2022 GP14 Worlds at Skerries is Centre Stage at RYA Dinghy Show

Thanks to Andrew Johnston for this report, which is also published in Afloat.ie

GP14 Ireland is represented on The GP14 Association stand with Hon. Sec Andy Johnston (left) joining International Class President Curly Morris

The RYA Dinghy show is currently underway across in Farnborough UK and with the GP14 Worlds coming to Skerries in August,  GP14 Ireland was represented on The GP14 Association stand with Hon. Sec Andy Johnston joining International Class President Curly Morris supporting the UK Class for the weekend.
 
 
New Butler GP14 boat at the Dinghy Show
New Butler GP14 boat at the Dinghy Show
 
Plenty going on at the first Dinghy Show for a no. of years and first outside Alexandra Palace for many years.
For GP14, it’s a significant moment as we got the first sighting of the new Butler Boats composite racing GP14.
And beautiful it looked too, with boat builder David Butler hoping to get the boat out on the water over the next few weeks. 
 
Andy Johnston (right) with Matthew Sheehan
Andy Johnston (right) with Matthew Sheehan

I also bumped into friend and former Comanche Raider crewmate, sailing commentator and journalist Matthew Sheehan. The former technical editor of Yachting World was covering the Dinghy Show for his latest venture PlanetSail, the new sailing channel on YouTube which gained significant traction with their Ameicas Cup coverage from New Zealand.
 
 
For the Irish contingent on the stand however the, the main focus was answering questions about accommodation in and around Skerries, ferry options to get to Dublin in August and if it was true there are over 130 entries already and for some, will it be as good as the 1997 GP14 Worlds in Skerries?
Curly Morris with Ian Dobson and Justin Jones
Curly Morris with Ian Dobson and Justin Jones
 
Former GP14 World Champion Ian Dobson called by as did 5 time UK Endeavour Trophy winner Nick Craig who, rumours have it, has been putting in extensive hours in the GP14 in recent months. Both are confirmed entries while Roblines Justin Jones inducated he hopes to get himself and a boat across for the event. 
 
With a number of medallists from Tokyo connected to the GP14 Class, we had plenty of British Sailing coaches drop in including British 420 coach Jonny McGovern who is hoping to get across to compete at Skerries.
 
It was a chance for so many former GP14 sailors to come by and reaquaint themselves with the boat of their youth or catch up with adversaries from previous Worlds such as Skerried, Sligo, Durban, Cape May, Sri Lanka and Barbados. 
 
The show continues Sunday and a very enjoyable experience with the sheer number and range of classes and boats under one roof quite amazing. Another year out of Covid and I would suggest next years could be even better.
 
Following the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show on Saturday, Southern Area rep David Innes invited those on the stand to a GP14 evening in local Club Frensham Pond where we had a super evening hosted by the Clubs GP14 fleet.
Nick Craig Multi Endeavour Champion
Nick Craig Multi Endeavour Champion
Nick Craig, 5 time Endeavour Trophy winner took time out to explain the intricacies of Gate Starts to the Clubs crews attending Augusts GP14 Worlds in Skerries. Thanks to former Commodore and GP14 Sourhern Area rep David Innes for the hospitality shown to those manning the GP14 Stand. See you all in Skerries later in the year.