Family Week

Cath James reports from an action packed Bala

The rescheduled Bala Family Week, sponsored by Bala Adventure and Watersports Centre, attracted many more visitors than in previous years. Their verdict on their experience at the club, on and off the water, was very positive and, having thoroughly enjoyed themselves in the balmy summer weather, promised to return next year in greater numbers.

The entries comprised 15 fast handicap boats, eight slow handicap boats and 16 juniors and novices. Courses were set to accommodate the large range of classes, from the Topper to the Flying 15.

Two races a day were run, apart from Friday when there was no wind. On Wednesday the fleets raced the four and half miles to Llangower, when the leading Toppers and Picos beat the Committee boat to the finish. A picnic and a treasure hunt took place before the race back to the club.

The continuity of four days very competitive but fair racing provided a platform for the local junior members that reinforced the skills they had gained through the RYA ratified race training courses run at Bala S.C. this season.

In the Junior/Novices event, Chris Morgan from Aldridge S.C. sailed expertly during the week in his Topper to win four races and gain first place overall. Ed Whitehead of Bala Sailing Club won two races in his Pico to gain second place and Ryan Cockbill in a Topper took third place overall with four second places.

The Slow Handicap fleet winner was Ben Taylor of Bala in his Laser Radial, beating John Hunter in his Solo on countback. Andy Cockbill of Aldridge was third.

The Fast Handicap fleet was won by Ralph Jones of Bala in his Blaze as he gained four firsts. Dave and Kate Eccles of Bala sailed consistently throughout the week in their new Laser 2000 to win second place over John and Berni Saunders of Bala in their Flying 15 on countback.

In addition to the racing, everyone had great fun in a canoe tug-of-war, relay racing in canoes and Topper team racing as well as hill walking in Snowdonia National Park. Look out - white-water rafting may be on the agenda next year!

Results
Fast Handicap (Prizes were awarded down to eight places)
1. Ralph Jones, Blaze, Bala
2. Dave and Kate Eccles, Laser 2000, Bala
3. John and Berni Saunders, Flying 15, Bala
4. Dave Wall, Blaze, Bala
5. Mark Flynn and family, Flying 15, Grafham
6. Dave and Christine Henderson, Albacore, Bala
7. Gwil and Cath James, RS 200, Bala
8. Mike Perry and Wal Newton, Flying 15, Bala

Slow Handicap
1. Ben Taylor, Laser Radial, Bala
2. John Hunter, Solo, Bala
3. Andy Cockbill, Ent/Solo, Aldridge

Juniors and Novices (Prizes awarded to eight places)
1. Chris Morgan, Topper, Aldridge
2. Ed Whitehead, Pico, Bala
3. Ryan Cockbill, Topper, Aldridge
4. Ben Morgan, Topper, Aldridge
5. Ellie Lloyd, Topper, Bala
6. Sally Taylor, Pico, Bala
7. Tomos Lloyd, Laser Radial, Bala
8. Laura Bowler, Topper, Bala