World Championship 2026 at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club - Day 5

The GP14 World Championships at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club in Holywood moved toward its final day on Friday, 14 August, with the title still within reach despite highly changeable conditions on Belfast Lough. After rain, strong shifting winds, fog and mist on day one, the fleet later faced sunshine, light breezes and near-calm racing. Thursday’s near-zero-air created drifting races across the bay until Race Six when a light breeze arrived—patchy and unpredictable—forcing competitors into rapid ranking shifts and limiting recovery as Race Six was cut to a single beat and run. Ger Owens and Mel Morris won again, taking a 24-point lead, while the standings still show Britain’s John Hayes and Joel James in second with a discardable 20th after the final race.