GP14 season ahead of the Worlds kicks off with the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club Spring Series
by Gerry Reid 19 Feb 10:37 UTC
2022 GP14 Worlds at Skerries © Andy Johnston
As anticipation builds toward the GP14 World Championships on Belfast Lough this August, the 2026 GP14 season gets off to a flying start with the RNIYC Spring Series. Beginning on 8 March and running for six weeks (with a short Easter break), the series marks the first major event in a packed and exciting calendar.
Already, 25 boats have expressed interest, with the Notice of Race now published on the RNIYC website. Now in its third year, the Spring Series continues to attract top Runners and Riders eager to sharpen their skills on the same waters that will host the GP14 Worlds later in the season.
Hot on the heels of the Spring Series, RNIYC will host the O'Tiarnaigh Challenge on 25-26 April. Another consistently popular event, it is expected to attract around 35 boats. With gate starts planned for the fleet, the weekend will serve as a valuable dry run for the World Championships.
In June (6-7June), the focus shifts slightly up the coast as County Antrim Boat Club hosts the Ulster Championships. Strong support is anticipated, including several competitors travelling from Southern Ireland.
While Belfast Lough features heavily this year, Howth Yacht Club will also play its part, hosting the Leinster Championship on 4-5 July. Many Northern boats are expected to make the trip south, continuing their preparations for August's main event.
The rest of July provides a short pause in the racing calendar after Howth, allowing teams time for final boat preparations before the build-up begins again with the Championship of Ireland, hosted by Carrickfergus Sailing Club on 1-2 August. Located just across the Lough from RNIYC, Carrickfergus is expected to welcome over 60 boats, including early arrivals from the international fleet, offering a superb opportunity for top-level racing ahead of the Worlds.
Then comes the main event: the GP14 World Championships, hosted by RNIYC from 8-14 August. In a staggering display of enthusiasm, entries reached the 100-boat cap within just seven days of the Notice of Race and entry release. A further 21 boats are currently on the waiting list should the cap be increased. The RNIYC organising team is actively exploring options to accommodate additional entries, with further updates expected in the coming months.
With five major events on Belfast Lough and one in Howth, 2026 promises to be a hugely busy and exciting year for GP14 sailors with everything to play for, and perhaps even a new World Champion to be crowned. Exciting times ahead!