Catapult TT Racing Reports

Bala gala event: Bala Lake, July 25th-27th


Home Page

Sailing Programme

Results and Reports

Results and Reports 2008

 

Catapult catamarans starting at Bala

 

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.


Chris Phillips leads the first Catapult racew at Bala

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)

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)


Catapult catamaran fleet at Bala, North Wales

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

Catapult catamarans race briefing, Bala N Wales

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.

Catapult catamarans racing at Bala, North Wales

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.

(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.)

Catapult catamarns at Bala: the curtailed race


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

 

 

1st

Paul Ellis

Marconi SC

6 points

2nd

Stuart Ede

Filey SC

11

3rd

Gareth Ede

Filey SC

12

4th

Cliff Antill

 

14

5th

George Evans

Bala Cat Club

17

6th

Alastair Forrest

 

21

7th

Neal Graneau

 

30

8th

Nigel Harrison

 

31

9th

John Peperell

 

37

10th

Chris Phillips

 

38

 

Improver pairs race

 

 

1st

Chris Phillips

Alastair Forrest

2nd

Neal Graneau

Justin Evans

3rd

Richard Peperell

Gareth Ede

 

Relay Race

 

 

 

 

1st

Richards’ Rebels

Richard Peperell

John Peperell

Stuart Ede

2nd

Tony’s Tigers

Tony Costall

Paul Ellis

Alastair Forrest

3rd

Chris’s Contenders

Chris Phillips

George Evans

Justin Evans

 

Team Race

 

 

 

 

1st

Nutty Northerners

George Evans

Nigel Harrison

Stuart Ede

2nd

Madcap Midlanders

Richard Peperell

Neal Graneau

Paul Ellis

3rd

Silly Southerners

Dave Jennings

John Peperell

Alastair Forrest

 

Pairs

race no.2

 

1st

Nigel Harrison

Stuart Ede

2nd

Neal Graneau

Justin Evans

3rd

Chris Phillips

George Evans

 

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.


                     close racing: Catapult Catamarnas at Bala North Wales

       

catapult catamarans starting at Bala Lake