GP14 World Championship 2026 at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club - Youngest Team
by Sarah Reynolds 24 Aug 13:16 BST
8-14 August 2026
Edward Reynolds (left) and Josh McNeely (right) - GP14 World Championship 2026 © Bob Torrens
"Somehow Surviving"
The youngest helm and crew combination in the GP14 fleet were acknowledged for their exceptional performance at their second-ever GP14 event at the award ceremony on 14th August 2026 by Andrew Johnson, Vice President of the GP14 Class Association.
The start of a new relationship with the GP14 began on Boxing Day 2025 for the two young sailors, Edward Reynolds (helm, 13) and Josh McNeely (crew, 14).
The GP14 was purchased by Edward's father when he travelled to England to buy a motorbike, where he noticed the GP14, which was sitting unused and in need of some TLC, and with the tow bar free, the boat was purchased for resale. At the Donaghadee Annual Rock Hopper Boxing Day event, the two young sailors were tasked with sailing the GP14 to get photos for the resale of the boat.
During this Boxing Day event, Laurence Baalham, an experienced GP14 sailor and Race Officer at Donaghadee Club, also at regional, national and international events, was on the committee boat. Without any previous knowledge of GP14 sailing it turned out that the boat wasn't set up correctly, and Laurence said after the event, "the mast rake is wrong, the jib isn't set right, that's not right... how are they going so quick?"
They came in second position just after Fraser and Niamh Menzies, who have over 15 years' experience on the GP14 fleet. The boys enjoyed sailing the GP14 and were pleased with 2nd place at the Club event.
This is where the excitement began, with other experienced members of Donaghadee Sailing Club telling the boys about the GP14 World Championships at Royal North. This began the conversation that they should absolutely enter the prestigious event.
Edward has been known in the club for transferring his sailing skills across fleets.
Both are active Topper sailors at Donaghadee Sailing Club, and Edward joined the Northern Ireland Topper Squad in October 2025. Edward has been sailing for 2 years, and Josh for 5.
In February 2026, both Edward turned 13 and Josh turned 14, and this allowed the boys to be old enough to join the gym at Aurora Leisure Centre, Bangor, and they committed to a 6 am gym start before school on a Thursday morning and 2 other evenings after school. They knew the GP14 fleet would be tough and wanted to be as physically prepared as possible, as well as spending time together as a team, as both attend different schools. Edward attends Strangford Integrated College and Josh at Bangor Academy.
With Donaghadee club being supportive and excited about the GP14 World event, Emma Eagleson organised some coaching sessions with highly respected Principal Race Officer and sailor Ruan O'Tianaigh. The boys absolutely loved Ruan's coaching style and benefited hugely from Ruan's time and experience that the club facilitated for them and the other members of Donaghadee who were competing at the Worlds.
Support and excitement went beyond Donaghadee Sailing Club; Edward also had a chance to sail for one afternoon with Jane Kearney, gaining more experience and knowledge from amazing sailors. Then, after talking to Jane and Ross Kearney, they sold them Ross' old sails from 2024, meaning they would have a better set for the Worlds.
They found the GP14 World Championships a competitive, friendly and fun week. While pathway boats can lose the fun element of sailing, this week has truly given two young sailors inspiration and a broader horizon of people, both local and from across the world, who love the GP14 and the sport of sailing.
World Championship Winner and 3-time Olympian Gerard Owen said to the boys after the racing on Friday, "I see potential in you both", which is a testament to the fleet and experience of the tough week of sailing.
'Somehow Surviving' was the name the sailors gave to their boat after completing their first event together one week prior to the Worlds at the All Ireland Championships, where they won the U19 trophy. The event at Carrickfergus Sailing Club was 14-19knots of wind, with squalls, a challenging day for even the most experienced sailor.
Many sailors retired during the racing due to the gusty wind conditions, but Edward and Josh competed in all races and had a great day, coming off the water saying, "We are Somehow Surviving". The name was founded; Josh's dad got the stickers made for the following week for the start of the GP14 Worlds. They came 28th overall in a fleet of 34 boats. Won the under-19s trophy, then it was realised they were also under 16 categories in the class.
The mast got taken down for the 2nd time ever in their ownership and transported to Royal North immediately after the All Ireland GP14 event. Then, putting the mast up only for the 3rd time, it was time for their first Worlds experience. The atmosphere from day one on Saturday 8th was great and supportive, and the boys are on a huge learning journey. At the start of the first race at the Worlds, which was their third ever Gate start, only done two the week before in Carrickfergus.
This opportunity of sailing a GP14 has given both sailors valuable experience to learn new skills and be tested with their patience and endurance, in much longer courses and races to what they are used to. Even getting to the start of the races across the Worlds event is longer than most of their Topper races.
They described 'Somehow Surviving' fondly as a quick, big, heavy, hard-working boat and physically tough. Working three sails, communicating with each other, building a team, trusting their judgement, being brave and bold, and being surrounded by a friendly competitive fleet have given 'Somehow Surviving' an extra zest for competition in this fleet during the Worlds.
At the Worlds, with a combined age of 27 (youth category being 22), they came 69th overall. With these impressive statistics:
- Bronze overall - 15th
- Youth Championship (categories) under 22 - 10th
- Bronze male boat - 8th
- The Association Youth Trophy (Helm) - 11th
- The Association Youth Trophy (Crew) - 20th
- Young Competitors Trophy - 11th
- The Bell World Trophy - 18th
Their best official result was 43rd place in race 4; which gave them a 7th place in the bronze fleet and 5th male in the bronze. Excitement in race 7, which was the abandoned race after 40 minutes; they were in their best position of the series in place 11th before the race was abandoned. This gave them a spark to what it felt like at the very front section of the fleet.
Needless to say, 'Somehow Surviving' is not for sale, and the boys wish to continue to see what happens next in their journey of GP14, and they haven't capsized.... yet!
What the boys had to say
Q1: What do you like about sailing the GP14?
"Its fun, fast, competitive and friendly" - Edward
"It's a great 2 man boat! And the class is very friendly" - Josh
Q2: What did you enjoy about the World Championship?
"It was a really nice environment and good racing" - Edward
"It was amazing to sail against people from all over the world" - Josh
Q3: What did you find challenging about the World Championship?
"it's challenging having to constantly spill wind out of the sails on the GP14 because of how light we are together" - Edward
"The winds were challenging with some very light air days" - Josh