There was a bit of everything wind and weather-wise for the 45 entries in this year’s Easter Regatta at Bala SC. On the Saturday the Duty Officers did well to get in one race in the very light fluky airs, which tested the competitors’ patience and sailing skills, before the wind died away completely. Sunday dawned sunny with a brisk westerly wind coming over the hills, causing accidentally tacking/ gybing gusts and deceptive lulls, but also some exciting reaches.
The weather was atrocious on the Monday with strong gusty southwesterly winds blowing straight down the lake, accompanied with driving rain. This deterred all but the most brave/foolhardy/skilled (delete as appropriate) competitors from venturing out, but those few provided the spectators with some spectacular boat handling and capsizes. These last races had a significant effect on the overall results.
The three fleets – Fast and Slow Handicap and Asymmetric – had four races on Sunday to make up for the day before. The fleets also had races within races: the Flying Dutchmen and Phantoms in the Fast, the 49ers, RS 400s, RS200s and Vortexes in the Asymmetric and the Solos along with the juniors in Toppers in the Slow.
In the Fast Handicap, the Fireball of Andy Brittain and Keith McDonald from Blithfield, eventually came between the FDs of Toby Barsley Dale and Gareth Russell from Paxton Lakes, who were the overall winners, and Strangler and Alex Rogers from Rutland who were third.
Wil and Wendy Hitchman took first place in the Asymmetric fleet with the Vortex of Phil Whitehead in second place and the 49er of Chris Pickles and Mat Sharman in third.
The two Solos of Richie Allen of Bala and Simon Molynoux of Crosby had close racing, swapping places in the races and drawing level on points, but Richie won on count back. Aled Goddard of Bala sailed very well and was first in the Junior fleet with James Guinan, second, despite nearly disappearing down the River Dee just before the end of the last race.
Click here for the full results.
