P&B GP14 2026 UK Inland Championship at Welsh Harp Sailing Club

Matt and Chris in control, Andy and Jasper battling behind during the P&B GP14 2026 UK Inland Championship © Greg Craig / WHSC

Question: What does a silver cigarette box, tequila shots, cutting edge data analytics, 66 dinghy sailors covering a 60+year age range, including current world and national champions, and racing novices, and a small reservoir just off the North Circular, less than 10miles from the centre of London have in common?

Answer: The P&B GP14 2026 UK Inland Championship

Authors note - this report picks us the story of championship on day 2 of 2. A separate report for day 1, has been published previously - see 2026 GP14 Venetian Trophy at Welsh Harp Sailing Club for full details.

P&B GP14 2026 UK Inland Championship - photo © WHSC

The morning after the night (and day) before

Sunday 15 March 2026, 9am. Day 2 of the P&B GP14 2026 UK Inland Championship. The scene was set; competitors were gradually emerging into the spring sunshine of the dinghy park. The fantastic Saturday evening social, "Harpfest", had clearly taken its toll on some, but help was at hand in the form a full English breakfast was being served up by the WHSC galley team!

A moderate, but shifty, south westerly breeze had replaced Saturday's lighter, more awkwardly angled north westerly. The adjusted direction and increased strength offered the tantalising prospect of windward leeward racing aligned with the long axis of the Welsh Harp reservoir. With the forecast rain replaced by spring sunshine, champagne sailing conditions were on the cards.

Overnight standings following 3 races on Saturday pointed to a tight battle between reigning World Champions Matt Mee and Chris Robinson, and National Champions Jasper Barnham and Graham Sexton—separated by just a single point after day one. But, with three of six races still to sail, and the possibility of boat-breaking conditions later in the morning, nothing was guaranteed. Andy Smith and Alistair Rimmer led the chasing pack, followed closely by Fergus Barnham and Ellie Deveraux. Local favourites Maurice Cleal and Romek Kowalewski headed the home challenge in fifth.

Competition in the silver and bronze fleets was equally fierce. Silver was led by Paul Trubridge and Matt Hall in sixth overall, while bronze leaders Sophie Blanchard and Simon Haze were also lying as top female helm. A battle of skill, endurance, and attrition lay ahead.

Sophisticated data analytics from the MyDockside app provided competitors with all the information required to plan their race strategy. For some the effects of Harpfest doubtless supressed their ability to process the various graphs and datasets that morning, but for others their targets for the day were crystal clear!

Race 4: The first casualties

After a short briefing from RO Duncan Salmon, 28 boats launched—but not everyone made it off the beach. Overnight silver leaders Paul and Matt succumbed to a back injury, while Tom Partridge and Jamie from Burwain SC opted to conserve their energy for the 230 mile drive home. A further pre start retirement left 27 boats on the line. Within 50 minutes, just 18 remained!

As perfect as the wind direction and strength was, the gusts were vicious and often arrived with the added gift of a nasty shift. Matt Mee and Chris Robinson showed their class and mastery of the boat and conditions, taking convincing victory, with Jasper and Graham in second. Daniel Lewis and Maciej Matyjaszczyk took an impressive third: a new pairing combining fireball pedigree with local GP14 and Scorpion expertise, clearly coming into their own after lessons learned on day one.

Local sailors John Curran and Mark Greenstreet claimed silver fleet honours in sixth. Visitors James and Philipa Ashworth (South Staffs) led the bronze fleet with 12th.

Race 5: Pressure at the front

As the wind built to a steady 16 knots with gusts into the low 30s, 18 boats faced the start of Race 5. Notable in their absence, Fergus and Ellie had been force back ashore to drain their buoyancy tanks, following a capsize that had exposed a critical weakness in their hatch checking protocols.

At the front, the fight was on: Matt, Jasper, Andy, and Daniel all still in podium contention. For Jasper, a win was essential to stay in the hunt for the overall title.

The race started cleanly, and soon the familiar yellow and blue spinnaker of the world champions could be seen leading the fleet back down the first run; it seemed that they were keen to finish the job with a race to spare!

