Please select your home edition
Edition
Musto 2023 Hikers LEADERBOARD
Product Feature
SOAK Halyard Clip
SOAK Halyard Clip

GP14 Southern Travellers and Midland Bell at South Cerney Sailing Club

by David Innes 13 Jul 10:04 BST 8 July 2023
Race four start during the South Cerney GP14 Open © Vernon Perkins

South Cerney SC is part of the Cotswold water park in Cirencester and its central location proved popular with GP14 crews from both the Southern Travellers and Midland Bell circuits.

Thirteen Travellers joined one local boat coming from as far as Llandegfedd in South Wales, Windermere, Staunton Harold, Brixham YC and Welsh Harp SC in London. With a refreshing rain shower to assist in rigging and very light early morning winds race officer Vernon Perkins took an early decision to raise the AP flag while the thunderstorms passed by. When a breeze settled the first race started with a beat into the narrowest part of the lake with crews working hard on keeping the boats moving. Maurice Cleal/ Romek Kowalewski (Wembley/Welsh Harp), Gavin Tullett/Jonny Stevenson (Royal Windermere YC/South Cerney) and Tony Perkins/David Hill (Frensham) showed strongly up to the first mark with Steve Cooper/Lucy Street (Welsh Harp) and Darryl Sleep/Charles Saunders (Staunton Harold) chasing hard. With the light breeze getting even lighter the RO wisely shortened the race with Maurice and Romek winning from Gavin and Jonny.

After an excellent lunch and with the wind strengthening the RO offered three shorter races which was agreed by all. With a triangle/sausage course set in the main part of the lake Steve and Lucy led Maurice/Romek, Maciej Matyjaszczuk/Chris Lomax (Welsh Harp) and David Innes/ John McGuinness (Frensham) up the beat with David /John coming through to third following completion of the first lap. Maurice and David then had a brain freeze heading for the wrong mark allowing a slightly concerned Steve and Lucy to take the win from a very happy Magic/Chris taking second with Tomasz Szakola /Charlie Cotter (Welsh Harp) in third.

With the wind shifting to the south the RO set a heavily port biased line which spread the fleet out for the third start. Despite the bias the CB end of the line appeared to have the better breeze and this was exploited by David/John and Tony/David with some Frensham on Frensham action up the first beat before Darryl and Charles took the lead benefitting from some local gusts on the left had side of the beat. Perhaps Darryl and Charles were congratulating themselves too much as they infringed a beating boat losing a subsequent protest after winning the race on the water. David /John took second with Tony/Derek third. So all to play for in the final race with three different race winners and 5 or 6 boats still in play for the prizes.

With the port-biased line the CB end again was favoured with Gavin and local boy Jonny nailing the start and getting away to the lead chased by Darryl and Charles, David/ John and Sharon and Paul Freeland (Llandegfedd Lake SC). With the wind beginning to soften and the windward mark in a narrow part of the lake, this made for some challenging short tacking around the top mark with Magic/Chris and Lesley Freeman/Sue Webb (Trimpley SC) getting involved at the front. Gavin and Jonny sailed serenely on to take the win with Darryl and Charles second and David/John taking third.

