Progressive Credit Union GP14 World Championship 2022 at Skerries Sailing Club - Day 5

Thursday dawned with well over a hundred pairs of fingers crossed. Racing lost on Wednesday meant with only 3 races completed the PRO was under pressure. An Thursday morning didnt disappoint. With breeze from south or south west and steady things looked good from the start. The changed direction also provided a flat sea which was another pleasure for the sailors after Tuesday confused seas state.

Race 1 got off on time, with a beautiful 12 knot breeze. From the get go Ger Owens was to the fore on the left side. Others showing early were Jane Kearney, Peter Boyle with Ian Dobson and Matt Mee not far away. Curly Morris had a cracking start and was probably in top 10 as they neared the weather mark. By the time they reached the gybe mark, Ger Owens had three or four boat length lead from Matt Mee with Neil Marsden now up in contention.

This quartet then battled it to the finish. With a tacking duel all the way up the last leg between Ger Owens and Matt Mee with Ger Owens just holding on to take the gun. A similar battle was ensuing behind with Neil Marsden just pipping Ian Dobson for the third spot. Nick Devereux in fifth with one of the older boats 12654. The next best Irish boat was Ross Kearney in eighth and Adrian Lee in tenth. Colman Grimes the leading Irish boat in the event coming in 18th. Silver fleet leader Conor Twohig added another strong finish when he came across the line in 24th.

Race 2 got under way with the breeze freshening up to 14knots. The Pathfinder for this race was Youghal's Adrian Lee. First to show were Matt Mee, Colman Grimes, Hugh Gill, all gone early out of the gate and started up left. At the weather mark it was Matt Mee followed a few boat lengths by Ruan O'Tiarnaigh, Ian Dobson and Hugh Gill. As the wind increased Matt Mee had extended his lead over Ruan O Tiarnaigh second and Hugh Gill in third at the gybe mark. The reaching legs were super fast, with a few capsizes through the fleet including Ger Owens winner of the first race of the day.

By the end of the sausage, Matt Mee had extended his lead quite considerably Ruan O'Tiarnaigh was still holding onto second but Colman Grimes had made huge inroads and now putting Ian Dobson under pressure for third on the water. Hugh Gill was in fifth with Jane Kearney up into eighth spot. Ger Owens showed how to recover from a capsize and was back up into 13th spot.

Matt Mee took the gun under no pressure. However a thrilling finish was unfolding with local sailor and event coordinator Colman Grimes just taking 2nd from Ian Dobson on the line. Hugh Gill made another good Irish finish with fourth, John Hayes fifth and Ruan O Tiarnaigh in sixth, Nick Devereux seventh, Jane Kearney eighth and Peter Boyle in ninth.

Progressive Credit Union GP14 Worlds 2022 day 5 - photo © Bob Given Photography

Having lost three race days, PRO Bill O'Hara had scheduled three races to try and catch up. A third race on Thursday meant two races on Friday would give him eight races and the fleet would have two discards.

Race 3 got under way with Pathfinder Graham Flynn leading around the weather mark. Followed by Tim Jones, Jane Kearney, Alan Blay. Ian Dobso and Peter Boyle. At this stage leading Irish contender Colman Grimes was in 15th just behind Matt Mee the event leader.

Wind was still 15 to 18 knots but with a grey sky and some rain. The reaches were again fast with a few capsizes through the fleet. At the top mark second time around Jane Kearney (RNIYC) had moved into the lead from Alan Blay with a small gap to Ian Dobson in third. Matt Mee had recovered somewhat and was now up into sixth with Peter Boyle seventh and Colman Grimes up to tenth. The local man is having a storming event in all respects.

Showing his class under pressure, Ian Dobson worked himself into contention with a couple of hundred meters to the finish. Tack for tack he diced with Alan Blay with Ian Dobson taking the gun by less than a boat length. Jane Kearney finished a superb day by holding off the title contender Matt Mee. Peter Boyle took tenth and will be pathfinder for Race 7 on Friday morning. Leading Irish contender Colman Grimes finished eleventh.

A great days racing, meant the event was very much back on track and with no clear leader, Fridays racing will be intense. Ian Dobson leads Matt Mee by 2 points with Nick Craig and Colman Grimes battling for third spot. Beyond Colman, Hugh Gill is the next Irish boat in ninth with Ger Owens in tenth.

Conor Twohig retains his lead in Silver Fleet ahead of Ciaran Keogh and Skerries sailor Doire Shiels in third. In Bronze fleet Conor Byrne leads Frankie Browne and Meg Tyrrell.

Progressive Credit Union GP14 Worlds 2022 day 5 - photo © Bob Given Photography

Gold Fleet Results after day 5:

Silver Fleet Results after day 5:

Bronze Fleet Results after day 5: