Catapult fun racing at Bala 2013

   Bala gave the Catapult fleet a great three day event 13th-15th July, with hot sunshine to enjoy while high pressure covered the country. Each day started with the lake windless and still, but delayed starts brought a sound racing breeze. (On Monday the wind decided not to mess the fleet around again, and a SW wind raced up the glassy lake 30 minutes before the start.)

The good fleet of thirteen boats had all the four "top end" helms going head to head....three brought their blue winner's pennants from their last event but only Alex Montgomery held on to his, eventually gaining an emphatic points lead. Three points covered the next three places, and the excellence of the racing was highlighted again when seventh to tenth fell within three points after counting the five races.

John Terry (equal on points with second-place Paul Ellis) kept his grip on the TT leader board and the "yellow jersey" pennant.   TT Race report here

(Below: close racing: the front fleet comes to the first downwind mark in formation, Race 1)

THE FUN RACES

The non-serious races were again a Bala Gala highlight.

For the PAIRS RACE, with experienced helms coaching improvers round the laps, three "genuine" improver pairs came to the start, while other experienced helms paired up. John Terry had the undemanding task of shepherding Syd Gage across the line to win the event. Alex Montgomery encouraged Paul Cundy into second (photo on the Home Page) and they swapped boats after finishing to let Paul try out the latest version of the sail plan and expert tweaking.

Stuart Ede guided Damien Cooney into the third place, and Damien took the resulting improvements into his leg of the Relay event, below. In the experienced pairs, Nigel Harrison successfully (and illegally) harassed Alastair Forrest upwind, but could not prevent the pair of Stan Tobin and Alastair from taking the informal first.

(Below: experienced team Chris and Paul cross the Pairs Race line.)

catapults race bala lake

As is traditional, places in the RELAY RACE hinged less on speed around the single lap for each helm, and more on the monoevering for beach-ball transfer. The breeze was light enough to allow safe head-to-head exchanges at speed (photo below) with the inevitable outcome of the beach-balls in the water.

John Terry for the Rutland Raiders of led round the first lap (with Alastair a couple of boatlengths behind--but was John toying with him?.) In John's hand-over second runner Stuart (a token Midlander) their boats tangled as Stuart retrieved the ball over his stern, and Stuart's small remaining lead evaporated when a throw to Paul ended in the water, leaving the Raiders as runners-up.

For the soft southerners Hampton Harriers team, Chris pulled up on the leader after Alastair muddled the exchange, and Chris' flawless exchange to Alex gave a platform for a blistering last lap by Alex for the victory.

Yorkshire Terriers Nigel Syd and Gareth followed, while George Evans as local boy leading the Bala Bandits with Stan and Damien saw them into fourth.

(Below: Nigel , 522, relaxes watching partner Syd, 506, storm away after a successful transfer, while Stan (foreground) monoevres for the change.)

catapults racing at bala

(Below: George lines up Damien for a head-to-head relay exchange)

catapults at bala gala