GP14 World Championship starts today on Belfast Lough

Belfast Lough is set for the GP14 World Championship © RNIYC

No sooner is the music preparing to fade from Belfast's historic Fleadh than another major international event is taking centre stage, as the 2026 GP14 World Championships officially begin today at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club.

Following three years of meticulous planning, the championship is bringing together more than 100 boats and over 200 sailors from across the globe for a week of world-class racing on Belfast Lough.

Competitors have travelled from Canada, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, France, Great Britain and Ireland, making this one of the most international GP14 World Championships in the class's history and the first ever to be hosted in Northern Ireland.

The event is expected to provide a significant economic boost to the local area, with hundreds of competitors, families and supporters staying throughout the week and supporting hotels, restaurants, cafés and local businesses across North Down and Belfast.

Behind the scenes, an extraordinary team of volunteers has spent the last three years preparing for this moment. From upgrading facilities and creating boat parks to organising race management, logistics and hospitality, thousands of volunteer hours have gone into delivering a championship worthy of the world stage.

Today marks the beginning of six days of championship racing on Belfast Lough, where the world's best GP14 sailors will compete for one of the class's most coveted titles.

Event Director Gerry Reid said: "Today is the culmination of three years of planning and an enormous amount of work by our volunteers. To finally welcome competitors from around the world to Belfast Lough is incredibly special. We're excited to showcase not only world-class sailing but also the warmth and hospitality that Northern Ireland is renowned for."

Royal North Commodore Lindsay McCarty Nolan added: "Hosting a World Championship is a landmark moment for our Club and for Northern Ireland. We are immensely proud of everyone who has contributed to bringing this event here, and we're looking forward to welcoming sailors, families and visitors from across the globe for what promises to be an unforgettable week."

This year's championship also features cutting-edge innovations, including robotic race marks, GPS tracking on every competing boat and live race coverage streamed to large screens around the yacht club, giving spectators ashore an unprecedented view of the action.

Visitors are encouraged to come along throughout the week to experience the atmosphere, watch the racing from around Belfast Lough and enjoy the packed programme of social events taking place at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club.

For the full programme, visit www.rniyc.org.