Melanie and Ger 2026 GP14 World Champions

Published 21:34 on 16 Aug 2026

Mel Morris of East Antrim Sailing Club and her helm, Ger Owens of Wicklow Sailing Club, have been crowned 2026 GP14 World Champions, leading Ireland to a remarkable one-two finish at the 90-boat championship on Belfast Lough.

For Mel, the victory marks a fantastic achievement on the world stage. The Irish pairing produced an exceptionally consistent performance across the eight-race series at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, finishing with a net score of just 14 points after two discards.

Their scoreline of 3, 2, 3, 1, 4, 5, 1, 8 included two race wins, a second place, two thirds and a fourth. Their eighth-place finish in the final race became their second discard, allowing them to secure the World Championship title by an impressive 11-point margin.

Mel and Ger had taken a commanding 24-point lead into the final day after winning Race Seven on Thursday.

The result capped an outstanding week for Irish GP14 sailing, with four Irish boats finishing inside the overall top ten.

For Mel Morris, representing East Antrim Sailing Club, becoming a GP14 World Champion on home waters in Belfast Lough makes the achievement all the more special.

Full story at afloat.ie

(Cover picture courtesy of afloat.ie)

Last updated 21:41 on 16 August 2026