Bala Sailing Club Easter regatta

Cath James reports on the action

Bala Sailing Club attracted a fleet of 25 dinghies to their Easter Regatta, sponsored by Bala Adventure and Watersports Centre. We were particularly pleased to welcome our friends from the RAF Sailing Association who arrived with four RS 400’s.

On Saturday the northeast wind was very light, and in the first race the fast handicap boats were becalmed as they approached the leeward mark for the first time. Then a zephyr from behind lifted the slower handicapped boats, allowing them to catch up rapidly. This resulted in a bunched finish, with the last boat over the line, the Mirror of Tony Davies and Hannah/Sarah Davies, winning the race. The Solo’s of Graham Hughes and John Hunter gained second and third places. The second race was abandoned before the windward mark was reached, due to a lack of wind.

On Sunday the south westerly wind gradually increased in strength and maintained an ideal steady force 3 all day. In these superb trapezing conditions, the Fireball of Shane Carthy and Andy Davies, totally dominated the fleet to win all four races, staying ahead of the RS 400’s on the water. The International Canoe of G. Caldwell gained two second places while the RS 400’s of Steve and Bernice Bales and Andy Rodwell and Marty Owen-Hughes gained one second place each.

On Monday the two final races were held back-to-back in more fickle and lighter conditions than on Sunday. Despite these non-trapezing conditions, Shane Carthy and Andy Davies tuned their rig appropriately as they sailed to gain a first and second place, so taking first place overall. Steve and Bernice Bales also gained a first and second place, which gave them second place overall. Throughout the weekend, Dave and Kate Eccles sailed their Laser 2000 consistently fast, despite being in the middle of the fleet on the water and having to contend with a lot of ‘dirty’ wind. They gained five third places to take third place overall, one point behind the RS 400. Prizes were awarded down to ninth place.

Results
1. Shane Carthy and Andy Davies, Fireball, Bartley
2. Steve and Bernie Bales, RS 400, Bala
3. Dave and Kate Eccles, Laser 2000, Bala
4. Andy Rodwell and Marty Owen-Hughes, RS 400, RAFSA
5. John and Maggie Eaton, FF, Bala
6. G. Caldwell, Int Canoe, Blithfield