GP14 Ulster Championship 2026 at County Antrim Yacht Club

GP14 Ulster Championship at County Antrim © Peter Darragh

25 GP14 boats travelled to the picturesque town of Whitehead, home of County Antrim Yacht Club, on 6th of June for the first of a two-day event which was to be a challenging weekend for event organisers onshore, race management and competitors alike, the first two of which handled it impeccably.

On arrival on Saturday morning the fleet were greeted with the postponement flag flying high on the club flag pole due to an easterly 18-20 kts wind and an adverse sea state. This would make launching impossible from the club slipway. Not to be deterred the ever-efficient and determined shore management team sprung into action and loaded the 25 GPs back on to their road bases, masts already up and gave them a tow across the promenade to the more sheltered public slipway, so launching could commence.

On the water Sheela Lewis led the race management team. It had been 40 years or more since the fleet had visited Whitehead and Sheela had been key in bringing the GP14 fleet to CAYC this year, following her involvement in the race management team for the GP14 Championship in Newtownards in 2024.

GP14 Ulster Championship at County Antrim - photo © Peter Darragh

The wind had now receded to a light easterly breeze about 8 kts, however with wind across tide, it would make for a very tricky sea state for the competitors.

On first beat it was the boats which went left that gained a slight advantage: the team of Colman Grimes and Ross Gingles from Skerries and Derwent Reservoir sailing clubs led the fleet around the course, to take the win from Connor Twohig and Matthew Cotter of Howth Yacht club and Keith Louden, Lough Foyle Yacht Club who had swapped Matéo at the front of the boat for the more experienced Brendan Brogan from Sligo Yacht Club. Exams!!

The majority of the fleet started race 2 at the pin end of the line and it was Louden and Brogan who found the best of the breeze early race and won convincingly from Sean Craig of Royal St George Yacht Club, who had taken over the helm in preparation for next weeks British Championships with Stephen Boyle of Sutton Dinghy Club. Peter Boyle being Stephens usual helm. Twohig and Cotter took third. With the wind softening to 5 kts and below that ended racing for the day.

GP14 Ulster Championship at County Antrim - photo © Peter Darragh

Day two dawned to an angry sea state and 14-16 kts of wind, but with the wind further around to the south it made launching possible from the club slipway. Some rain showers and squalls did not dampen early enthusiasm or spirits.

Race three started with the wind increasing and building to gusts of 20-25 kts and by the time the fleet arrived at the windward mark, most of the front runners decided not to fly spinnakers. Those who did made some nice gains and some others spectacular capsizes. The race was led from start to finish by Sean Craig and Stephen Boyle, followed by Keith Louden and Brendan Brogan, then Ross Kearney and Daniel Nelson from Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club just ahead of Howths Conor Twohig and Matthew Cotter.

GP14 Ulster Championship at County Antrim - photo © Peter Darragh

In race four the wind had increased again, 18-20 kts, with gusts of 27 and 28 kts reported at the Committee Boat during the race. With some crews deciding to go for an early shower rather than a cold bath if they had have stayed, the fleet had somewhat depleted.

For those watching this was a spectacular race full of capsizes and near misses. I am not sure how this race played out at the front, as I couldn't see much further than the front of my boat, with a wall of salty spray water and concentration at a max in order to stay afloat.

However, I am led to believe no spinnakers were flown apart from a few on the run. The last 10 mins of the race saw a horrendous squall and lots of rain. Conor Twohig and Matthew Cotter took the win from Colman Grimes and Ross Gingles, followed by Sean Craig and Stephen Boyle.

GP14 Ulster Championship at County Antrim - photo © Peter Darragh

With the majority of the fleet deciding they had enough fun for one day, and race officer Sheela Lewis officially calling a halt to racing, it meant that 3 teams would be tied for first place on six points, all with a first, second and third each, and these teams could only be separated by countback on the final race. This gave Connor Twohig and Matthew Cotter their first well deserved GP14 event win, congratulations lads!

In the Silver fleet Patrick Hamilton and Emma Pierce from East Down Yacht Club finished with an incredible 6th place overall win from Sligo Yacht Club's Sam Wray and Luke Henderson, with Lough Erne Yacht Club's Brian Morrison and Adam Nelson in third place.

GP14 Ulster Championship at County Antrim - photo © Peter Darragh

In the hotly contested Bronze fleet, and finishing a very respectable twelfth overall, it was County Antrim Yacht Club's Daniel Corbett and Frea Pembery who took the win and the Youth Trophy from Rush Sailing club pair Riaghan Boardman and Oisin Alexander. County Antrim Yacht Club's John and Steffi Lewis finished third place.

The fleets, Sean Craig & Stephen Boyle along with Daniel Corbett & Frea Pembery head across to Wales next weekend for the British Championships in Llandudno.

Next event is the GP14 Leinster Championship which returns to Howth Yacht Club on July 4/5. With the World Championships coming to Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club in August, the events are coming thick and fast with a fleet of 100 GP14s expected in Cultra.

GP14 Ulster Championship at County Antrim - photo © Peter Darragh

Overall Results:

GP14 Ulster Championship at County Antrim - photo © Peter Darragh