GP Watercraft: A Busy and Productive Summer
by GP Watercraft Team 10 Dec 18:30 HKT
Adriana Penruddocke at the Weymouth and Portland Qualifiers © GP Watercraft
GP Watercraft just completed a super active summer season. The team achieved strong results at international events and ran a full training and development schedule, both at home and overseas.
Strong Performances Across International Events
We last left GP Watercraft owner Shaun travelling to Paraguay to support Bermudan sailor Sebastian Kempe at the Junior Pan American Games, where Kempe secured a silver medal.
Soon after, attention shifted to the RYA Senior Euros in Marstrand, Sweden. There, Adriana Penruddocke (AP) capitalised on the stronger breeze during the championship stages, achieving a confident and consistent series of race results. An excellent result for our GP Watercraft ambassador, Italian ILCA 7 Matteo Bertacchi, finished 23rd overall and won the gold fleet race.
Head Coach Rory attended the U21 Worlds in Dublin, where six British U21 sailors, supported by GP Watercraft, competed in shifty, variable conditions in Dublin Bay. Despite the challenging weather, the group completed two races each day over six days and gained important international racing experience as a team.
High-Wind Training and Coaching Blocks
Back in the UK, Weymouth hosted a two-week training block. Two Hong Kong ILCA 6 Olympic sailors and coach Thomas Piesker joined the sessions. Strong winds of 25-30 knots lasted most of the week. This gave the sailors plenty of time for high-wind technique training.
Beyond on-water coaching, GP Watercraft, the parent company of Melges UK, was present at Royal Burnham Yacht Club for the renowned Endeavour Trophy. We also ran a Skeeta day through the RYA, specifically for ex-Special Forces. Although the wind did not play ball, we managed to get on the water, and all had a great time.
Progress Across the Athlete Group
AP continued her programme with a further block in Weymouth, with time spent alongside the British Sailing Team before the qualifiers at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy. The hard work paid off: she took 3rd in the second race and ended the regatta 3rd overall- a phenomenal result. Matteo also trained with the British squad with support from GP Watercraft ahead of the qualifiers.
Expanding International Partnerships
Back on the international front, Rory travelled to Split, Croatia, for the U21 Euros. The British U21 sailors made steady progress, moving into the gold fleet and gaining valuable race experience. Shaun flew out to California, Long Beach, for the second US training block this year. There, Shaun and AP were joined by new GP Watercraft ambassador and athlete Florencia Chiarella, the Peruvian ILCA 6 representative for Paris 2024 and former youth world champion.
Collaboration and Developing the Next Generation
We offered Skeeta demo days down at WPNSA, and the sessions went well. The Skeeta proved popular, helping more sailors understand how accessible yet fun the boat is.
Finally, October saw the launch of the ILCA 4 Talent Academy in collaboration with the British Sailing Youth Team and backed by GP Watercraft, marking an exciting new chapter in youth development and talent support.
Looking Ahead
The pace continues through the winter, with training and events already in motion. A Bermuda block in December will start the next phase, followed in January by time in Lanzarote, where Shaun will work alongside AP and another GP Watercraft ambassador, German Olympian Julia Buessellberg. For AP, this is a great warm-up for the Vila Moura Grand Prix as she builds towards the Grand Slam. The U21 Worlds are also on the calendar, with Rory supporting the U21 ILCA 7 squad.
This summer has clearly demonstrated what GP Watercraft represents: high-performance sailing, athlete development, and strong collaborative links. Achievements include podium finishes at championship events, consistent athlete progress, productive coaching blocks, expanded international partnerships, and new opportunities allowing more sailors to get on the water. The energy and direction across the team have been evident throughout the season.
As we enter winter, our momentum is stronger than ever. With new projects, fresh talent, and an updated website on the horizon, we are poised to advance GP Watercraft's legacy of excellence and innovation. The coming season presents exciting opportunities to elevate our work, our athletes, and our impact on the sport.
Find out more at www.gpwatercraft.co.uk