The 2010 ‘Bala Gala’ and National Championships, to be held at the
Bala Cat Club, Llangower, North Wales, promise to be another superb
event offering something for everyone: fun races, coaching, serious
races (well, as serious as they get in our class) and a buzzing social
scene.
There will be 6 races for the 2010 National
Championships (5 to count). On the fun side we are planning a Pairs
Race, when improvers are paired up with an expert for some on-the-water
tips, a Team Race and a Relay Race (always good for a laugh). The first
start will be at 12.00 on Saturday (briefing at 11.00). [NB Racing is
not obligatory, and you can be as laid back or as competitive as you
want.]
For those wanting to brush
up their skills Stuart Ede will be running improver coaching on the
afternoon of Friday 6 August. This can include virtually anything you
want from an introduction to racing, a rules clinic and tactics to
capsize drill, boatspeed, trapezing and tacking and gybing practice.
Please let Stuart know what you would like by Friday 23 July so he can
prepare. His contact details are below.
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Above: looking NW up the lake
Right: Stuart Ede and Gareth Ede drive away in a gust
The lake runs SW--NE,
good for the prevailing breeze, and is also open to NW breezes at
the lower end, so good sailing conditions can usually be relied on.
(Click for Reports
2008
and
Bala
Gala 2009 )
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On
shore the Cat Club will be organising a fancy dress barbecue with a
Jamaican Pirate theme on Saturday evening (Click for your
Invitation – NB bring your own meat or
fish), and on Sunday there will be an evening meal at a local hostelry.
The price for the event has not been set yet, but it should be in the
region of £40 for the weekend (plus the cost of the meals).
For those of you that want to have your say at
the Annual General Meeting
or just listen to what’s happening in the Association, this will be held at 6.00pm on the Sunday evening in the
BCC clubhouse. All members welcome.
Accommodation
And if you haven't fixed up your camping at
the Bala lakeside campsite (or other accommodation) yet, you would be
well advised to book it now, as this weekend falls in the school
holidays. The campsite can be booked through Mrs Menna Roberts on 01678
520415.with a pitch in the "Catapult
Village".
If camping is not your ‘thing’, then there are
plenty of hotels and B&Bs in Bala and surrounding villages, because this
is a major centre for touring Snowdonia and the rest of North Wales. Tourist information is on 01678 521 021, or
there are lots of websites offering accommodation in the area.
Bala Cat Club have asked us to let them
know numbers for sailing and catering, so please contact Stuart Ede by
Friday 23 July to let him know:
• Whether you will be coming, and if so:
• How many tickets you want for the
barbecue on the Saturday night
• How many in your party for the evening
meal at a local hostelry on the Sunday
Stuart can
be contacted on 01904 738158 or at stuart.ede@prosede.co.uk.
Directions
Bala Cat Club is on the south side of
Bala
Lake
(or Llyn Tegid) near the
village
of Llangower.
From the A5 Llangollen to Betws-y-coed road turn south on the A494 for
Dolgellau. Coming into Bala take the first left (B4391), then turn right
onto the B4403 immediately after crossing the end of the lake. The Cat
Club is signposted off the B4403 in 2.5 to 3 miles.
Make a holiday of it
Many members turn this event in to a great
holiday by extending their stays before and after the weekend and taking
the opportunity to tour the magnificent
Snowdonia
National Park.
If you’re particularly energetic, in addition to the great walking there
is excellent mountain biking in the
Coed-y-Brenin
Forest or white water kayaking at the
National Whitewater Centre above
Bala
Town.
For the kids there is the narrow gauge steam railway that runs along the
lake right past the Cat Club, and there are fascinating old slate mines
to visit.
Slightly further afield there are the excellent beaches of Harlech,
Barmouth and Porthmadog, plus the eccentric delights of Portmeirion
village, well known to viewers of the cult 1960s series The Prisoner.
History buffs can climb the walls of Harlech, Caernarfon, and Criccieth
Castles, while Ivor the Engine fans can enjoy rides on the Ffestiniog,
Tal-y-llyn and Fairbourne railways plus the newly completed Welsh
Highland Railway that runs from Porthmadog to Caernarfon.