GP14 World Championship 2026 at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club - Day 5
by Angela Hunter 14 Aug 10:25 BST
8-14 August 2026
The 2026 GP14 World Championships reaches its dramatic conclusion today (Friday 14th August) at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, Holywood, with the coveted world title still firmly within reach despite a week of wildly contrasting conditions on Belfast Lough.
From torrential rain, strong shifting winds, fog and mist on the opening day, to glorious sunshine, light breezes and near-calm conditions later in the week, competitors have been tested by almost every weather scenario imaginable.
Thursday provided perhaps the greatest tactical challenge yet.
The international fleet launched into almost completely still air, drifting slowly across the bay while the safety RIBs worked tirelessly to shepherd competitors safely across the shipping channel. Although the breeze eventually arrived in time for Race Six, it remained light, patchy and highly unpredictable.
Success depended on linking together the fleeting gusts and favouring the right-hand side of the course, while those caught in the lulls quickly slipped down the rankings. With the race shortened to a single beat and run, opportunities to recover were limited, creating one of the biggest shake-ups of the championship so far.
Among those caught out by the light-air lottery were back-to-back race winners Sam Street and Josh Lloyd, who found themselves down in 46th place, while fellow contenders Ross Kearney and Sam Platt also endured unusually difficult races in the middle of the fleet.
Race Seven saw another windward-leeward course with similarly light conditions, although the breeze settled slightly to allow a more consistent race. Irish Olympian Ger Owens and Mel Morris demonstrated once again why they have been the standout performers of the championship, claiming their second race victory of the week.
That result, combined with a remarkable series including a second place and two thirds, has given the Irish pairing a 24-point advantage at the top of the leaderboard.
However, with Britain's John Hayes and Joel James still carrying a 20th place that can be discarded after the final race, the championship remains very much alive.
If Belfast Lough produces another day of shifting, unpredictable breezes, fortunes could change in an instant, ensuring a fittingly dramatic finale to a week of world-class racing.
After seven races, the overall standings are:
1st - Ger Owens & Mel Morris (Ireland)
2nd - John Hayes & Joel James (Great Britain)
3rd - Oli Hale & Harry Shaw (Great Britain)
4th - Sam Street & Josh Lloyd (Wicklow, Ireland)
With one final day remaining, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club. In a championship where every gust, every shift and every tactical decision has mattered, nothing can be taken for granted until the final boat crosses the finish line.
Track the race at www.rniyc.org and www.metasail.com/live/893