Whit Regatta at Bala Sailing Club
by Steve Williams 29 May 2008 09:47 BST
24-26 May 2008
An overcast and breezy, but dry morning greeted 40 entrants for the Whit regatta at Bala along with 25 Open event Laser 2000 and Miracle fleet sailors.
As the fleets sailed downwind to the start line, trying out kites and gybes, the wind picked up to a brisk NE F4 but with erratic F6-7 gusts which were to cause havoc for a number of crews and the rescue craft during the first race. In the fast and slow handicap fleet, Ken Hull of Bala SC, sailing a Blaze, was the eventual winner, with Graham Clow ( Delph SC ) sailing a Phantom, close behind followed by Dan Partington ( Bala SC ) in a Contender. It was interesting to note that all were singlehanders. After lunch, another race in demanding conditions, saw the Merlin Rocket of Paul and Michelle Keeling win, followed by Dan Partington and Ken Hull.
A number of boats found it prudent not to venture out and the following day these numbers increased, although it has to be said that conditions had improved a little. A Flying Dutchman ( almost literally ) sailed by Jon Williams and Alex Rogers, along with Ken Hull in both the subsequent races were worthy winners of shortened races. This gave Ken Hull a compehensive Regatta victory, followed by Jon Williams and Alex Rogers narrowly beating Carl and Shellie Jones, in a Scorpion.
The Asymmetric Fleet showed some very fine sailing in difficult conditions, non more so than James and Matty Lyons ( Ullswater SC ), sailing a 49er, who won all four of their races. Ed Corteen ( Pennine SC ) in a Vortex, won second spot, just beating Andy Homer and Mandy Edwards ( Bala SC ). A fleet of four Cherubs tried hard to compete with these fine performances.
The Laser 2000 and Miracle fleets suffered a similar fate. See the Miracle report.
So the results were decided over two days, because gale force winds prevented any sailing on the bank holiday Monday and the competitors were home for tea.
Handicap Regatta Results:
| Rank | Sail | Class | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Nett |
|---|
| 1st | 685 | BLAZE | Ken HULL | | Bala SC | 1 | -3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 2nd | 369 | FLYING DUTCHMAN | Jon WILLIAMS | Alex ROGERS | Rutland / Port Dinorwic | 8 | 5 | 1 | 4 | (24.0 DNF) | 18 |
| 3rd | 1974 | SCORPION | Carl JONES | Shellie JONES | Shotwick Lake SC | 4 | 7 | (24.0 DNF) | 5 | 2 | 18 |
| 4th | 3539 | FLYING FIFTEEN | John EATON | Maggie EATON | RYA | 6 | (24.0 DNF) | 5 | 6 | 3 | 20 |
| 5th | 412 | SOLUTION | Philip WORTH | | Delph SC | 7 | 9 | (24.0 DNC) | 8 | 4 | 28 |
| 6th | 3565 | MERLIN-ROCKET | Paul KEELING | Michelle KEELING | | (24.0 DNF) | 1 | 2 | 2 | 24.0 DNC | 29 |
| 7th | 1971 | SCORPION | Richard JONES | Tom HALL | Shotwick Lake SC | (24.0 DNF) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 24.0 DNC | 35 |
| 8th | 188304 | LASER RADIAL | James HOBSON | | Shotwick Lake SC | 5 | 11 | 7 | (24.0 DNC) | 24.0 DNC | 47 |
| 9th | 652 | CONTENDER | Dan PARTINGTON | | Bala SC | 3 | 2 | (24.0 DNC) | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 53 |
| 10th | 1287 | PHANTOM | Graham CLOW | | Delph SC | 2 | 6 | (24.0 DNC) | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 56 |
| 11th | 14940 | FIREBALL | Martrin WRIGHT | Miles THOMAS | Bala SC | (24.0 DNC) | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNF | 7 | 5 | 60 |
| 12th | 4194 | SOLO | R WHITE | | Crosby SC | 10 | 8 | (24.0 DNC) | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 66 |
| 13th | 4419 | SOLO | Richard ALLEN | | Crosby / Bala SC | 9 | 10 | (24.0 DNC) | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 67 |
| 14th | 3285 | NATIONAL 12 | Eric HASELDEN | Bethan HASELDEN | North Staffs SC | 11 | (24.0 DNC) | 9 | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 68 |
| 15th | 14681 | FIREBALL | Chris WRIGHT | Jim PATRICK | Bala SC | (24.0 DNC) | 24.0 DNC | 6 | 24.0 DNF | 24.0 DNC | 78 |
| 16th | 173110 | LASER | David COULL | | Bala SC | (24.0 DNC) | 24.0 DNC | 8 | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 80 |
| 17th | 471 | COMET | Geoff PETTITT Jnr | | Bala SC | (24.0 DNC) | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 96 |
