2019 RACING PROGRAMME: LATEST EVENT Bala Sailing Club again hospitably hosted Catapult for the Bala Gala, July combining the series of fun races (on Friday) with the 2019 Nationals (held over from the blown-off Bridlington contest.)

 The looming high-pressure over the UK gave light ENE breezes through the weekend, able to provide good racing (but dying to nothing for a half-hour in the final race!)

The Nationals were fought to the last race; from a fleet of nine, six different helms had a first or second place, and the three leaders had two firsts each. Gareth Ede avoided any bad result, to take the 2019 title by three points from John Terry. (Report to follow)

The Nationals count for the TT, and so Gareth keeps a very firm control of the TT Leaderboard.

On Handicap, Chris Upton was a clear winner, showing that the older TI rig can be made to go.

The Bala Fun Races went off smoothly and (for fun races) intensely, completing the Pairs Race (with pairs balanced by personal handicap, the higher handicap required to finish first) the Pursuit Race (with three staggered starts, from personal handicaps) and the Relay (with on-water transfer of "batons" i.e. footballs) (Report to follow.)

(Below: drone's-eye view of Bala SC rigging and launching areas)

RECENT EVENT The  2019 racing programme returned to Yorkshire Dales SC  up on the Grimwith Reservoir in the Dales, for a TT weekend, 8th-9th June The tail end of Storm Miguel made for survival conditions in the first race but fortunately the wind abated bit by bit over the rest of the weekend, and the sailing was conducted in a stiff Force 4 for some exciting but manageable racing. (Report)

The windy conditions clearly suited Mike Gough who was the clear winner on handicap with 4 firsts and 2 seconds. This boosted him from 4th to the top of the Handicap Series leader board, so he will be flying the Magenta Pennant at our next event at Bala. He displaced Chris Phillips, who has twice topped the table this season, but who was away sailing in Scotland so had to counting several DNCs. Syd Gage has had an equally meteoric rise up the Leader Board from 6th to 2nd thanks to his 2nd place at Yorkshire Dales with a couple of firsts and a second in his scoreline.

John Terry had enough good results in hand to retain 2nd place, despite his absence abroad, and Stuart Ede is still hanging onto 3rd place, though Mike Gough has now moved up into 4th place to challenge him.

(Below: Fast sailing-Mike Gough chases Stuart Ede across a cold and windy Grimwith Reservoir, Saturday.)

RECENT EVENTS Before that Catapult had its real sea sailing at  Bridlington for the Nationals on 25th-27th May, but fate intervened. Saturday's light breezes were character-building and allowed two races, with Gareth Ede coming through for two wins (and a good second place for Syd Gage.) The hoped-for breeze arrived next day, but was gusting 6-7, with no boats making it to the water. The strong wind continued on Bank Holiday Monday to blow racing away again. (Results and Report)

With only two races completed, the Nationals were held over to Bala, on 12th- 14th July (above.)

NEXT EVENT  We are joining the Cat Open at Felixstowe Ferry SC July 27th-28th, a new venue for Catapult, and adding a further sea venue.

EVENTS TO COME  

Carsington is back as a favourite, and we will be on the Blackwater again for a TT during Stone week in early August, and rounding the season off again at the Grafham Cat Open. There are new venues, going for a TT as part of Felixstowe Ferry SC Cat Open in July and returning to Bewl in Kent.

SECOND 2019 TT Catapult returned again to Bassenthwaite as a favourite venue, for the early May Bank Holiday. The looming peak of Skiddaw had a light snow dusting, confirming  the cold northerlies expected, but the forecast light winds swung NE and strengthend each day, to give excellent racing. The club was again very welcoming, and the ROs set the traditional Bass complex courses, with X's or Ws, with up to six legs, and more than one beat.

The clear leaders were again Gareth Ede and John Terry, although pushed at times (and with Stuart Ede scoring one runaway win.) Stuart was a clear Handicap winner, but Damien Cooney scored two handicap firsts in the four races he competed in. (Results and Report)

FIRST 2019 EVENT, RUTLAND: 13th-14th APRIL

 The Catapult fleet launched the 2019 season by heading again to Rutland Water April  13th-14th, racing in the Cat Open on Satuday (with the Shearwater fleet) and joining the club fleet for their "Big Pond" series at the wide dam end of the Rutland Water. Brisk easterlies gave bracing sailing, with sunshine to ease the chill on Sunday. Although Chris Phillips began the season with impressive new speed, Gareth Ede and John Terry re-established their battle at the front of the fleet, flying upwind on the trapeze, for a comfortable split from the rest. On Handicap, Chris easily dominated, counting 5 straight wins (Results and Report)

 DIY CATAPULT HULLS! Germany-based Catapult owner Volker Lehleitner, faced with the challenges of getting new hulls, went ahead and made his own. He was able to get a job lot of Hypalon, and built the hulls to a high standard, as thephotos here show.

  DVDs FROM CATAPULT EVENTS; LIST AVAILABLE Syd Gage has worked on the output from his and George's on-board cameras (photo further below) to produce great videos of Catapult action, including a season roundup. The list and details are here

               HYPALON  TUBE REPAIRS Puncture? Leaky tubes? Seams coming unstuck? End caps need replacing?
Paul Stubbins offers a high quality professional repair service. Paul, now working as a sole trader (with therefore no VAT to pay!), has many years experience working for RIB manufacturers.Paul offers a nationwide service from his base in Hull.
 Have a word with Class Secretary, Stuart Ede, to see if he can arrange for pick up and delivery through the membership network to save on transport costs.
Contact Paul at paulstubbins23@gmail.com or on 07429 754392.

 (Below: Tight racing in the 2018 Nationals after the short first beat, Saturday, with Nationals winner Gareth Ede leading again. Photo BSC Rib with thanks.)

SPARES AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS Through the generosity of past Catapult sailor Admiral Sir Robert Hill and previous Secretary John Peperell, the Association has a good supply of spares to keep the fleet afloat in cases of breakage or damage.  John Terry manages the store: list of spares here and guidelines on availablity here
 
(Below: the fleet at Bassenthwaite streams across  in front of Scafell, in Saturday sunshine. (Photo BSC RIB, with thanks)

   NEW REPAIR ADVICE Syd Gage has added to his stream of practical advice and detailed instructions with a new article on DIY Puncture-free PU-foam-filled Tyres The article here shows what to buy, and Syd’s excellent photos and instructions (and personal setbacks) show how to change the steel roller bearings to nylon ones (more suitable for water immersion).  Many more are  here, the latest on  Repairing frame bolts  beam repairs, mast buoyancy, and halyard options.  
 
 (Below: Syd Gage's camera mounting, picking up the opposition ahead as he concentrates on catching them.) (Photo Paul Hargreaves with thanks.)

CATAPULT CRUISING  Justin (below) uses Catapult's shroud adjustment to dip the mast and negotiate the New Cut bridge between the Waveney and Yare rivers on the Norfolk Broads: more ) Get in touch with Alastair (at alastairforrest@hotmail.com ) with cruising plans or reports to add to the Cruising write-ups (and see his recent tidal Thames cruise.)

   
Jon Montgomery: Designer of Catapult: 22nd February 1935 - 9th June 2009.

 A tribute to Jon here.