GP14 National Championship at Llandudno Sailing Club - Runners & Riders
by Vanessa Devereux 19 Jul 2022 08:59 BST
22-24 July 2022
Racing during the 2009 GP14 nationals at Llandudno © Andy Bury
The GP14 fleet are returning to Llandudno for a three day Nationals, less than a month before they hold their Worlds in Skerries, Ireland. With 8 races planned over 3 days it promises to be an exciting event.
Having not had a Nationals since 2019's held at SCYC the GP14 fleet is looking forwards to catching up with old friend and making new ones amongst the competitors. Entries are still rising with only a couple of days to go.
- Ian Dobson and Andy Tunnicliffe - 5 times GP14 World Champions,4 times National Champions plus championship titles in other fleets including fireballs. This pair has teamed up again this year, they are fast at events. Every event these have competed in this year they have won. Just hope that Andy gets the boat there on time.
- Ger Owens and Mel Morris - 4 times Irish GP14 National Champ and Irish Olympic sailors with Mel; the daughter of the GP14 president and Irish Olympic sailor, Curly. Coming across to see the competition and hoping to improve on their 9th place at the last Worlds
- Nick Craig and Tobytastic Lewis - Multiple Endeavour Trophy champions, OK champion plus many other boats. Looking to add the GP14 to his collection and improve on their 5th place at Mount's Bay. Is this going to be Nick and Toby's year? They have won the Northern Area Championship and the Master's championship so far this year.
- Matt Mee and Chris Robinson - 2 times National Champion returning to Llandudno to compete again in the GP14. Matt has had surgery on his wrist following a skiing incident. It is great to see them back in the fleet.
- Jonny and Sarah McGovern - This RYA Lead Pathway coach, husband, Jonny and wife Sarah, Performance manager for RYA Cymru find the time to compete in the Nationals. May be the first time competing in a GP14. They are sailing brother Adam's boat.
- Fergus and Jasper Barnham - This son and father pairing have returned to the circuit in the past 18 months and are regularly at the front of the fleet. Fergus is a RS200 National Champion.
- Graham Flynn and Frank Nickless - Another new pairing who need to make sure that they get the boat there on time. Graham was 14th at the last Worlds.
Many thanks to all our sponsors for this event: Sailpics, Impact Marine, Goacher Sails, Gibson Sails, West System, Harken and Optimum and especially to Robline who have been supporting the class for the last two seasons.