2014 GP14 Worlds to take place at East Down YC

by Gordon Jess on 8 Jan 2013 East Down Yacht Club are ecstatic to announce that they will be hosting the GP14 World Championship in August 2014. This will likely be the largest ever dinghy sailing championship to be held on Strangford Lough. It is anticipated that there will be in the region of 130-150 boats competing in the event, with entrants from Ireland, United Kingdom, Europe and even as far afield as Sri Lanka.

East Down Yacht Club is situated on the Western shores of Strangford Lough about one mile north of Killyleagh. The facilities at the Club have recently been substantially up dated with concrete hard standing for all boat parks and surrounding grounds. It also has its own Caravan and Camping facilities on site which together with additional marquee facilities will make the whole event have a very 'Championship village atmosphere feel to it'. Many competitors will be living on site or staying in nearby B&B accommodation, but all will enjoy the onsite catering and evening entertainment which will be laid on.

There will be five days of very competitive racing taking place with daily prizes and culminating in the awarding of the overall Championship winners on the last day.

Strangford Lough is well known to many sailors and provides a fantastic venue for such an event, not only for its outstanding scenic qualities, but also for the abundance of wild life which can be observed around its shores and on the water. It provides large expanses of open water which are tidal, but not exposed to open sea conditions owing to the relatively narrow entrance to the Lough.

EDYC has previous experience of hosting large events such as this, having hosted the Wayfarer Class International Championships in 2001 (with a fleet of over 100 boats) and more recently Fireball and Topper Championships.

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