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The idea behind the design was to build a General
Purpose (GP) 14-foot dinghy which could be cruised,
raced and rowed equally well. It can also be powered
effectively by a small outboard motor. In the early
1990s a new internal layout was introduced in the
wooden and foam-reinforced plastic (FRP) boats (the
"Series 2"), with built-in underfloor buoyancy. This
was further modified over the following years, led
by boat builders Alistair Duffin, who builds in
wood, and Holt Allen, now Speed Sails Ltd, who
manufacture in GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) and
FRP. New boats are currently available in wood, GRP
and FRP.
The most recent GP14
World Championships, held at Sligo, Ireland, in
July/August 2006, attracted an entry of over 110
boats. The 2008 World Championships are due to be
held in the UK.
People often wonder
why the class symbol is a bell. This is alleged to
be because the boat's designer, Jack Holt, designed
it whilst in Aberdyfi, Wales, and it is a reference
to the legendary bells of Cantre'r Gwaelod. A more
likely explanation, however, is that it relates to
the original manufacturer, Bell Woodworking, who
also produced the Bell Seagull and Seamaster cruisers.
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