GP14 End of Season Championship at Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club

Andy Tunnicliffe and Ian Dobson (with Hollingworth Commodore Sue Townsend) win the GP14 End of Season Championship at Hollingworth Lake © Hugh Brazier

GP14 End of Season Championship at Hollingworth Lake © Hugh Brazier

The GP14 Class Grand Prix series, sponsored by Craftinsure, was completed with an End of Season Championship at Hollingworth Lake SC. 27 boats entered for this final event, some coming from as far as the South Coast.

The schedule was for 2 races each day and the north-easterly wind was stronger than forecast and Saturday was brightened with plenty of blue skies, while Sunday found a reduced wind strength, some 'flat spots' and overcast conditions.

However the variable conditions did not seem to stop Ian Dobson and Andy Tunnicliffe from taking 3 bullets. The fleet is becoming used to these multiple World Champions leading the way and they never seemed to miss the best route on the race track to dominate the event.

Of course, there were other strong contenders such as Lawrence Creaser and Andy Hunter who have had success in several recent events. Indeed success seemed to involve crews named Andy!

The fleet got away with a clean start for the first race and soon there were 3 boats in contention but it was not long before Dobson got ahead and stayed there. Creaser came in behind ahead of Sam Watson and Andy Thompson and another young sailor pairing of Nick and Ellie Devereux.

The second race, after tea and cakes, inevitably had a recall and the flying of the black flag for the restart. It looked as if local knowledge might benefit those starting at the leeward end of the line when tacking to port with a good track to the first mark, but a critically timed starboard tack would give David and Lynn Lawson the opportunity to round the first mark with a lead that they never lost.

Again the Devereux pair had a good race, holding off challenges from Dobson, Creaser and Watson.

There was time to relax and prepare for a black-tie dinner with superb food, a magician entertainment and music to party along to a late hour.

The lighter wind and overcast sky, and cloud hanging on the hills to the east, presaged shifty conditions. Despite the black flag, the fleet were too keen and a general recall was signalled with too many boats to identify specific numbers. With the line reset, the fleet were away and Dobson got the best of the conditions to lead again.

Watson and Creaser were in the chasing pack and finished in that order. A substantial lunch followed before the final race where once again Dobson showed how to get to the front and build a lead.

There were others able to work out the best track as Andy Smith and Phil Hodgkins sailed a steady second place, with club mates, the Lawsons, again doing well in third place.

So Dobson and Tunnicliffe won the event with a perfect score line and a succession of closely placed boats following to conclude the season's racing.

GP14 End of Season Championship at Hollingworth Lake - photo © Hugh Brazier

Overall Results:

GP14 End of Season Championship at Hollingworth Lake - photo © Hugh Brazier