Record-breaking day at Bala Sailing Club

Gwyn Evans of Bala (the only surviving founder member of Bala SC), Phil Smith, RYA Training Centre Principal and Chief instructor, Dave Eccles, Senior Racing Coach Kevin Guinan, Youth Squad Co-ordinator, Leah Collis, Onboard Community Development Officer © Hamish Stuart

A record sixty young sailors enjoyed the biggest ever youth racing circuit event held in North Wales, on the day the Bala club was presented with Volvo Champion Club and OnBoard status.

They even ran out of food at Bala Sailing Club because of the success of the Club Youth Racing Circuit event, aimed at giving less experienced sailors a chance to compete. It weas also the first such windsurfing event held in North Wales.

It underlined the success of the Bala sailing club to earn the two presentations, as they work hard to make the fantastic natural surrounding of their lake an even greater part of the community.

Welsh Sailing’s North Wales development officer Ruth Iliffe said, “This was a great success, almost double the numbers we have ever had turning up for a CYRC event in the past.

“The previous best was 37 two years ago, so congratulations to everyone involved for coping on a pretty hectic day. We will know to get more food next time because most of these sailors are now looking forward to the other events on the North Wales circuit this summer.

“It was great for Bala on the day they earned Volvo Champion Club and OnBoard status, it says a lot about them that it should all be on the same day.

It was very close racing throughout the day in shifting wind conditions, which meant it was very challenging for all levels of experience.

“Everyone hada great day – loads of racing and fun in the sunshine.”

Perhaps the event was best summed up by Holly Jones of Gresford who came third in the Optimist Training fleet in her first ever competitive event and after only finding out about it a few days before.

The Optimist Golf fleet was won by Dan Whiteley of Port Dinorwic, Harry Pulford of Llandudno won the Optimist training fleet.

Topper Gold fleet was won by Bala’s James Guinan, the general handicap by Robyn Cox of Holyhead and the windsurfer fleet by Zed Spencer-Milne of Shotwick Lake. The most improved sailor award went to Adrain Whiteley of Port Dinorwic.

The presentation as a Volvo Champion Club took place after the event, with Colin Knowlson from Slaters of Abergele making the award after he had spent much of the day out on the water watching the racing close up.

OnBoard Community Development Officer Leah Collis presented the club with the OnBoard plaque.

By officially becoming an RYA OnBoard training centre, Bala sailing club showed they have the facilities and safety standards in place to encourage youngsters in the area age 8-16, to enjoy the benefits of sailing and windsurfing.

It is a big step forward and recognition of the work which has been going on at Bala for more than 50 years, providing an opportunity to experience, learn and develop the skills under the umbrella of Welsh Sailing.

The combination of OnBoard and the Volvo Champion Club status shows that the Bala club is helping to run a new scheme to encourage young members of the community to try sailing and continue on a regular basis, along with a race training programme to encourage that development.

The OnBoard scheme is intended to develop social sailors as well as trying to find the next Ben Ainslie or Ellen MacArthur.

If you want to find out more about OnBoard then visit www.ruob.co.uk for more details about how you can get involved.