The satisfied smiles say it all, Matt and Chris closing on overall victory in the P&B GP14 2026 UK Inland Championship - photo © Richard Craig / www.SailPics.co.uk

Behind the world champions the battle for second place was raging, Jasper and Graham leading, but Daniel and Maciej now with the bit firmly between their teeth and were pushing hard. The pressure to defend second place probably ended Jasper's hopes of victory as Matt and Chris gradually extended their lead, whilst Jasper, Daniel and Andy traded places behind. By the final run Jasper was again leading the chasing pack and looking good for 2nd, but Daniel and Maciej had not given up. Their final death or glory charge got them within touching distance, before a spectacular capsize ended their challenge. A slick recovery, combined with gap their charge had opened, enabled them to hold on to 3rd place from Andy and Alistair. Meanwhile Matt and Chris were on their way back to short, their 4th bullet of the weekend having sealed their overall victory.

Daniel and Maciej on their famous charge during the P&B GP14 2026 UK Inland Championship - photo © Greg Craig / WHSC

The end of the charge! P&B GP14 2026 UK Inland Championship - photo © Richard Craig / www.SailPics.co.uk

Not far behind Keith Street led the silver fleet home in 7th place, with Liz Guest just behind in 8th as top bronze.

Keith Street and Richard D'Cruz on their way to winning the silver fleet in the P&B GP14 2026 UK Inland Championship - photo © Richard Craig / www.SailPics.co.uk

Race 6: The final showdown

With their cigarette storage arrangements for 2026 resolved Matt and Chris sailed in, no doubt discussing who would use the right- and left-hand side compartments of the handily sub-divided silver box. Seven other weary teams followed them, leaving just 11 boats to compete in the final race. The fleet now included Fergus and Ellie again, returning after their failed experiment with water-ballast, still in with chance of a podium finish. Notably Jasper and Graham stayed out to race, despite having already secured second place overall. The exact logic behind this decision was unclear but assumed to be a combination of Barham family rivalry and the simple pleasure of sailing a GP14 in strong shifty winds.

Jasper and Graham's pleasure cruise did not last long, ending in capsize halfway down the first run. Their early exit did not change the maths in the battle for 3rd place. Andy needed to beat Fergus, or, if Fergus won, Andy needed to finish second. But fate had other plans for Andy when catastrophic gear failure left him inverted with half only half his centreboard still attached to his boat. Andy's misfortune left Fergus and Ellie, needing to finish second or better to claim the final spot on the podium. They took this challenge in their stride, taking line honours. Bronze fleet leaders Liz Guest and William MacDonald produced a brilliant second place, with Alain Renaud and Chris Lomax completing the top three. Jamie Isle and Caro Mitchell finished tenth, the last surviving boat to finish, bringing the championship to a close.

Liz and Will blitzing the bronze fleet during the P&B GP14 2026 UK Inland Championship - photo © Richard Craig / www.SailPics.co.uk

Conclusion

So the P&B GP14 2026 UK Inland Championship ended. A convincing victory for Matt Mee and Chris Robinson, albeit they were forced to work hard to see off a determined challenge from Jasper and Graham. Fergus and Ellie secured a deserved their 3rd place. Andy and Allistair were left with mixed emotions, pride in a great result, disappointment of narrowly missing the podium, and anxiety explaining the condition of the boat they were about to tow 200 plus miles back to Lancashire. The final spot in the top 5 was deservedly taken by a local team, perhaps the new power-couple in the southern GP14 fleet?

Local sailors shone across the fleets, with 5 boats finishing in the top 10 and first placed boats in both the silver, (Keith Street and Richard D'Cruz 8th overall), and bronze fleets. (Liz Guest and William MacDonald, 9th overall). Liz was also first female helm. The first all youth boat was Harry Shaw and Lydia Mycroft, in 14th place, the first time they had sailed together in a GP14!

Overall Results:

The winners showing off their silver cigarette box and the WSHC Venetian Trophy, with Mark Greenstreet, Rear-Commodore WHSC, at the P&B GP14 2026 UK Inland Championship - photo © Richard Craig / www.SailPics.co.uk

Closing remarks

A huge thanks to the team at Welsh Harp Sailing Club for hosting a fantastic season opener. There are too many people to mention everyone involved but special credit must go to: Quentin Drain, Caro Mitchell and Liz Guest who heroically led the organisational effort; Race Officers Kevin Armstrong and Duncan Salmon; Will MacDonald and John Curran, the brains behind MyDockside; the safety team; and last but not least Holly Potter, the force behind the perfect Saturday evening social, "Harpfest".

The last word must go to the youngest, and possibly furthest travelled competitor, Seb Nagle, from Royal Windermere Yacht Club. When I asked him after sailing on Sunday if he had enjoyed himself he looked at me like I was mad and answered simply and honestly: "NO!". Fair enough I thought, it was quite wild out there. Watch out for this guy in the future though, you read about him first here!