International Moth Grand Prix at Bala Sailing Club

International Moths at Bala © John Hunter

A small and diverse fleet of sailors from as far afield as Paignton and Loch Lomond were greeted by the sight of the lake enveloped in low cloud with no wind. After an hour postponement the first race got underway in light winds and rain, with four races to be sailed back to back.

The first race was won by local sailor Chris Grube just back from Rio, followed by Katie Hughes from Loch Lomond. By the start of the second race the rain had cleared and the wind had increased slightly. Once again Chris took first place but was only just ahead of Chris Tilbrook. Unfortunately for Chris...well, you can read more about that, below.

All the Moths were foiling for the start of the third race. There was some amusement on the committee boat when John Edwards approaching the leeward mark decided not to gybe but to divert and sail around the back of the committee boat before then rounding the leeward mark. The race was again won by Chris Grube with Chris Tilbrook again second but now well back.

The fourth and last race was started in lighter winds. At the start there was much verbal encouragement being given to those Moths that were reluctant to foil. Once again the two Chris's finished at the top of the fleet, with Chris Grube being the overnight winner.

Sunday morning turned out to be similar to the Saturday – with low cloud and no wind. With the wind forecast to not arrive until the afternoon and then to be less than there had been during the Saturday, racing for the day was abandoned with the Saturday's results being final with local sailor Chris Grube being the winner.

International Moths at Bala - photo © John Hunter

Overall Results:

A personal report from Chris Tilbrook

Moths travelled from as far away as Loch Lomond and Paignton for the final moth GP at Bala sailing club. For a while it did not look as though we would be getting any racing in; boats were rigged all the same with the view of a low-riding race!

It wasn't long before things started to look promising, so Katie Hughes is launched first to scout things out and gracefully foils off on basically a bird fart. Chris Grube was also keen to get out, and it wasn't long before he to was up and foiling. The rest of us launch and head down to the start area, on approach to the start I hear a tearing sound, I start to panic looking around. Was that me? I couldn't see anything obvious, maybe I put the wife's underwear on by mistake, it was a bit dark when I got dressed this morning, and perhaps they were giving way under the strain.

First sound signal goes, so we start to line up. Pre-start manoeuvre goes wrong for me leaving me on the ground while Grube, Hughes and Greaves shot off up the beat. Finally I'm up on the foils and give chase. Edwards finally makes an appearance and gives chase. Around the top mark Grube is quick to draw out a lead followed by Hughes, Greaves and myself.

Edwards has a fair amount to do in this race to catch up. On the following beat Grube has got the lead he needs to finish the job; I meanwhile have noticed a problem, the tearing sound was not what I first thought, my starboard tramp has a sizeable tear and its spreading, oh crap! I carefully sneak past Greaves and Hughes and make my way to the bottom mark. Grube takes first, I'm in second, Hughes, Geaves and Edwards.

Things are a bit more in order for the second start, with Edwards hitting the line at speed spot on time as he fired his way upwind, followed by Grube and myself. I manage to get a bit of speed on and draw out a good lead on Grube; but I have to take care on the tacks not to make that tear any bigger. At the windward mark its me around first, chased by Grube and then its Hughes that has got herself into third place despite the speedy and timely start of Edwards. There was a bit of snakes and ladders going on between Hughes and Edwards with several place changes. Final approach to the top mark and after a few dodgy tacks I have been reeled in by Grube, I had one more tack to do but a combination of light air, and me falling through the hole meant it was all over and Grube takes a second win, with me second, Edwards, Hughes and Greaves.

Straight into race three and Grube starts to pull out. I try to go above, but Grube is keeping an eye in the mirror and points as hard as he can. I free off to shoot under to get some speed, but its time to tack and I have now got a rip across the whole of the wing. Its really tricky to get across to the outer bar, meanwhile Hughes is having a bit of fun with the lads. I can see both of the ninjas are close to each other and Greaves is also hanging on in. Grube is around the top mark and heading down wind, every tack is costly for me and I'm loosing out a lot of distance. Looking back I see that Greaves has pulled up and looks like he sits in third for a while. After another lap it looks like Hughes is back in third, Edwards is on her tail, I think Greaves has gone for a swim as he seems to have dropped back. Grube presses on over the finish, lapping the others. Hughes is third then Edwards, Greaves followed up by myself for second again!

No sooner over the finish line, the horn goes and we are in the sequence. PRO Ken Hutt decided to make some changes to the instructions so we ditched the spreader to make mark moving quicker and its 321 go to prevent anyone from having a nap. Another good start with everyone there or thereabouts. The breeze is holding good at around 13knts with a bit more in the gusts. Grube shoots of to the top mark, followed up by myself and the rest of the fleet. The two ninjas continue to fight out for third overall; Greaves also coming into the mix. Chris Grube puts in another consistent performance and again grabs his fourth bullet of the day, then its me. This time Edwards has escaped from Hughes to get third, then Hughes and Greaves.

This concludes racing for the day. Race officials did a great job, four races in just under three hours. Most of us head in Edwards stays out for a play and is joined by Paul Hignet in Katie's Ninja.

While I crack on with some sewing, the other competitors retire to the bar for some drinks. Later we head into Bala for our evening meal and more drinks. For myself this was a good opportunity to meet some different people in the fleet, a great evening was had by all. Most of us call it a night and retire to our rooms and tent, well almost all of us. Mark ends up finding himself in a Welsh lock in and parties hard until around 2am with some of the locals.

Sunday morning is a very still and misty start, it is not looking to hopeful. So on goes the coffee and bacon and we eat and drink whilst waiting for the breeze. A very overhung Mark turns up looking a little worse for wear, we wait for an hour and decide to call it a day. After a quick prize giving it was all over. Some of us went for a walk and bike ride as the day was so nice before the long drive home.

Well done to Chris Grube for a straight flush and taking the win for Bala. Thanks to Ken Hull and all the volunteers that helped to give us a great day's racing. We enjoyed lake Bala and your clubs hospitality.

This event concludes the UK GP Moth circuit, thanks to David Hivey for organising this years events, great job done. There is a one day race open for Moths being Held at Netley on the 29th Oct 11am start, please see Facebook and let them know if you wish to attend.

International Moths at Bala - photo © John Hunter