GP14 Scottish Championship at Loch Ryan Sailing Club
by Fred Fuller 28 Jun 2010 04:22 PDT
26-27 June 2010
GP14 Scottish National Championships © Fred Fuller
Last weekend Loch Ryan Sailing Club hosted the joint GP 14 and Laser 2
Scottish Championships sponsored by McMillan Hotel Group. A North
Westerly F 3/4 occasional F 5 combined with unbroken sunshine throughout
the weekend provided perfect sailing conditions for the two fleets.
The GP's were celebrating the 60th anniversary of the class and although
the turnout was slightly down from the previous year the local welcome
made sure the fun was as good. The Laser 2's were likewise down in
numbers but both fleets had local crews who did the club proud.
The Race Committee had set perfect Olympic courses giving plenty of
excitement and challenges for competitors, spectators and safety boat
crews.
In the GP 14 fleet the racing was dominated by a formidable combination
of current World Champion Andy Tunnicliffe and current National Champion
Chris Robinson from Royal Windermere Sailing Club. They took 5 wins out
of the scheduled 6 races showing great boat speed and skill and were
untroubled throughout.
Behind them in every race was father and son combination Mark and Duncan
Greenhalgh from Annandale Sailing Club who kept the rest of the fleet
behind them but could not make an impression on the front pair. Out of
the chasing pack Colin Midgely and Neil Smith also Annandale had the
more consistent results to take third spot.
Local boys Ewan Dewar and
Dylan Griffiths sailing a vintage boat lovingly restored in time for the
event took First Youths.
Both fleets thanked Loch Ryan Sailing Club and its members who had laid
on such a great weekends racing and social programme and hopefully will
return in future years.
Results
1st - Tunnicliffe/Robinson
2nd - Greenhalgh/Greenhalgh
3rd - Midgely/Smith