	30
12	P.Oconnor	T.MacHale	S.Y.C.	13417	Gold	45	10	8	14	32
13	R.Street	D.Crilly	B.S.C.	13981	Gold	6	14	13	45	33
14	J.McGuiness	D.McGuiness	M.B.C.	14047	Gold	5	18	14	45	37
15	Hugh Gill	Daniel Gill	S.D.C.	13195	Gold	23	13	17	7	37
16	S.Cully	L. Tierney	B.S.C.	13951	Gold	8	15	23	45	46
17	Ken Louden	Ryan Lowden	L.F.Y.C.	13988	Gold	18	19	19	11	48
18	Cathal Sheridan	David Cooke	Skerries	13961	Silver	45	24	15	10	49
19	L.Baallham	T. Brown	N.S.C.	13882	Silver	20	16	22	45	58
20	G.O'Sullivan	H.McNally	S.D.C.	13955	Silver	15	22	24	45	61
21	S.Boyle	A.Kelly	S.D.C.	13624	Gold	11	9	50	50	70
22	Adam Scott	Dianna Kissane	S.S.C.	13854	silver	13	45	45	12	70
23	N.Sloan	M. Cox	N.S.C.	13902	Silver	45	7	20	45	72
24	M.Baallham	G. Brown	N.S.C.	1	Bronze	28	21	28	45	72
25	Alex Walsh	Paul Marthy	S.B.C	13907	Gold	9	45	25	45	79
26	B.Torrens	J.Vuolteenaho	N.S.C.	13682	Silver	27	25	30	45	82
27	B.Andrews	J.McArthur	N.S.C.	13910	Silver	19	45	21	45	85
28	Bill Johnson	Stephen Byrne	L.F.Y.C.	13690	Bronze	29	20	37	45	86
29	G Gilligan	A Smith	S.Y.C.	13722	Silver	25	50	18	45	88
30	S.Preston	B.Niblock	N.S.C.	13771	Silver	45	23	26	45	94
31	J.Park	B.Stinson	N.S.C.	13795	Silver	17	45	34	45	96
32	J.McRoberts	E.Agnew C. Roddy	B.B.C.	13833	Silver	22	50	29	45	96
33	I.Beatty-Orr	R.Murray	S.D.C.	13942	Bronze	45	26	33	45	104
34	A.Blay	N.McCormick	S.D.C.	13977	Gold	45	45	16	45	106
35	G.Rock	G.Oleskow	M.S.C.	13228	Bronze	26	50	35	45	106
36	D.Gallagher	G.Gallagher	L.F.Y.C.	13865	Bronze	24	45	38	45	107
37	K.Doherty	C.Harrigan	L.F.Y.C.	13935	Bronze	30	50	39	45	114
38	Michael Collender	Brian Walker	M.S.C.	13782	silver	45	45	27	45	117
39	Peter Smyth	Jackie Malone	S.B.C	13850	Bronze	45	50	30	45	120
40	Robert Murph	P.Savage	SSBC	13749	Bronze	21	50	50	50	121
41	James Ogg	Ronan Beirne	D.S.C.	13528	Silver	45	50	32	45	122
42	Gerard Brady	Mark Whyte	SYC	13496	bronze	50	50	36	45	131
43	M.Dickson	B.McLoughlin	S.D.C.	13750	Bronze	45	45	50	45	135
44	Peter Fallon	Niall McMonagle	L.F.Y.C.	13970	Bronze	45	45	50	50	140
45	Anthony Hutton	Jack Hutton	L.F.Y.C.	XxxX	Bronze	45	50	50	50	145