GP14 Worlds at Beach Hotel Negombo, Sri Lanka - Overall
by Tom Mitchell 1 Mar 2011 08:04 GMT
20-25 February 2011
All good things must come to an end
As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and the 2011 GP14 World Championship concluded on Friday 25 February in amazing style. After the final two races were completed, the task of loading the containers for their return journey began. Spurred on by cold beers, the sailors managed to stow most of the boats before leaving to swap sailing gear for smart casual for the Closing Ceremony that evening.
Our Sri Lankan hosts had promised us another fabulous evening and provided a finale to the event that no one there will ever forget. The navy cultural dancers started the proceedings with traditional dances, forming a procession through the Jetwing Blue Hotel lobby and on to the beach and the waiting audience. A series of formal votes of thanks ensured that all those involved in sponsoring, organising and helping at the event were acknowledged. Jon Close, Vice President of the GP14 Association, made a formal address of thanks and in return received the Bell flag used to start the races as a memento of the Championship.
Further dancing and music interspersed the prize giving ceremony which recognised the achievements of the Bronze, Silver and Gold fleet sailors and ended with the presentation of the World Championship trophy to Ian Dobson and Andy Tunnicliffe to much acclaim. The dancers, accompanied by the navy band, performed a final dance, a fusion of traditional and modern dance based on a popular Sri Lankan song and the event flag was lowered by the youngest participant, Alex Chittenden.
As everyone stood for the Sri Lankan national anthem fireworks exploded in the black night sky and a special display behind the flag poles sparkled to spell out 2011 GP14 World Championship. What a wonderful show! The celebrations moved over to the beach bar and huge buffet with laughter ringing late into the night around the tables specially laid out on the beach, surrounded by lamps to provide a softly lit backdrop to a very special evening.
It is difficult to do justice to just how wonderful this event has been both on and off the water, but on behalf of all the competitors and everyone there I would like to say a heartfelt “thank you” to everyone that made it possible. Sri Lanka 2011 was fantastic!
Click here for overall results.