Please select your home edition
Edition
Barton Marine Pipe Glands

GP14 O'Tiarnaigh Challenge at Swords Sailing & Boating Club

by Laura McFarland 16 Apr 2018 15:38 UTC 14-15 April 2018
GP14 O'Tiarnaigh Challenge at Swords © Patrick Wodhams

The forecast for the O'Tiarnaigh Challenge 2018 was moderate to fresh breeze for the Saturday and strong breeze and up to 30 knots of gusts for the Sunday.

OD Peter Smyth at the Saturday morning briefing made the decision to sail all six qualifying races instead of the scheduled four races on the Saturday.

The fleet of 19 set off in their own fleet starts as Peter got three races in before lunch on Saturday with already a few thrills and spills in the growing breeze.

The fleet had a quick lunch ashore with warm drinks and rolls provided by Swords. Back on the water to similar winds for the first race but it abated a little giving a more enjoyable final two races.

GP14 O'Tiarnaigh Challenge at Swords - photo © Patrick Wodhams
GP14 O'Tiarnaigh Challenge at Swords - photo © Patrick Wodhams

With the six races sailed the four leaders of each fleet were decided on the Saturday with three races scheduled for the Sunday for the final of the O'Tiarnaigh Challenge.

Greystone's Shane MacCarthy & Damian Bracken always enjoy the bigger breezes and dominated the two days and take another year's succession of winning the O'Tiarnaigh Trophy.

Second overall were Royal St George's Ross Killian with crew Ger Owens followed by a great performance and third place for Newtoward's Josh Porter and Andy Corkhill.

Youghal's Jack Buttimer & Adam McDonagh topped the bronze fleet finishing a very creditable sixth overall.

GP14 O'Tiarnaigh Challenge at Swords - photo © Patrick Wodhams
GP14 O'Tiarnaigh Challenge at Swords - photo © Patrick Wodhams

Related Articles

As the Fleadh Continues, Belfast Lough Prepares
100 GP14 teams from around the world are arriving While tens of thousands continue to enjoy the atmosphere of the Fleadh in Belfast, another major international event is about to make waves in Northern Ireland as over 200 sailors from across the world arrive in for the 2026 GP14 World Championships. Posted today at 6:39 pm GP14 World Championships runners and riders
With entry capped at 100 boats, this year promises one of the most competitive line-ups As anticipation builds for the 2026 GP14 World Championships at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, supported by Ards and North Down Borough Council, this weekend, we take a closer look at the sailors expected to challenge for honours across the fleet. Posted on 6 Aug GP14 Bell Trophy Weekend at Poole
Strong winds on day 2, coupled with gear failures, reduced the fleet from 10 to 4 This event is unique to Poole Yacht Club consisting of two races around the harbour islands on Saturday and a conventional open meeting on the Sunday with four races around the cans. It was attended by ten GP14s including six visiting boats. Posted on 31 Jul Countdown Begins to GP14 Worlds
Belfast Lough prepares to welcome 100 boats With just ten days to go, final preparations are under way at Holywood's Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club as it prepares to host one of the biggest sailing events ever staged on Belfast Lough - the GP14 World Championships from 8-14 August. Posted on 29 Jul GP14 Northern Area Championship at Bassenthwaite
Sharing the water with a fleet of 23 Flying Fifteens to create a vibrant dinghy park Bassenthwaite Sailing Club welcomed 25 GP14s for the Northern Area Championship over the weekend of 18-19 July, sharing the water with a fleet of 23 Flying Fifteens to create a vibrant dinghy park of 48 boats. Posted on 25 Jul GP14 Leinster Championship at Howth
Six race winners but Boyles take the title Thirty-two GP14s travelled to Howth Yacht Club on the 4th and 5th of July for the GP14 Leinster Championship. With the World Championships at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club only a few weeks away, the event was good practice. Posted on 12 Jul GP14 Midland Bell Series at Midland SC
Sometimes you need to let discretion be the better part of valour The forecast promised a consistent south westerly wind, at between 12 to 18 knots with dry and sunny intervals punctuating the cloudy conditions and this set the scene for a potentially great days sailing at Midland Sailing Club. Posted on 8 Jul GP14 Ulster Championship at County Antrim
Three-way tie decided on countback 25 GP14 boats travelled to the picturesque town of Whitehead, home of County Antrim Yacht Club, on 6th of June for the first of a two-day event which was to be a challenging weekend for event organisers. Posted on 12 Jun Largo Bay SC Regatta preview
Club is ready to welcome competitors from across Scotland and beyond, this month Largo Bay Sailing Club is looking forward to welcoming competitors from across Scotland and beyond to the 2026 LBSC Open Regatta, taking place on the beautiful waters of Largo Bay. Posted on 9 Jun GP14 Northern Bell and Midland Bell at Budworth
One of the biggest GP14 events of the year, with an innovative regatta fleet The GP14 Open at Budworth proved, once again, to be a memorable day with 31 boats entered, an ideal force 3 westerly down the Mere and sailors of all ages and ability taking part. One of the biggest GP14 events of the year. Posted on 3 Jun
A+T QBD7North Sails Loft 57 PodcastBarton Marine Pipe Glands
This site and its contents are Copyright © 2026 Sail-World Cruising Northern Hemisphere and/or the original author, photographer etc. All Rights Reserved. Photographs are copyright by law. If you wish to use or buy a photograph contact the photographer directly.
If you have any questions about advertising or editorial then please contact our team. If you encounter any technical issues then please email techsupport@sail-world.com
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy