
The fun races are what made this year’s Bala Gala so memorable and
kept the 16 sailors smiling through a wet and windy middle day of
this three day event over the weekend of 25-27 July.
First off was the pairs race, where those who class themselves as
improvers were paired with expert racers. The purpose was to provide
on-the-water coaching, by stipulating that the expert had to finish
behind the improver. The remaining sailors were also paired up and
had to nominate which one of them had to finish first.
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Chris Phillips (sporting his Dacron roundhead sail) got off to
such a cracking start that he left Alastair Forrest
struggling to keep up. Alastair commented, “I just couldn’t
get close enough to give Chris the benefit of my expertise!”
Chris maintained his lead to the finish.
Second
was the pairing of returning prodigal Neal Graneau and
Justin Evans. Richard Peperell, protégé of the
Ede
family (with theory tuition from Stuart and on-the-water
coaching by Gareth), claimed third place.
Left: Chris Phillips concentrates on his win,
Alastair following up (photo Peter Forrest)
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The relay race the next day provided some major laughs. The four
teams were led by improvers whose team mates were drawn by lots.
Stuart Ede of Richard’s Rebels was first off – literally – when he
correctly worked out that three sound signals one minute apart meant
a two minute countdown sequence, not three minutes as the other
starters assumed. Stuart will be offering remedial maths classes at
the next event.
A very slick changeover between John and Richard Peperell sealed the
win for Richard’s Rebels. Meanwhile, a fluffed handover – several
times over! - between Justin Evans and Chris Phillips of Chris’s
Contenders allowed Tony Costall, Alastair Forrest and Paul Ellis of
Tony’s Tigers to claim second place.
The prize for synchronised
capsizing went to Malcolm’s Maulers, after Nigel Harrison and Neal Graneau attempted a risky high speed handover that saw Nigel flip,
taking Neal with him.
Right: Part of the Catapult fleet
and camp, Bala
(photo Nigel Harrison)
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An impromptu pairs race, where the pairings
were drawn entirely by lot and there was no prescribed finishing
order, saw Nigel Harrison and Stuart Ede snatch a win by the
narrowest of margins. Stuart had built up a long lead, but the
chasing pack were in hand-to-hand combat all the way round. Up the
last beat Justin Evans and Neal Graneau were in race winning 2nd
and 3rd places. However, as the gun went three times in
quick succession, George Evans just pipped Neal at the line, which
left the pair on equal points with Stuart and Nigel, who were able
to claim the win on tie break.
The
team race on the final day was an exciting affair made more
so by hull flying reaches and fierce regional rivalry. Paul
Ellis took the lead from Madcap Midlanders team mate Neal
Graneau on the second lap, giving their team a race-winning
advantage.
However,
Stuart Ede and George Evans of the Nutty Northerners
overtook Neal at the last windward mark, which was enough to
claim first prize by 12 points to 15. The Silly Southerners
led by Alastair Forrest came third just 3 points behind.
Right: Race briefing in the sunshine,
Saturday
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Travellers Trophy Races
The first TT race on Saturday saw Gareth Ede narrowly ahead of Paul
Ellis at the windward mark. Gareth lengthened his lead over the next
two laps, while behind Paul a close fought duel for third place was
won by Cliff Antill from Stuart Ede.
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Race 2, sailed in a Force 3, was almost a repeat of the
first race with Gareth first, Paul second and Cliff claiming
third after another hand-to-hand battle with Stuart.
Sunday brought Force 4 rising to Force 5 winds. The lead in
Race 3 was shared out fairly evenly over the first lap, but
on the beat of lap two Stuart Ede and Paul Ellis got ahead
by using the gusts to climb up to windward, while the others
went low for speed.
Stuart pulled away on the screaming reaches, while his son
Gareth hauled himself out of the chasing pack to challenge
Paul and grab second place on the line.
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(Above: Cliff
Antill and Dave Jennings head off from the start. Photo :Peter Forrest)
Paul Ellis got away from the fleet in Race 4, while behind the order
changed constantly. The final result was determined on the last beat
as the fleet struggled to stay upright through a blinding squall.
Cliff Antill claimed second place and George Evans third.
(Below:
Paul de-rigs after winning the curtailed race, as the rain and wind
sweep down the lake.)

The final outcome was decided by Race 5 on Monday, sailed in a gusty
Force 4. An over enthusiastic start by Paul Ellis and Alastair
Forrest left them in mid fleet, allowing Stuart Ede to lead at the
first windward mark. Downwind John Peperell and Nigel Harrison took
advantage of a prolonged gust to catch Stuart, while a late charge
by Paul Ellis enabled him to round inside at the leeward mark and
snatch the lead.
These four were still in close proximity, with the rest of the fleet
closing fast, as they approached the leeward mark on the last lap.
An involuntary gybe caused Stuart to clout the mark with his tiller
extension, which cost him a penalty turn, but he was back on John’s
and Nigel’s tails after a screaming reach. Stuart’s tack for the
left end of the line nearly caught out Paul, who came back to win by
a nose, but it did give Stuart second place ahead of Nigel and John.
Paul’s win assured his position as winner of the Bala TT, and
Stuart’s second in the last race lifted him to second overall ahead
his son Gareth, who had to miss the last day owing to work
commitments.
Travelling Trophy
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1st
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Paul Ellis
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Marconi
SC
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6 points
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2nd
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Stuart Ede
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Filey SC
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11
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3rd
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Gareth Ede
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Filey SC
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12
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4th
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Cliff Antill
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14
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5th
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George Evans
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Bala Cat Club
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17
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6th
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Alastair Forrest
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21
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7th
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Neal Graneau
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30
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8th
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Nigel Harrison
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31
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9th
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John Peperell
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37
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10th
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Chris Phillips
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38
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Improver
pairs race
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1st
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Chris Phillips
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Alastair Forrest
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2nd
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Neal Graneau
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Justin Evans
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3rd
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Richard Peperell
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Gareth Ede
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Relay
Race
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1st
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Richards’ Rebels
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Richard Peperell
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John Peperell
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Stuart Ede
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2nd
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Tony’s Tigers
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Tony Costall
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Paul Ellis
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Alastair Forrest
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3rd
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Chris’s Contenders
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Chris Phillips
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George Evans
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Justin Evans
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Team
Race
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1st
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Nutty Northerners
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George Evans
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Nigel Harrison
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Stuart Ede
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2nd
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Madcap Midlanders
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Richard Peperell
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Neal Graneau
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Paul Ellis
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3rd
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Silly Southerners
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Dave Jennings
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John Peperell
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Alastair Forrest
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Pairs
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race
no.2
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1st
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Nigel Harrison
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Stuart Ede
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2nd
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Neal Graneau
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Justin Evans
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3rd
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Chris Phillips
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George Evans
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The fun afloat was matched by the fun ashore, as Bala Cat Club laid
on ‘High Sheeparral’, a wild west themed evening with a bucking
bronco that was the downfall of many a would-be cowpoke. And a
convivial meal at a local hostelry on the last evening rounded off a
perfect event sending everyone home with a broad smile on their
face.

