A bright and breezy scene greeted a total of 63 entrants for the Whit Regatta, Laser 2000 and Miracle Welsh Area Open meetings at Bala Sailing Club on Saturday 24th May.
 
As the various fleets sailed downwind to the start line trying out kites and gybes, the wind took it's cue to increase from a brisk north-east force 4 to a more demanding force 5 with even larger and somewhat erratic force 6 gusts that had a nasty habit of veering in direction by as much as 30 degrees. All of which were to cause havoc for a number of crews and keep the rescue craft fully occupied throughout the event.

In the first race for the handicap fleet, Ken Hull of Bala SC, sailing a Blaze, was the eventual winner, from Graham Clow (Delph SC) sailing a Phantom, closely followed by Dan Partington (Bala SC) in a Contender. The asymmetric fleet saw a pattern established very early on with Matty & James Lyons (Ullswater SC) literally flying around the windward leeward course in their 49er followed by Bala pairing of Andy Homer & Mandy Edwards in an RS 400 and Ed Corteen (Pennine SC) in a Vortex. In the Miracle fleet the father and daughter team of Martyn & Rebecca Lewis (Draycote WSC) also put down an early marker by leading home Stephen Mason & Lea Beckford (Delph SC) and David & Jean Reed (Girton SC) in 3rd. The Laser 2000's were led home by Bob & Andy Kennett (Shustoke SC), followed by Iain & Sarah Yardley (Leigh & Lowton SC) and Barry & Kath McLaughlin (Bala SC).

After lunch another race in equally demanding conditions saw the Merlin Rocket of Paul and Michelle Keeling get the better of the Handicap fleet followed by Dan Partington and Ken Hull. The Asymmetric fleet was a carbon copy of race one with the RS400 and Vortex following the 49er home at some considerable distance. Team Lewis lead home Mike Smith & Tom Worrall (Delph SC) from David and Jean Reed (Girton SC) in the Miracles. Whilst the Yardleys got the better of the Kennetts and the McLaughlins in the Laser 2000s.
 
With conditions showing no real sign of improvement at the start of day two a number of boats felt it prudent not to venture out. However the Flying Dutchman of Jon Williams and Alex Rogers (Port Dinorwic SC) romped around the shorted handicap course to secure victory from the Keelings in their Merlin Rocket and Ken Hull's Blaze. The Miracles were lead home by Geoff & Janet Phillips (Welton SC) from Martyn & Rebecca Lewis. With the wind increasing even further, to the point the leeward mark was making a bid for freedom further and further down the lake, the PRO for the Asymmetric and Laser 2000 fleet had little option but to abandon race 3.

Thankfully after lunch the wind eased slightly and all fleets resumed their respective battle against one another and the testing conditions to complete a further two races before heading for a well earned pint or two followed by an early night.

Sadly as competitors gathered on Monday the wind decided it hadn't finished showing off and with gusts well in excess of 40 mph the race teams were forced to draw the event to a premature close. This gave Ken Hull a comprehensive victory over Jon Williams and Alex Rogers narrowly beating Carl and Shellie Jones in a Scorpion (Shotwick LSC) in the Handicap fleet. With a near faultless display and 4 straight wins, the Asymmetric fleet was won by James and Matty Lyons from Ed Corteen in a Vortex, just ahead on count back of Andy Homer and Mandy Edwards in their RS400. The Miracle Welsh Area crown went to Martyn & Rebecca Lewis, followed by Stephen Mason & Lea Beckford 2nd and Stephen Coldicott & Hannah Beckford 3rd. The Laser 2000's were won by Ian & Sarah Yardley from Barry & Kath McLaughlin 2nd and Ricky & Julie Knights (Jumbles SC) in 3rd.