With the 2023 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta starting for dinghies this Friday, the GP14 Ireland fleet will use the event as their 2023 Leinster Championships. This is not the first time the Leinsters have been run as part of Volvo, and former winners Ger Owens and Mel Morris will be on the start line to try and retain their Leinster crown, having won in Mullingar last year.
Last year's GP14 Worlds in Skerries with over 100 boats was a huge success, and many felt there might be a drop off in interest this season, but so far, the class has attracted 28 boats to the O' Tiarnaigh in Blessington, 35 to the Ulsters in Larne and 30 to the Munsters in Fenit. At the time of going to press, 25 GP14 have entered this weekend. The Volvo has not been everybody's Cup of tea but will still place the GP14 as one of the top class turnouts across 370 boat events, the largest in Ireland in 2023.
This is the class's third regional event of the season, with the Ulster Championship (East Down Boat Club) won by Ross Kearney and Daniel Nelson and the Munster Championships (Tralee Bay Sailing Club) won by Sean Craig and Stephen Boyle. Ger and Mel finished third in Fenit and have not had it aĺ their own way this season, but they should be favourites with Ross and Daniel absent this weekend.
The Class has seen some new boats and new blood over the last season or two. Rober Lee ( Greystones) has started to make his mark with a superb end to 2022 with 2nd in Munster Championship. Former Mirror World Champions Chris Clayton and Rory Higgins have a new boat and starting to find their feet. Both will be in Dun Laoghaire.
Dublin Bay will not be new to a number of the Sutton Dinghy Club crews, with Alan Blay and Hugh McNally emerging as a force with consistent results over the last two seasons. A win in last season's Munster Championships and 3rd in a very competitive Ulster Championship in May sees them in good form. A new partnership sees Hugh Gill & Richard Street come to the line. Conditions might suit these pair. Katie Dwyer and Michelle Rowley and, Conor Twohig and Matthew Cotter also represent the Dublin Bay Club.
The emergence of the class in helping bring youth sailors on continues with the likes of Blessington's Sam Street, Josh Lloyd, Max Cully, Ollie Lloyd, Denis Cully and Tralee's Daithi & Arann Murphy looking to get the big regatta experience. Matteo Louden joins his dad, Keith, having had some great results last season.
Seasoned campaigners Norman Lee, John & Donal McGuinness will also be there, along with JP & Carolyn McCaldin back regularly in the fleet after a season campaigning their J24. Great to see Paddy O'Connor with his brand new Duffin boat back in a Leinster start line. Not forgetting Olympian and former National Champion Curly Morris. Curly will likely be crewed by local Dun Laoghaire Meg Tyrrell. Curly and Meg already had a race win this season in this competitive fleet.
The Class has developed a very active travelling fleet with representatives from Cullaun (Des McMahon & Pat Biesty), and Newtownards ( Jennifer Bryce & Lara Sunday) also joining Foyle, Moville and Tralee boats in Dun Laoghaire.
No overseas raiders this year, but expect some close and robust competition.