38th Bala Catamaran Open

38th Bala Catamaran open © Jon Worthington

The 38th Bala catamaran open meeting was held over the May bank holiday weekend. A total of 14 boats came to the start line, all the visitors being F18's which allowed the 7 boats to have their own start. This was an impressive turnout given that the majority of the UK F18 fleet attends Carnac, which is always the same weekend. It was very pleasing to see 2 Irish boats that had ventured the channel crossing to enjoy the racing and club hospitality. Along side the F18 fleet there was the handicap fleet made up of 7 club boats.

Saturday was a classic case of snakes and ladders sailing with boats making a break only to be reeled back in by the rest of the fleet when the wind either dropped off or changed direction. In the F18 fleet the lucky ones where Jon Worthington and Seb Greber, long time supporters of the F18's and making a welcome return to the open meeting circuit, along with local sailors Simon Flack and Neil Green. Between them they won the first 3 races. Close on their heels was the first of the Irish boats Adrian Allen and Barry Swanston along with another local boat of John Tuckwell and Chelsea Furber. In the handicap fleet it was the local heros of Peter and James Findlay who won the first two races. Behind the Findlay's was close between the NACRA 20's of Steve Dickenson/ Pete Johnson and the Hurricane of Pete Dimblad and Charlotte Pearson. All agreed Saturday was a challenging days sailing but no one expected the conditions that was to be Sunday.

38th Bala Catamaran open - photo © Jon Worthington

Sunday came and so did the wind. The wind averaging 26 mph and gusts of 30.6 mph this was going to be challenging. In The F18's Worthington / Greber reveled in the conditions taking 3 firsts with Allen / Swanston taking 3 seconds. Flack and Green would have taken 3 thirds except for a capsize in the second race which allowed Tuckwell / Furber though. In the handicap fleet, the Findlay's ventured out in the first race posting a first but then decided to call it a day which left Dave Walker and Chris Cooke who had sat out the first day to take the remaining positions over Mark Lawrence and Glen Bissell in another NACRA 20. None of the handicap boats finished the final race of the day due to the extreme conditions.

Monday and it was Champaign sailing conditions with F3 to F4 winds and sunshine, Bala at it's best. In the F18s Worthington / Greber took first places in the remaining 2 races closely followed by Flack / Green and then Allen / Sawnston. This was the final finishing order. In the handicap the Findlay's ventured out for one race to secure the title and retired again to leave Walker / Cook to take second and Lawrence and Bissell to take third.

So the end to another catamaran classic that is always a well run event. The club was greatly appreciative of the travellers who'd made the effort to attend despite the grim weather forecast the week before. The club thanks the sponsors, GJW Direct for the liquid refreshments and to The Printing House and Julie Green from Hats make you cool for providing the prizes. Thanks especially go to all the club members who turned out in the bleak weather to provide breakfast, man rescue boats as well as the race officer and assistants for the racing.

Overall Results:

Formula 18 Results: