GP Watercraft report on a busy summer, including events in Long Beach, Warnemünde and Medemblik
by GP Watercraft Team 13 Aug 09:30 UTC
Bermudan sailor Adrianna Penruddocke and German sailor Julia Buesselberg at Long Beach © GP Watercraft
With the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, this summer has seen our sailors stepping up across multiple international regattas, gaining vital experience and delivering standout performances.
From Long Beach to Warnemünde and Medemblik, the journey is well under way, and the results speak volumes.
Olympic Classes Regatta at Long Beach
The ILCA North Americans in Long Beach offered a glimpse into the future, with racing held on the very waters that will host the 2028 Olympic sailing events. The venue delivered its signature building sea breeze, and sailors faced mixed conditions that demanded tactical precision and resilience. A fantastic result with two top-10 finishes across ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 fleets.
The July Olympic Classes Regatta added further prestige, attracting elite competitors including Bermudan sailor Adrianna Penruddocke and German sailor Julia Buesselberg. As a Grand Slam event, it provided a high-performance proving ground, with tight racing and strategic mastery on full display. These results mark a strong start to Olympic preparations, with sailors gaining valuable insight into the intensity and complexity of top-tier competition.
British Youth Sailing Team at EurILCA Europa Cup - Warnemünde
GP Watercraft proudly supported four U21 British Youth Sailing Team sailors- Hamish Collingridge, Alfie Noel, Robbie Phipps, and Sam Grayton at the EurILCA Europa Cup in Warnemünde, Germany. With over 100 ILCA competitors across ILCA 4, 6, and 7 fleets, the event delivered a full range of conditions, from light airs to strong Baltic winds.
As head coach of GP Watercraft Rory Wilson explained:
"The boys had just come from Kiel, where they were competing in Kiel Woche, into a hard week with shifty conditions. We chose this event as part of our lead-up to the U21 Worlds in Dublin later in August."
The team gained valuable international experience and continues to build momentum toward the U21 ILCA 7 World Championships.
GP Watercraft at the Topper Worlds - Medemblik
In Medemblik, Netherlands, GP Watercraft supported eight GBR sailors at the 2025 Topper World Championships across both the 5.3 and 4.2 fleets. With over 180 boats competing, the event showcased the depth of the international Topper fleet.
Conditions ranged from strong winds and thunderstorms during qualifying to lighter, shiftier breezes in the championship series. A standout performance came from Charlie Mackenzie, who finished 2nd overall in his first ever World Championship.
Reflecting on the experience, Charlie said:
"This was my first World Championship. It was a difficult week of racing, but I learned so much. The help from Rory and GP Watercraft made a big difference."
GP Watercraft's Shaun Priestley added:
It's an exciting time for GP Watercraft. We're right in the middle of a busy summer season, supporting everything from junior Topper events to the ILCA Olympic Circuit, as well as a full calendar of UK class activities. The variety and energy across these events really showcase what GP Watercraft is all about.
Find out more at www.gpwatercraft.co.uk