Please select your home edition
Edition
GJW Direct 2024 Dinghy

40th Bala Catamaran Open at Bala Sailing Club sponsored by GJW Direct

by John Tuckwell 7 May 2017 08:21 BST 29 April - 1 May 2017

The 40th Bala Catamaran open meeting took place over the May bank holiday weekend, 29th April - 1st May. A total of 17 boats entered, an increase of 6 boats, mainly due to the 4 boats which ventured across the welsh mountains from Tresaith Mariners Sailing Club. A very warm welcome was made to boats from Thorpe Bay, Minnis Bay, Datchet, Netley and Weston.

This year the event was being hosted by Bala Sailing Club who broke with tradition and agreed to run the event. This gave the competitors luxuries of changing rooms, catering and bar facilities - something which is not normally available.

The event started early on Friday with on the water training supplied by Paul Wakelin of Fluid Boat Service and organised by John Tuckwell. This was greatly appreciated with everyone involved coming away learning something new.

Saturday racing was dominated by local hero Simon Flack sailing with Ben Harris taking three 1st places in the 4 races. Behind him there was close racing between the two big Carbon 20s of John Tuckwell and Nick Elmore, Tuckwell posting a 2nd, 1st, 3rd and the lottery of the last race with an 11th. Racing was very close with race positions where separated by seconds. Further down the fleet it was good to see the two Unicorns of Steve Pooley and Richard Beke duking it out. Also the two Dart 18s of Barry Peters and Tom Parker broke with tradition and made the journey into the mountains to enjoy close racing.

On Saturday night the competitors enjoyed a hog roast courtesy of the event sponsor GJW Direct which was very well received after a long day on the water.

Sunday came and the forecast was true to its word with the wind swinging to the south and coming over the mountains along with gusts of 30+ knots. This was going to be a challenging day.

The big 20's decided to sit it out preferring watch from the shore. The rest of the fleet ventured into the maelstrom that the lake had become with violent gusts immediately next to patches of no wind. It was nearly un-sailable with only one race being held and won by the Weston boat of Chris King with Flack second and Pete Jones 3rd from Tresaith.

The third day arrived and the wind had moved more to the north and was now coming down the lake, although the strength had reduced meaning the 20's could get back on the water. The first race was won by Tuckwell from Flack in the F18 and Elmore in the other 20 coming in third. The final race was again won by Flack from Elmore and Chris King.

The final results saw Simon Flack and Ben Harris taking first from John Tuckwell and Olly Cornforth second and Nick Elmore and Andrew Wood third. The event was enjoyed by all those that attended with thanks to Bala Sailing Club who hosted a well-run event. GJW Direct were welcome sponsors of the event. Bala Sailing Club will be hosting a Grand Prix style event at the end of the May where dinghies and catamarans will race together.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoClassHelmCrewClubSCHRSR1R2R3R4R5R6R7Pts
1st1825F18Simon FLACKJenny HARRISBala Cat Club11‑211‑4216
2nd54NACRA 20 CARBONJohn TUCKWELL Bala Cat Club0.879213‑11(DNC)1411
3rd35NACRA 20 CARBONNick ELMOREAndrew WOODThorpe Bay YC0.879334‑5(DNC)3215
4th316NACRA INTER 20Chris KINGAl RISKWeston SC0.976‑72‑714316
5th750F18Mike CLEAVERAlex CLEAVERBala Cat Club146‑103‑75624
6th1024F18Liz KEMPTONAliceTresaith1‑7554‑66525
7th1085UNICORNSteve POOLEY Bala Cat Club1.175546‑105‑8828
8th1495F18Pete JONESFraser McNeemanTresaith1‑11‑99637732
9th482HURRICANE 5.9SXKevin SKINNERMandy COXMinnis Bay SC118101072(DNC)(DNC)1039
10th7347DART 18Barry PETERSCadan PEARCEDatchet1.2171212‑138211‑1345
11th7644DART 18Tom PARKERTom PARKERNetley SC1.2178‑13‑1299101248
12th358HURRICANE 5.9SXOwen COXOwen COXBala Cat Club1181388‑158‑151552
13th5NACRA 15Paul WAKELIN Mumbles YC19191111‑1311‑121153
14th75SHADOW XJohn HICKMAN Bala Cat Club1.113(DNC)(DNC)1512DNC9963
15th1072UNICORNRichard BEKE Queensmead SC1.175‑141414141013‑1665
16th2132DART 16Tiegan PEARCEEmma PEARCETMSC1.2961515‑1616(DNC)141474
17th387HURRICANE 5.9Suzanne ZWAANSIVIJKGareth THOMASTresaith119161617(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNC85

Related Articles

Sunreef 43M Eco
The biggest single-shot Hull Infusion Project in the world Sunreef Yachts is proud to announce a significant milestone in the construction of the Sunreef 43M Eco, set to become the world's largest eco electric catamaran. Posted on 8 Nov
14th Catamarans Cup Regatta concludes
This year's race welcomed over 280 participants from 18 countries, setting new attendance milestones The 14th Catamarans Cup International Sailing Race has come to a triumphant close, marking a record-breaking year for Greece's premier sailing event. Posted on 5 Nov
Lagoon Owners Rally New Zealand in November
This 40th anniversary event is open to all Lagoon owners On the occassion of Lagoon's 40th anniversary, our dealer in New Zealand 36 Degrees Brokers will organize a Lagoon Owners Rally event Posted on 1 Nov
"I'm sailing without stress"
Reefing by the numbers on Nautitech Cruising Catamaran As a guest on a Nautitech 44 Open, Managing Editor of Yachts and Yachting Online & Sail-World, Mark Jardine went for a cruise around Christchurch Bay to hear what wireless safety monitoring is bringing to cruising sailors aboard catamarans. Posted on 23 Oct
14th Catamarans Cup International Regatta preview
Making a strong return this year to celebrate its 14th anniversary in style The Catamarans Cup international sailing race for cruising catamarans will make a strong return this year to celebrate its 14th anniversary in style. Posted on 22 Oct
Savvy Navvy - making boating more accessible
I spoke to founder Jelte Liebrand about his background, philosophy, the app itself The rise of Savvy Navvy in the world of boating navigation has been spectacular, with over 2 million downloads of the app. Posted on 21 Oct
Construction commences on ASC57
The world's largest sailing catamaran superyacht Australia's custom superyacht builder Echo Yachts has commenced construction of their latest creation, the ASC57, at their superyacht building facility in the Australian Marine Complex, Western Australia. Posted on 18 Oct
Caribbean Multihull Challenge preview
An action-packed weekend full of entertainment and sailing-fueled events The highly anticipated Caribbean Multihull Challenge returns this year with an action-packed weekend full of entertainment and sailing-fueled events. Posted on 12 Oct
Evolution Marine announces the build of the EVO 60
A high-performance, luxury sailing catamaran under construction Evolution Marine Manufacturing, based in Cape Town, is proud to announce the construction of the EVO 60, a high-performance, luxury sailing catamaran. Posted on 11 Oct
Balance designs new models
VersaDrive Hybrid 502 CC and VersaDrive Hybrid 464 CC Balance is releasing two dynamic new models launching in 2025 and 2026 - available with either standard diesel engines or with the new VersaDrive diesel/electric hybrid propulsion system. Posted on 9 Oct