GP SAILS UK LTD

Colvin Genoa

Will miss this race this year , but a sensible decision I guess .

ECPR 2021 CANCELLED

After careful deliberation Marconi Sailing Club have made the unfortunate decision that the East Coast Piers Race event will not run in 2021.

While we appreciate this will be disappointing for you as a competitor we must treat your safety across the 50 mile course as our ultimate priority.

As you would expect the club has not yet opened this year and our members are still yet to visit the club site. We line the course with mother boats (club yachts) at each mile to provide essential safety and a watchful eye over competitors as they travel to Walton and back. With the current lock down no activity to put moorings in, or to get yachts ready has been possible so far this year. On any ‘normal’ (remember normal?) year we are always working against the clock with last minute yacht launches to support the event. With the added pressure of the club being closed for 3 months we don’t feel we will be able to provide the cover we need to run a safe event.

We also have to consider the quality of the event, when you come to Marconi for an East Coast Piers Race you are guaranteed a fantastic weekend on and off the water with a bit of Neil Diamond thrown in for free.

At this stage we have no firm guarantee that we will be back to business as usual by July and don’t feel we can provide the event you would hope for and expect.

We hope you understand our decision (which was not an easy one) and we hope to see you back at Marconi Sailing Club for the 2022 ECPR weekend.

Being an event run for charity we are sad that we cannot support our charities again this year, if you would like to do so you can donate directly to the Cirdan Sailing Trust or Essex & Herts Air Ambulance.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors, the members of Marconi SC and the competitors for their continued support.

Stay safe everyone!

Andrew Dowley
ECPR Chairman

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I seam to be the only person left in the marina , and reflecting on the year at GP sails . We’ve been very fortunate to have stayed busy in this difficult year . I have lost some close friends this year which has been very tough. Lindsay as always has been amazing , always supporting me and helping run our business and being a tower of strength (and putting up with me) . Thanks to all my friends , family and customers for everything, this ends my 40th year of sailmaking , here’s to the next 40 , and let’s all work towards a much better year next year . Happy Christmas and new year to all . Grant