Laser 2000 Inland Championship at Bala Sailing Club

Laser 2000 Inlands at Bala © Paul Plested

Mike Hart and Sally Kilpatrick win the Laser 2000 Inlands at Bala © Kevin Guinan

The scenery around Bala Lake provided the spectacular backdrop for this weekend event which combined the National Inland Championships, Welsh National Championships, 7th Millennium Series, 4th and final EuroCup and 5th and final Caledonian Ring event.

Many competitors arrived during Friday (some very late having travelled from Germany) to partake of an evening BBQ and help deplete the bar stocks.

Despite a poor weather forecast 37 boats arrived from as far afield as Germany, The Isle of Man, Scotland and the South Coast. The wind built steadily during the morning and the fleet launched into a solid South / SSW giving shifty and gusty conditions. The Race Officer set a windward / leeward course with an offset finish and despite the shifting conditions the windward mark remained pretty true through all 3 races.

Race 1 saw the fleet away first time. Although George Thompson and Douglas Brand from West Lothian Yacht Club in 2086 made a perfectly timed start at the Committee boat end, Mike Hart and Sally Kilpatrick from Port Dinorwic in 21109 lead from start to finish. Local team Wil and Wendy Hitchman were chasing hard in 2nd place but were eventually overhauled by 21155 sailed by Bill and Charlotte Dawber from Dell Quay on the last lap to finish third. There was close racing throughout the fleet with plenty of place changing.

Race 2 - Again a well timed start by 2086 at the starboard end of the line, but others opted for the pin end, which proved to be the right choice in the oscillating wind. Early into the first beat the fleet had quickly spread out across the lake, with those working the shifts well starting to pull clear. By the leeward mark Simon Horsfield and Clive Grant from the Army Sailing Association had established at 100m lead. However, on the 2nd lap Hart / Kilpatrick had reeled them in, planing through to windward as they approached the leeward mark. Mike pulled away to win comfortably and with the Dawbers also pulling through to take 2nd at the finish the army boat was pushed into 3rd place. Again there were plenty of place changes throughout the fleet.

Race 3 – The fleet got away at the 2nd time of asking. Hart / Kilpatrick again lead from the start, posting their 3rd bullet of the day. The Dawbers also showed consistency with another 2nd place. This time 3rd place was taken by John and Sarah Haywood, another local team, who managed to keep the chasing Hitchmans at bay to the gun.

Dinner in the club followed by entertainment from Welsh band Dangerous Age meant a late night for some. Sunday dawned with rain and no wind. The Race Officer postponed the 10:30 scheduled start time before abandoning racing just before noon. Prize giving was followed by a complimentary afternoon tea after which competitors made an early start home. Thanks go to all at Bala SC who gave up time and effort before, during, and post event to support the Class and to our sponsors: Laser Performance, Noble Marine, Purple Marine Hyde and Saillaser who all contributed to this multi-event.

Overall Results: (top ten)

EuroCup Series Results:

1st Elizabeth & Tim Fillmore (Draycote Water SC)
2nd Iain & Sarah Yardley (Leigh & Lowton SC)
3rd Karl & Luke McCluskey / Aled Goddard (Nantwich & Border Counties SC)

Caledonian Ring Series Results:

1st Iain & Sarah Yardley (Leigh & Lowton SC)
2nd Dave & Kate Eccles (Bala SC)
3rd Robert McCulloch & various (Loch Venachar SC)