The weekend of August 13-15 saw the GP14 fleet return to Lough Erne Yacht Club for the 2021 Irish Championships. The event was kindly supported by Enniskillen Bid, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, Ropelocker.ie and Inish Macsaint Fermanagh Beer.

The weekend of August 13-15 saw the GP14 fleet return to Lough Erne Yacht Club for the 2021 Irish Championships. The event was kindly supported by Enniskillen Bid, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, Ropelocker.ie and Inish Macsaint Fermanagh Beer.

40 boats took part, including past Olympians, world champions and novice racers. Four of the 40 boats were from Lough Erne Yacht Club with the others travelling from all over Ireland to compete on the waters of Lower Lough Erne.

On the water volunteers set up eight races over the three days led by Derek Bothwell from Howth, Co Dublin, a national race officer.

Day one saw plenty of thrills and spills with winds gusting up to 20mph, maybe more at times. Three races were completed. The first race, after a photo-finish, was won by Ross and Jane Kearney of Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club and races two and three by Shane MacCarthy and Josh Porter of Greystones / Newtownards sailing clubs. After a physically demanding day on the water, the crews welcomed the free Inish Macsaint beer, supplied by the sponsor.

Day two dawned windless. After several hours delay, waiting for the wind to arrive, the fleet launched for three more races. Race four went to veteran Hugh Gill and his son Dan from Sutton Dinghy Club sailing a beautiful new Duffin boat. Race five went to ex Olympian Ger Owens and Brendan Brogan and a shortened race six to Shane MacCarthy and Josh Porter.

Going into the final day, three teams could win. Race six went to Ger and Brendan meaning if they won the last race they would take the title. Despite a really close battle with Katie Dwyer and Michelle Rowley of Sutton Dinghy Club, Owens of Royal Saint George Yacht Club and Brogan of Sligo Yacht Club held on for the race win and took their fourth and eighth Irish GP14 titles respectively.

Shane and Josh finished one point behind in second place overall with Ross and Jane third.

Silver fleet went to James Peter Hockley and Alan Thompson from Lough Foyle Yacht Club and the Bronze fleet to Matthew Cotter and Tom Mulligan from Sutton Dinghy Club.

First Veteran was Hugh Gill with the youth title going to Ciaran Keogh and Adam Leddy from Greystones Sailing Club.

First Lough Erne Yacht Club boat was father and son team Michael and Peter Brines in 25th place, second overall in the bronze fleet. Other local boats were Brian Morrison and Rian O’Halin in 26th place, Adam Torrens and Tiernan McCaughey in 36th place and father and daughter Jorgan and Eve Pedersen in 38th place.

At the prize giving, winner Ger Owens, thanked all the Lough Erne Yacht Club volunteers and sponsors for a superb event.