Bala Long Distance Handicap Race
by Ken Hull 1 Jul 2013 13:53 BST
29 June 2013
Thirty-eight boats made it to the start for the Bala Long Distance Handicap Race which covers the full length of the lake and takes approximately 3 hours to do a couple of laps.
The race officer set the first windward mark on the right hand side of the lake, as the wind was forecast to move right during the day, & then brought the fleet back downwind to a mark on the left before beginning their long journey to the far end of the lake, & then back to the leeward mark.
The race started well in a 15mph south westerly, with no premature starters & the international canoe of Gareth Caldwell soon established an early lead which he managed to retain for the full race. Behind him came the flying fifteen of locals Ken Hull & Sarah Williams, but they were then overhauled by the faster Javelins, Flying Dutchman & Fireballs.
The predicted wind shift to the right never materialised & it actually shifted to the left which caught several out during the second beat down the lake.
The race officer made a good decision finishing the race after 2 laps which worked out as a 3 hour race for the bulk of the fleet.
When the handicaps were calculated Gareth Caldwell of Blithfield, in his International Canoe won the event overall, with Ken Hull & Sarah Williams of Bala in a Flying Fifteen in second place, and Louis Saunders & Neil Read, of Combes in a Javelin in third place.
Go to www.balasc.org.uk/ResultsReports/Results13/LongDist.html for a full list of results.
On Sunday a mini long distance event using half of the lake was scheduled but unfortunately this had to be abandoned just before the start due to very strong winds.