GP14
3 Seasons
With recent developments and the continued backing of an active class association, the GP14 remains one of the UK’s most popular sailing dinghies for close, competitive tactical fleet racing.
The GP14 is used for all levels of sailing, from training beginners through club racing to competing at regional, national and world events. As a relatively stable boat it is ideal to learn to sail in and is sailed by people of all ages and abilities. For competitive racing there is a wide tolerance of all-up crew weight.
Originally designed by Jack Holt in 1949, the GP14 is easily recognised by the distinctive bell on the mainsail. This is thought to be either a reference to the legendary bells of Aberdyfi, North Wales, where Jack Holt is alleged to have designed the GP14 or, perhaps more likely, it relates to the original manufacturer Bell Woodworking.
The idea behind the design was to build a general purpose (GP), 14-foot dinghy which could be raced, cruised, rowed or to which you could even attach an outboard motor if you wanted to! Nowadays, you are most likely to see the GP14 being used to race competitively, training people to sail or occasionally just enjoying a casual cruise around a lake, estuary or coastline.
The boat was initially designed with a mainsail and small jib as a comfortable family dinghy. The jib is still available, and it can be particularly useful when using the boat to teach sailing or for lighter crew weights, but these days the GP14 is more commonly seen with the full rig of mainsail, genoa and spinnaker.
In the early 1990s a new internal layout was introduced, with built-in underfloor buoyancy. One of the great benefits that this introduced is that following a capsize the boat comes up with very little water in it. This has been further modified in the following years, led by boat builders Alistair Duffin, who builds in wood, and Speed Sails, who manufactured in glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) and fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP).
-
09:32Episode 1
John Merricks Tiger Trophy 2016
Episode 1
The Rutland Challenge for the John Merricks Tiger Trophy 2016. Storms Imogen and Henry arrived in the UK for the weekend of the iconic Tiger Trophy - chaotic weather conditions for over 150 sailors with epic footage of extreme sailing at its best. The 420 youth duo Robbie King and Marcus Tressler...
-
01:56Episode 2
GP14 World Champs 2016 - Practice Day
Episode 2
Team Devereux 'don' the VRsport.tv headcams in Barbados for the 2016 GP14 World Championships. Nick and Ellie will be filming their amazing two weeks regatta for VR Sport Media whilst testing kit for NeilPryde Sailing - not a bad life!
Video Producer: Nick & Ellie Devereux (VR Sport Media)
-
01:29Episode 3
GP14 World Champs 2016 - Boat Prep Time
Episode 3
Nick and Ellie Devereux VLOG for VRsport.tv at the 2016 GP14 World Championships in Barbados. Time for boat prep before the start of the regatta and a guided tour around the Barbados Yacht Club!
Video Producer: Nick & Ellie Devereux (VR Sport Media)
-
03:29Episode 4
GP14 World Champs 2016 - Race 2 and 3
Episode 4
Nick and Ellie Devereux VLOG for VRsport.tv at the 2016 GP14 World Championships in Barbados. Race Two and Three at Barbados Yacht Club!
Video Producer: Nick & Ellie Devereux (VR Sport Media)
-
04:18Episode 5
GP14 World Champs 2016 - Wrap Up
Episode 5
Nick and Ellie Devereux VLOG for VRsport.tv at the 2016 GP14 World Championships in Barbados. Wrap up of the Worlds with a few guest appearances from Neal Gibson and Geoff Phillips at Barbados Yacht Club!
Video Producer: Nick & Ellie Devereux (VR Sport Media)
-
2016 GP14 World Championships Official Video
Episode 6
Drone and in-race headcam footage from the 2016 GP14 World Championships in Barbados. Including footage from VR Sport Media and Barbados Tourism
Video Producer: Michelle Evans (GP14 Class Association)
-
05:58Episode 7
Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash 2016
Episode 7
The Draycote Dash is the start of the UK's Sailjuice.com Winter Series hosted by Draycote Sailing Club over two days. Craig Williamson in his Laser, won the Dash Pursuit with the GP14 duo, Fergus Barnham and Andy Hunter, second to mirror the over night leader board. Peter Gray and Andy Davis (Sco...