RS400 wins Bala

Cath James reports from the Easter bank holiday racing

The 23 dinghies that took part in the Bala Easter Regatta, sponsored by the Bala Adventure and Water Sports Centre, experienced such wild and windy conditions during the first two days that, by Sunday, the fleets were reduced to nine boats in the Fast Handicap series and three in the Slow Handicap series.

In the first Fast Handicap race, the Hornet of Andy Long and Mike McGarry was sailed faultlessly in the force 6 south-easterly and comfortably took first place. Behind them on the water and in second place was the RAFSA RS 400 of Steve Bales and Martin Hughes. David Evans, revelling in the conditions, took third place in his Blaze. Due to the extreme conditions, races 2 and 3 on Saturday were not sailed.

The four scheduled races took place on Sunday despite the continuing very strong winds. The racing was started promptly to avoid exhausting crews at the start line. The conditions were mastered best by Steve Bales and Martin Hughes in their RS 400, gaining three firsts and one second place, David Evans in his Blaze, taking one first and two second places, and John and Bernie Saunders in their Flying 15 with two third places. The RS400, with the lighter crew of Michael Allen and Joe Erskine, was sailed very skilfully in the slightly lighter winds of Sunday afternoon, thus improving their overall position.

The two races took place on Monday morning in a very light, fickle north-easterly. The first race was won by John and Maggie Eaton in their Flying 15. Steve Bales and Martin Hughes remained consistent in these very contrasting conditions to gain two third places and first place overall. David Evans, using a loaned rudder, was less successful in the lighter conditions but gained second place overall. Michael Allen and Joe Erskine in their RS 400 won the final race after a terrific port flyer to gain third overall.

In the Slow Handicap fleet the main contenders were Richard Anderton and Lyndi Jones in their Laser Fun and Jez Plested in his Laser. These two boats experienced very close racing all weekend. The trapezing Laser Fun had the advantage in the stronger winds and tighter courses and Jez Plested won in the lighter conditions, with broader reaches. Jez took four firsts and three seconds to win the series, while Richard and Lyndi took three firsts and three seconds, thus ending up one point behind the winner to take second place.

Results
Fast Handicap
1. Steve Bales and Martin Hughes, RS 400, RAFSA
2. David Evans, Blaze, Calshot
3. Michael Allen and Joe Erskine, RS 400, Leigh & Lowton
4. Dave Wall, Blaze, Bala
5. Gary Darch, Blaze, Bala

Slow Handicap
1. Jez Plested, Laser, Budworth
2. Richard Anderton and Lyndi Jones, Laser