70 years of GP14 sailing at Royal Windermere Yacht Club
by John Richardson, RYYC Rear Commodore 13 Jan 10:54 GMT
Spirit at speed © Nick Heather
2022 marks seventy years of competitive fleet racing of the GP14 on Windermere. A group of new young members decided that the GP14 would be suitable for Windermere in late 1951.
For the new season in 1952 there was 12 new boats in the boat park and racing from the club. The boats were bought in two batches of numbers being 27-29 and 31 first and 122 - 130 in second batch. 128 was still in the boat park in 2021, still owned by same family! One member, the very keen Cubby Acland won the first National Championship in 1952 and was runner up in 1953. He hoped to win in 1954 when the club held the championships but unfortunately was not successful!
The club was one of the first three clubs racing GP14s and helped form the GP14 Class Association, with Cubby being President from 1959 to 1962 when the larger genoa foresail and spinnaker were introduced.
With such great enthusiasm for the boat, Cubby introduced the GP14 to Bassenthwaite Sailing Club and the West Cumberland club adopted the class as their only class.
The club has never missed a West Lancs 24 Hour Race, (although has not won it yet!) with all the finishing plaques up on display in the club house.
For 2022 we will be holding a GP14 Northern Bell open meeting, and will be sending three boats crewed by two youth sailors, two past commodores, the rear commodore and class captain to sail in the World Championship in Ireland as a way to celebrate.