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GP14 Masters Championship at Welsh Harp Sailing Club

by Steve Cooper & Liz Guest 15 Oct 2024 05:58 BST 5-6 October 2024

The GP14 Masters, held over the weekend of 5th & 6th October at Welsh Harp Sailing Club, brought together 19 competitive boats facing challenging conditions that tested both skill and strategy.

Competitors were greeted with a notoriously difficult southerly breeze, characterized by unpredictable shifts, that kept sailors on their toes throughout the 4 races of the event. For the two Saturday races, RO Brian Jefferies set a series of short beats with tight connecting reaches, some challenging spinnaker work required !

Day 2 of the Championships saw a similar wind direction but with greater strength and variability with huge patches of disturbed water streaking across the racecourse. RO John Shepheard set a course with longer close reaches, requiring strong strategic and reactive decision making.

Son and father duo Matt & Tim McGovern have a pedigree that meant they were able to navigate the tricky conditions with ease, they handled the boat with a smoothness that belied their lack of experience in a GP14. Likewise Jasper & Fergus Barnham were determined in their style and adept at working the conditions. The two pairings battled hard, with the McGoverns establishing themselves as early front runners.

Other crews found that they could at times benefit from being in the best breeze, seeking out the puffs to gain a lead, only to be pulled back and overhauled as the whole fleet caught a gust that they had missed. The results reflected this - most pairings lacking any consistency of finish position to produce a decent series of scores.

Local pairings that managed to do well with a degree of consistency were Maurice Cleal / Romek Kowalewski and Steve Cooper / Liz Guest both of whom achieved a second. David Innes / John McGuiness and Adeel Khan / Roger Jeffs recorded good finishes and Sharon Freeland, with husband Paul consistently improved over the weekend finishing 4th in the last race and 5thoverall. It was lovely to welcome GP14 Association President Charles Saunders on the water and Championship Chair Vanessa Devereux to oversee proceedings.

Event winners were Matt and Tim winning three out of the four races, showcasing their ability to adapt quickly to the ever-changing wind. Ever consistent Barnhams were runners up, with two seconds and a first. Maurice Cleal / Romek Kowalewski finished third, Steve Cooper / Liz Guest fourth and Sharon & Paul Freehand fifth.

The camaraderie extended beyond the water on Saturday evening with a delicious dinner and ceilidh, where sailors and supporters came together to celebrate the day's racing. It was a wonderful opportunity to share stories and strengthen friendships within the sailing community and Welsh Harp was blessed with the return of some long-standing friends of the club.

WHSC Sailing Captain Sue Tomkins said "We thank the GP14 association for giving us the opportunity to hold the GP14 Masters at The Welsh Harp. It was the wonderful chance for the competition to enjoy great weekend of quality racing against some best sailors in the class."

Special thanks go to the other clubs who share the Welsh Harp Reservoir for allowing us sole access to the venue during the event. Our gratitude also extends to Wembley Sailing Club, the Sea Cadets, and the Regatta Safety Boating Base for their invaluable support in providing accommodation on site and volunteer teams ensuring the racing ran smoothly.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4PtsDivision
1st14145Matthew McGovernTimothy McGovernSouth Staffs SC111‑53Master + 100
2nd14125Jasper BarnhamFergus BarnhamSnettisham Beach SC22‑315Grand Master
3rd14253Maurice ClealRomek KowalewskiWelsh Harp SC332‑108Great Grand Master + 100
4th14110Stephen CooperLiz GuestWelsh Harp SC44‑12210Great Grand Master + 100
5th13611Sharon FreelandPaul FreelandLlandegfedd Lake SC‑1165415Great Grand Master + 100
6th14200David InnesJohn McGuinessFrensham Pond SC5‑168316Great Grand Master + 100
7th13456Adeel KhanRoger JeffsWelsh Harp SC6114‑1221Master + 100
8th14167Simon HoultBrenda HoultHayling Island SC8‑97621Grand Master + 100
9th13980Yossi ShaharSue TomkinsWelsh Harp SC‑1086822Grand Master + 100
10th13237Tomasz SzakolaHelen AllenWelsh Harp SC12510‑1327Master + 100
11th13787Keith StreetHannah LiptrotWelsh Harp SC7‑1211927Grand Master + 100
12th14157Paul TrubridgeMatt HallFrensham Pond SC91013(DNF)32Grand Master + 100
13th13299Jamie IslesCaroline MitchellWelsh Harp SC‑167161134Master + 100
14th13941Lesley KayeDennis AdamsCastle Cove SC‑171515737Great Grand Master + 100
15th13887Quentin DrainJohn O'SullivanWelsh Harp SC13‑1791739Master + 100
16th13603Sophie BlanchardSimon HazellWelsh Harp SC141414‑1842Master + 100
17th13472Sarah StreetPauline den Hartog Jager/Andy WandsworthWelsh Harp SC1513‑191644Grand Master
18th13421Stephen BethelGuy HardenWelsh Harp SC18‑19171449Master + 100
19th13589Laurence BardRichard Gillian/Charles SaundersWelsh Harp SC‑1918181551Grand Master + 100

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