The protest from Race 3 caused some confusion after the race associated with the rounding up of an Exoneration Penalty. With five teams closely packed at the top of the scoreboard Gavin Tullett and Jonny Stevenson (Royal Windermere YC/South Cerney) were first from Darryl Sleep/Charles Saunders (Staunton Harold) in second and Steve Cooper/Lucy Street (Welsh Harp) in third. Darryl Sleep thanked the RO and everyone concerned at South Cerney for an excellent event.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4Pts
1st13862Gavin TullettJonny StevensonRWYC / South Cerney Sailing Club26‑719
2nd14072Darryl SleepCharles SaundersStaunton Harold SC3‑10ZFP29
3rd14110Stephen CooperLucy StreetWelsh Harp Sailing Club515‑1211
4th13870Maciej MatyjaszczukChris LomaxWelsh Harp Sailing Club‑724511
5th14149Anthony PerkinsDavid HillFrensham Pond Sailing Club443‑811
6th14253Maurice ClealRomek KeweskiWelsh Harp SC / Wembley SC1‑119717
7th14234David InnesJohn McguinnessFresham Pond Sailing Club13(DNF)2318
8th13611Sharon FreelandPaul FreelandLlandegfedd Lake Sailing Club6‑98418
9th13437Tomasz SzakolaCharlie CotterWelsh Harp Sailing Club8310‑1121
10th13787Keith StreetKyle RobinsonWelsh Harp S.C‑976922
11th14014Andy WadsworthCathy HowardBrixham Yacht Club105‑141429
12th13780Lesley FreemanSue WebbTrimpley Sailing Club11‑1212629
13th13164Quentin DrainJohn O'SullivanWelsh Harp Sailing Club‑148111332
14th13687Sarah StreetAmy StreetWelsh Harp SC12‑13131035

Related Articles

The Bushmills GP14 Hot Toddy at RNIYC
27 boats on the startline prove the event is gaining in popularlity The weekend saw the Bushmills GP14 Hot Toddy hosted this year by Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club. This annual event is gaining in popularity, with 27 GP14s on the start line for the six races. Posted on 6 Oct
GP14 Inlands at Frensham Pond
24 boats from all over the UK and a guest entrant from Sweden With their first major GP14 championship since 1957 Frensham were keen to put on a show and the weather forecast played ball promising light to medium winds on Saturday strengthening overnight to make Sunday more spicy. Posted on 29 Sep
GP14 Hot Toddy Weekend Preview
Taking place at the Royal North of Ireland YC this weekend The Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club is delighted to be hosting this year's GP14 Hot Toddy Weekend, sponsored by Bushmills. Posted on 26 Sep
GP14 Scottish & Borders Bell at Loch Lomond
The locals reassured racers that the wind would come, and it did What a great event at the beautiful Loch Lomond SC, for the final Scottish & Borders Bell Travellers. There were many different starts for the mixed fleet of 75 boats, with 14 boats in our slow handicap fleet. Posted on 15 Sep
2023 GP14 Championship of Ireland
37 boats take part at the thriving Sutton Dinghy Club Sutton Dinghy Club was the host club for the GP14 Championship of Ireland, a thriving GP14 club, certainly putting on a show for the Class this year. Posted on 9 Sep
GP14 Nationals at Looe overall
Matt Mee and Chris Robinson win the title by 10 points The fleet left the beach on Thursday refreshed but on reaching the race area the wind dropped and the fog rolled in. Whilst they waited, they were entertained by dolphins coming to see what they were up to. Posted on 21 Aug
Craftinsure Bass Week 2023
230 entries, the biggest in the last 10 years Craftinsure Bass Week 2023 was a big one, with 230 entries, the biggest in the last 10 years. The club grounds were expertly prepared for the onslaught when the gates opened at 9am on Friday 5th August. Posted on 15 Aug
GP14 Nationals 2023 at Looe Crews' Race
Rekindled after not being raced for a decade Following Races 2 and 3, two-thirds of the fleet headed back to shore for ice creams, pasties, sand castle building or a lie down if required. However, 11 hardy boats remained out at sea to battle for the Crews' Race. Posted on 15 Aug
GP14 Nationals 2023 at Looe Part 1
A roller-coaster of events set the stage at the event The GP14 Nationals kicked off with a roller-coaster of events, setting the stage for an exhilarating competition. Battling against unexpected road obstacles and the wrath of Storm Anthoni, the journey to Looe proved to be an adventure in itself. Posted on 13 Aug
GP14 UK Nationals runners and riders
Back to Looe (third time since 2012) and tight racing is on the cards The GP14s are returning to Looe SC for another Nationals. This popular venue, a quaint Cornish village, with a beautiful beach is a family favourite for sure. This is the third time the GP14 class have visited Looe since 2012. Posted on 31 Jul