Bala Easter Regatta 2022
by John Hunter 27 Apr 2022 13:25 BST
16-17 April 2022
Following its cancellation last year, it was great to see 14 visitors on the foreshore for the start of this two day event. There were to be six races over the weekend with asymmetric and handicap starts.
In the asymmetric fleet there were 4 visiting Laser Vago XDs which had some exciting racing and showed the local Bala boat just how it should be done.
In the handicap fleet there were also 4 visiting Lightning 368s as the event was part of their Noble Marine traveller series. Once more the visitors showed Rob in his recently acquired boat just how it should be done. Saturday was a great fun day's sailing sunshine all day and relatively stable wind down the lake. Overnight it was very tight at the top in both fleets.
Sunday saw the wind more or less down the lake but it was now swinging and gusting much more. John Haywood the race officer having to move the windward mark and the committee boat start line between races. The wind was really fluky with gusts and holes making it a much more challenging days sailing for everyone. Multiple capsizes including that of the Flying Dutchman of Jon Williams. Both SB20s broached, Dave in his Solo broke his traveller, Ceri in his Lightning broke his mainsail clew and Martin in the Blaze broke his centreboard. A very exciting days sailing with everyone glad to get back on shore after the three back to back races.
Racing in the asymmetric fleet was very consistent for the top three places. Andy Couch (Blithfield SC) in the VX One having 5 firsts, local Commodore Mike Allen in the Nacra 17 having 4 seconds and then Lee Carter (Yorkshire Dales SC) in Vago XD with 3 thirds.
The handicap fleet results were also very tight at the top, there being a tie. The winner on count back was Dan Johnson (Weston SC) Fireball, then local Dan Partington in Devoti D Zero, James Wynn-Edwards (Bartley SC) Laser Radial and Simon Hopkins (Up River Yacht Club) Lightning 360.
Bala SC next open event will be the Cat Open 30th April - 2nd May.
Full results can be found at www.sailwave.com/results/BalaSC