Bala Sailing Club’s Long Distance Race on 5th July, sponsored by Bala Watersports, attracted 57 boats. It involved sailing a course laid out over the whole of the 4½ mile long lake for up to 6 hours.

The fast and slow handicap races started together in a very light north- westerly breeze. There was a significant starboard bias and boats starting that end gained an early advantage. In these conditions the faster handicap boats were able to reach the breeze near the first windward mark and pull away from pursuing boats, establishing a large gap between themselves and the rest of the fleet, which was to remain for the whole race.

Amongst the leaders were the Javelin of Ruth Walker and Steve Box, the Flying Dutchman of James Whitaker and Peter Hadfield, the RS 400’s of Nigel Bell and Roy Amos, and Heather and David Matthews, the Fireball of Keith McDonald and Andy Brittain, the Flying 15 of Mike Lyddon and Stella Shaw, the RS 600 of Dan Partington and the International Canoe of Colin Newman. These leading boats gained further advantage when the wind direction changed by 180° when they were half way down the return leg. So, unfortunately for the slower boats, the whole of the return leg became a beat.

For the off-wind legs of the second and final lap, the wind gained some strength, producing pleasant long reaches, which gave advantage to the asymmetrics. During the final leg, the wind dropped once again causing many boats to drift and raft near the final mark, frustratingly 200 yards from the finishing line.

In the slow handicap fleet, the GP 14 of Phil Quarry and Sarah Allen was sailed skilfully and this enabled them to remain in touch and even ahead of some faster handicap boats. The two non-spinnaker boats – the Streaker of John Wagstaff and the National 12 of Martin Seaton and Jane Wigham – took advantage of the three upwind legs to finish second and third.

Results

Fast Handicap
1. Nigel Bell, Roy Amos, RS 400, Bartley
2. Mike Lyddon, Stella Shaw, F15, Bala
3. Heather and Dave Matthews, RS 400, Blithfield
4. Ruth Walker, Steve Box, Javelin, Bartley
5. Colin Newman, Int. Canoe, Draycote

Slow Handicap
1. Phil Quarry, Sarah Allen, GP14, Trimpley
2. John Wagstaff, Streaker, Greensforge
3. Martin Seaton, Jane Wigham, N12, Mid Warks