75th birthday celebrations for GP14 class at Shropshire Sailing Club
by Keith Budden 10 Jul 2025 08:36 PDT
28-29 June 2025
Shropshire Sailing Club was founded 75 years ago with the purchase of the second group of ten GP14s ever made. The club was delighted to welcome twenty GP14s for a joint 75th celebration weekend at the end of June for the club and the GP14.
Thanks to Richard Binns for bringing GP14 number 20, Miss Daisy, who was able to return home and sail once again in Shropshire. Three other vintage boats numbers 7, 8 and 28 were also in attendance along with boats and crews from across the generations.
Strong winds on Saturday resulted in some very wild sailing and numerous capsizes and retirements. From the 18 boats that set out only 7 completed both races! Well done to Ollie Goodhead and Hayley Wycherly from South Staffs Sailing Club for winning both races despite a last lap capsize in the final race.
After 75 years the plastic free boats with wooden masts and no spinnakers still managed to perform well against the modern racing fleet.
Thank you to our sponsors: Marine 13 and HD Sails.
Ann Penny, author of the limited edition 75 Years on the Water book, also attended and sailed. This excellent book showcases the boat and its history in all its glory. A book was presented to Ian Johnson, Commodore of Shropshire Sailing club on behalf of the GP14 Association.
Shropshire Sailing Club hosted the very first GP14 Nationals in 1952 in what appears to be very light winds.
The GP14 fleet joined in with club racing on the Sunday also in very light winds. This enabled the recently renovated Miss Daisy to take to the waters of her first club once more.