The Frensham GP fleet is one of the largest in the UK. Racing is well supported every weekend while a core of keen supporters trail their boats all over the UK on the open meeting circuit. Conversely there are plenty of owners who prefer not to race and instead enjoy a quiet sail on the pond.

As its name implies, the GP14 is a General Purpose 14ft (4.27m) sailing dinghy. It has 3 sails: a mainsail, either a large, overlapping foresail (called a 'Genoa') or a smaller jib and a traditional symmetrical spinnaker set on a spinnaker pole. It offers great racing but is also well suited for cruising under sail or with a small outboard motor clamped to the stern. Nominally for two people, it can carry three in comfort and with just the mainsail set it can also be sailed single-handed. It is therefore difficult to find a more versatile family boat.

Originally designed by Jack Holt in 1949 the class has its origins in Wales (its sail emblem is the legendary Bell of Aberdovey). Over the years the class association has adapted to the times. Construction materials have moved from the original wood and marine ply, through traditional glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) to the latest foam reinforced plastic (FRP) designs which offer superb stiffness and durability. It is also possible to have wooden decks on a plastic hull to achieve the beauty of a wooden boat with the low-maintenance offered by fibreglass. In recent years a Series II design has emerged with a double bottom that comes upright almost empty after a capsize.

• Length: 4.27m
• Beam: 1.54m
• Weight: 133kg
• Sail area (main and genoa): 12.85m2
• Spinnaker: 8.4m2
• Optimum weight of helm and crew: 120-150kg
• PN: 1127

GP14 class website: www.gp14.org

Results

The results for the current GP14 racing series are available in the results section, previous results can be found in the results archive: GP14 RESULTS

Frensham Pond GP14 Fleet Captain

Contact: Paul Trubridge - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.