Bala Sailing Club August Regatta 2025
by Mike Allen 1 Sep 06:18 BST
23-25 August 2025
Bala Sailing Club was delighted to welcome 23 visiting boats for its annual August Regatta along with 24 club boats, held over the August bank holiday weekend.
This year's event included the K1 Open Meeting and the Vareo Inland Championships, adding extra excitement to the busy three-day programme.
Day 1 - Light Winds and a Leisurely Start
Racing got under way on Saturday with the first start at 1pm. A gentle south-westerly breeze just held long enough to complete Race 1. The regatta featured five fleets: K1s, Vareos, Handicaps, Juniors, and Asymmetrics, each with separate starts.
Unfortunately, the wind disappeared after the opening race, and Race Officer Mike Baldwin made the call to send everyone ashore. The early finish meant crews could enjoy an early dinner and take advantage of the club's famously affordable beer!
Day 2 - Patience Rewarded
Sunday's forecast had promised improvement, but conditions remained calm through the morning. With patience and a watchful eye on the breeze, the RO postponed the start, waiting for the light south-westerly to fill in.
By around 1pm, the wind arrived, allowing three back-to-back races (Races 2, 3 and 4) to be held in a steady Force 2. All fleets enjoyed good racing conditions and some close competition on the water.
Day 3 - A Wild Finish
Monday brought a very different challenge. The forecasted 10-30mph southerly wind, gradually swinging south-westerly, came true with punchy gusts testing sailors and kit alike.
Races 5 and 6 delivered exciting, high-energy sailing, with plenty of thrills and a few spills across the fleets. A potential third race had been on the cards, but with gusts hitting 30mph, the decision was made to end on a high note. Competitors were more than happy to wrap up after two action-packed races.
A big thank you to all our visitors, volunteers, and especially to RO Mike Baldwin and his team for running a superb regatta in varied conditions. Congratulations to all the competitors - we hope to see you again next year!
Overall Results:
K1 Open
1st - Richard Sims
2nd - Ian Duke
3rd - Jeremy Hudson
Vareo Inlands
1st - Luke Fisher
2nd - Christopher Abbott
3rd - Nick Crickmore
Handicap fleet
1st - Jess March, Topper
2nd - Josh Beardshaw, Supernova
3rd - Miles Thomas, Solo
Juniors
1st - Aiden Hughes, Topper
2nd - Charlie Partington, Topper
3rd - Fletcher Sheehy, Optimist
Asymmetric fleet
1st - Richard & Heather March, RS400
2nd - Mike & Rosie/Molly Allen, RS200
3rd - Joseph Spencer & Alex Hill, RS400
Full results can be found here.
Bala SC now look forward to hosting the Scorpion Open on 13/14th Sept and the Blaze Inland Championships on 27/28th Sept.