Royal North of Ireland ready for World Championship hosting duties

PREPARATIONS are in full swing as Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club (RNIYC) gets set to host the GP14 World Championships from August 8-14.

With the event now just over a week away, an army of volunteers has been hard at work, clearing the boatyards, cutting hedges, refreshing paintwork and putting the finishing touches in place to welcome competitors from around the globe.

The championship will attract sailors from as far afield as Australia, Canada, Australia, France, Pakistan and South Africa, alongside strong fleets from Great Britain and Ireland, making it one of the most international GP14 events ever hosted by the club.

The build-up to the World Championships begins this weekend, when Carrickfergus Sailing Club hosts the GP14 Irish National Championships.

A large entry is expected, with many crews keen to fine-tune their boats and race strategies before the main event.

Event director Gerry Reid said: “We are really excited and looking forward to welcoming all the competitors from the world of sailing. The racing will be highly competitive, and the social after each day should be full on.”

This year’s championship will feature a range of innovations aimed at enhancing both the racing and spectator experience.

Royal North will deploy robotic race marks, while each boat will carry GPS trackers, allowing the fleet to be followed live online.

Racing will also be live-streamed to screens throughout the yacht club grounds, enabling spectators ashore to keep up with the action.

RNIYC commodore Lindsay Nolan added: “Our dedicated volunteers have worked tirelessly to deliver an exceptional GP14 World Championships, and Royal North looks forward to welcoming competitors and their families from across the globe.”

Racing begins on Sunday, August 9, with competitors battling it out on Belfast Lough, between the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club and Grey Point.

Over the course of the week, the world’s best GP14 sailors will compete for one of the class’ most prestigious titles, while enjoying a full programme of social events ashore.