| 17th | 69 | BLAZE | Tim HEATON | | Bala SC | (24.0 DNC) | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNF | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 96 |
| 17th | 3428 | NATIONAL 12 | Anthony MILLICHOPE | Marie MILLICHOPE | | (24.0 DNC) | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNF | 24.0 DNC | 96 |
| 17th | 7045 | WAYFARER | Chris BENNETT | Dot TURNER | Bala SC | (24.0 DNC) | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 96 |
| 17th | 999 | PHANTOM | Robin BAYCROFT | | Delph SC | (24.0 DNC) | 24.0 DNF | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 96 |
| 17th | 284 | CANOE + SPINNY | Charlie CHANDLER | | Tewkesbury SC | (24.0 DNC) | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 96 |
| 17th | 411 | SOLUTION | Kathryn HAYFIELD | | Delph SC | (24.0 DNC) | 24.0 DNF | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 24.0 DNC | 96 |
Asymmetric Regatta Results:
| Rank | Sail | Class | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Nett |
|---|
| 1st | 688 | 49ER | Matty LYONS | James LYONS | Ullswater SC | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2nd | 1066 | VORTEX ASYMMETRIC | Ed CORTEEN | | Pennine SC | -3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 3rd | 1258 | RS 400 | Andy HOMER | Mandy EDWARDS | Bala SC | 2 | 2 | -4 | 3 | 7 |
| 4th | 2657 | CHERUB | Phil KIRK | Sarah GREGSON | Thornbury/Frampton on Severn | 6 | (14.0 DNF) | 3 | 4 | 13 |
| 5th | 2694 | CHERUB | Gav SIMMS | Tim NOYCE | Neyland Flying Squadron | (14.0 DNF) | 4 | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 32 |
| 6th | 321 | RS 200 | David HOPKINS | Laura WESTWELL | Delph SC | 4 | (14.0 DNC) | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 32 |
| 7th | 2644 | CHERUB | Neal GIBSON | Debi GIBSON | Sunderland Yacht Club | (14.0 DNC) | 5 | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 33 |
| 8th | 200 | 49ER | Chris PICKLES | Matt SHARMAN | Delph SC | 5 | (14.0 DNC) | 14.0 DNF | 14.0 DNC | 33 |
| 9th | 2674 | CHERUB | Roland TRIM | Hayley TRIM | Wilsonian | 7 | (14.0 DNF) | 14.0 DNF | 14.0 DNF | 35 |
| 10th | 682 | B14 | Mike RAINE | Jane HILL | North Staffs | (14.0 DNC) | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 42 |
| 10th | 935 | 49ER | Alan BENNETT | James LAWTON | Yorkshire Dales | (14.0 DNF) | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 42 |
| 10th | 681 | RS 500 | Gary STEPHENSON | Annie STEPHENSON | Delph SC | (14.0 DNF) | 14.0 DNF | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 42 |
| 10th | 2688 | CHERUB | Stu HIGSON | Paul NEWMAN | Shotwick Lake | (14.0 DNC) | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 42 |
Laser 2000 Open Results:
| Rank | Sail | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Nett |
|---|
| 1st | 2204 | Iain YARDLEY | Sarah YARDLEY | Leigh & Lowton SC | 2 | 1 | 4 | -5 | 7 |
| 2nd | 21195 | Barry McLAUGHLIN | Kath McLAUGHLIN | Bala SC | -3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| 3rd | 22003 | Ricky KNIGHTS | Julie KNIGHTS | Jumbles | -6 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 12 |
| 4th | 22085 | Penny WILKIN | John WILKIN | Shustoke Lake | 5 | 5 | 3 | (14.0 DNC) | 13 |
| 5th | 2587 | Guy BOSWELL | Julie BOSWELL | Llandegfedd | 4 | (14.0 DNC) | 5 | 4 | 13 |
| 6th | 2237 | William HITCHMAN | Wendy HITCHMAN | Bala SC | (14.0 DNC) | 14.0 DNC | 1 | 1 | 16 |
| 7th | 21452 | Bob KENNETT | Andy KENNETT | Shustoke Lake | 1 | 2 | (14.0 DNC) | 14.0 DNC | 17 |
| 8th | 2528 | R JINKS | Tony LOYD | Shustoke Lake | (14.0 DNF) | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 42 |
| 8th | 2969 | Robert McCULLOCH | Alma CADZOW | Loch Venacher | (14.0 DNC) | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 42 |
| 8th | 2938 | Geoff PETTITT | Anna PETTITT | Bala SC | (14.0 DNC) | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 42 |
| 8th | 21109 | Dave ECCLES | Kate ECCLES | Bala SC | (14.0 DNC) | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 42 |
| 8th | 2864 | David COULL | Sam COULL | Bala SC | (14.0 DNC) | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 42 |
| 8th | 21050 | Steve PRICE | Andy PIGGOTT | Corus | (14.0 DNF) | 14.0 DNF | 14.0 DNC | 14.0 DNC | 42 |