Please select your home edition
Edition
RYA Membership

GP14 O'Tiarnaigh Challenge at Swords Sailing & Boating Club

by Laura McFarland 16 Apr 2018 16:38 BST 14-15 April 2018
GP14 O'Tiarnaigh Challenge at Swords © Patrick Wodhams

The forecast for the O'Tiarnaigh Challenge 2018 was moderate to fresh breeze for the Saturday and strong breeze and up to 30 knots of gusts for the Sunday.

OD Peter Smyth at the Saturday morning briefing made the decision to sail all six qualifying races instead of the scheduled four races on the Saturday.

The fleet of 19 set off in their own fleet starts as Peter got three races in before lunch on Saturday with already a few thrills and spills in the growing breeze.

The fleet had a quick lunch ashore with warm drinks and rolls provided by Swords. Back on the water to similar winds for the first race but it abated a little giving a more enjoyable final two races.

With the six races sailed the four leaders of each fleet were decided on the Saturday with three races scheduled for the Sunday for the final of the O'Tiarnaigh Challenge.

Greystone's Shane MacCarthy & Damian Bracken always enjoy the bigger breezes and dominated the two days and take another year's succession of winning the O'Tiarnaigh Trophy.

Second overall were Royal St George's Ross Killian with crew Ger Owens followed by a great performance and third place for Newtoward's Josh Porter and Andy Corkhill.

Youghal's Jack Buttimer & Adam McDonagh topped the bronze fleet finishing a very creditable sixth overall.

Related Articles

GP14 Northern Bell series at West Kirby
Someone was lying GP sailing is a nice and calm sail... they said! You stay dry when sailing a GP... they said! Someone was lying to me! Posted on 12 Sep
54th West Lancs 24 Hour Race this weekend
First staged in 1967, one of the great fixtures of the UK dinghy sailing calendar West Lancashire Yacht Club's famous 24-Hour Race is back this weekend. The 54th edition of the race once again brings Southport's Marine Lake to life, powered by the energy of sailors, volunteers and supporters who keep this unique tradition thriving. Posted on 10 Sep
Musto GP14 Masters Championship at South Cerney
Strong, gusty and shifty winds with rain in the Cotswolds South Cerney Sailing Club, within the Cotswolds gravel pit water park, welcomed the GP14 fleet for the South Cerney GP14 open and the Musto National Masters Championship. Posted on 10 Sep
2025 Doyle Sails GP14 Championship of Ireland
Strong turnout and competitive racing at Rush Sailing Club Despite the late August calendar providing events such as Fireball Worlds and the Melges15 Nationals that included possibly 8-10 GP14 regulars, Rush SC played host to a fantastic edition of the GP14 Irish Nationals over the weekend of August 22-24. Posted on 31 Aug
GP14 Northern Bell Series Standings after 5 events
47 boats have taken part so far in the series The GP14 Northern Bell Series Championship is hotting up. The door is wide open for those with one event left to qualify for the series and two events remaining (West Kirby next weekend, and the Inlands at Windermere to close the season. Posted on 31 Aug
GP14 Nationals at Tenby overall
Five teams went into the final day with a shot of winning The final day of the GP14 day was set to be a showdown between 5 boats who all mathematically had a shot at winning. In the driver's seat was Barnham/Sexton on 10 points, but vulnerable with their discard of a 13. Posted on 11 Aug
2025 WLYC 24 Hour Race Last Call!
Just one week until entries close at midnight on 15th August The countdown is on - just one week until entries close at midnight on 15th August for the West Lancashire Yacht Club 24 Hour Race 2025. Posted on 8 Aug
GP14 Nationals at Tenby day 4
Catch up day One race today, with a new wind direction, a steady 8-10knots from the southwest, with a long beat against the tide. With that the fleet was well behaved and we got away clean on the first attempt. Posted on 7 Aug
GP14 Nationals at Tenby day 3
Sunny and breezy as the tail end of storm Floris was still blowing After storm Floris had kept the fleet ashore on Monday, allowing for trips to chandleries and boat repairs for some, thers explored the town of Tenby and, once the sun came out, played games on the beach. Posted on 6 Aug
GP14 Nationals at Tenby day 1
75th anniversary starts with two bullets for new boys on the block with a borrowed boat Thanks to Vanessa Devereaux for planning and organising the 2025 GP14 National Championships as it kicked of in style at beautiful Tenby. The welcome from the Sailing Club volunteers was amazing as they guided the fleet through the narrow streets. Posted on 5 Aug