GP14 Northern Bell series at West Kirby Sailing Club

GP14 Northern Bell series at West Kirby © Alan Jenkins

GP sailing is a nice and calm sail... they said! You stay dry when sailing a GP... they said! Someone was lying to me!

Competitors arrived in West Kirby for the annual GP14 Open meeting and the penultimate race of the Northern Bell series with a not so welcoming forecast. Winds were forecast of 18 - 28 knots from a Southerly direction. Racing took place on the might River Dee. Three races were planned alongside the International Canoe Class and the clubs Sunday handicap fleet.

GP14 Northern Bell series at West Kirby - photo © Alan Jenkins

Launching from the slipway into a southerly breeze brought some excitement with Tom Partridge and Dom Lloyd from Burwain demonstrating some fantastic skills in rolling the boat in less than a foot of water! Race Officer Chris Hoppins set a fantastic course.

The International Canoes didn't want to join us on the river so it was only the GP14's and a few lonely handicap dinghies who arrived on the start line. Race 1 got off to a clean start with Mark Platt and Chris Jobson from Bolton Sailing Club taking an early lead with a fight for second place between the home boats Jean-Louis Simons/Holly Marston and Kieron Inman/Paul Jenkins. Jean-Louis making it to the first mark with just boat lengths to spare.

GP14 Northern Bell series at West Kirby - photo © Alan Jenkins

However Kieron and Paul spectacularly screamed past them with spinnaker up (I'm being very biased as I was in that boat!). Further down the fleet there was carnage! Two boats collided leaving Tom and Dom from Burwain with a titanic size hole in the side of their boat. This was not their day!

As the wind increased Mark and Chris took a sizeable lead from the home boats and took the first race with ease. After fighting round the course Jean-Louis and Holly took second and Kieron/Paul third.

GP14 Northern Bell series at West Kirby - photo © Alan Jenkins

Race 2 started in much the same breeze, the race officer making the decision to move the wing mark closer in to course meant for less high speed planning conditions. Only 3 boats were left on the start line. Mark and Chris took an early lead with Jean-Louis/Holly following close behind. Kieron and Paul decided to two-sail the course as the wind increased.

A sensible decision as Jean-Louis and Holly had a disaster at the leeward mark, retiring from the race and letting Kieron/Paul take second place with Simon Henshall and Sue Webb from Budworth SC taking a well deserved third place.

GP14 Northern Bell series at West Kirby - photo © Alan Jenkins

The wind had slowly increased and the fleet voted with their direction of sailing to head back to shore. A successful event sea event for the GPs with plans being put in place for 2026. As the Nationals are just down the road in Llandudno in early June WKSC is looking to host an event in preparation.

Thank you to all the competitors for coming along and all those who manned the committee boat, safety boat and the BBQ at the end of the day.

GP14 Northern Bell series at West Kirby - photo © Alan Jenkins

Overall Results:

GP14 Northern Bell series at West Kirby - photo © Alan Jenkins