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After the successful
2018 TT hosted by Bala Sailing Club, Catapult is returning July
12th-14th.
Over the same weekend Bala Sailing Club will be also be hosting visiting
fleets of Tinkers and RS100s (who will be holding their Inland
Championships).
The SC have
been very welcoming and have even offered to run our fun races on the
Friday afternoon, so we can look forward to another thoroughly enjoyable
Bala Gala. It
is always special, but this year it is even more special than we had
planned. Strong winds at Bridlington prevented us getting enough races
in to constitute a national championship, so the Travellers Trophy event
originally planned for Bala has been upgraded to become our Nationals.
The Association liaison person for the event will be George Evans (01457
512216, 07946 109216,
george.evans76062@gmail.com
)
The sailing The Gala starts at 14.00 on Friday with an
afternoon of fun races, which may include any or all of: a Pairs Race
(when improvers are paired up with an expert for some on-the-water tips)
a Pursuit Race based on personal handicaps, a Relay Race (always good
for a laugh) and a Team Race.
The Notice of Race can be found on the Bala Sailing Club
website at
http://www.balasc.org.uk/opens.php.
The first start for the Nationals will be at 12.00 on Saturday
(briefing
at 11.00).
The first start on
Sunday will be at 10.30.
Six races are planned with a discard coming into effect when four or
more races have been sailed.
Entry fees The entry fee for the Nationals will be 25
pounds,
or 22.50 if you enter online before 28 June (go to the webpage above
and on the right hand side you will find the booking link.)
The fun races on Friday afternoon will cost 5
pounds
payable on the day, and the CCA levy will be collected
separately |
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The Annual General Meeting will be held at 17.30 on
the Saturday evening in the clubhouse. Papers will be issued nearer the
time. All members are welcome to attend.
(2017 Report and photos)
(2018 Nationals at Bala)
(2018 Fun
Races.)
(below: Catapults racing 2017 in front of the BSC boathouse
and Race Office)
Sailing at Bala Sailing Club
The club is at the top north-east end of the lake with a wide area for
sailing, and unobstructed breeze from the SW and NE. There is plenty of
room to rig on grass in front of the Club, with several ramps to the
water. The club has excellent facilities (see photos above and below)
The Club sets a start line from the club
extending through transits with an outer distance mark, and signals are
made on
shore.
There are plenty of fixed marks allowing interesting courses,
with a mixture of upwind, downwind and reaching legs
The prevailing SW wind coming up the whole length of the lake kicks up a
significant chop as the wind rises (photo below) so that maintaining boat speed
is crucial
The social scene
For the Saturday evening George has booked a meal at the White Lion on
the main street in Bala for 19.30.
A new development this year is the opening of the Lakeview Cafe
in the sailing club’s clubhouse. Run by Adam, a qualified chef,
it is open to the public between 9.00 and 5.00 (with occasional themed
evening openings) serving breakfasts, lunches, snacks, ice creams etc.
More details can be found on the club website
https://balasailingclub.wordpress.com/lakeview-cafe/ or on the
@adamslakeviewcafe page on Facebook.
Annual General Meeting To have your say at the Annual
General Meeting, or just listen to what’s happening in the Association,
the AGM will be held at 17.30 on Saturday evening in the
clubhouse. The AGM Notice has already been issued, and the
papers will be sent out nearer the time. All members are welcome to
attend.
Directions
Bala Sailing Club is close to Bala town at the NE end of
the lake.(LL23
7BS.)
From the main crossroads at the eastern end of Bala's main
street take the B4391 heading south. After crossing the north eastern
end of the lake turn right on to the B4403. Bala Sailing Club is
down a narrow entrance immediately on the right.
The Pen y Bont campsite where several Catapult
members plan to stay is 200yds further on along the B4391 on the
right.
(more)
(Right: Catapults racing 2017, in front of the BSC clubhouse.) |
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The drive in to Bala from Llangollen is very attractive,
high in the Dee valley. An alternative
route when coming from the south or east
(taking no longer) for a "Wales experience" is
turning off the A5 a bit after Shrewsbury
onto the B4396
signposted through
Knockin (and yes, the General Store there is called the Knockin Shop,
boom-boom)
to continue
towards
Llangynog on the B4391, into soft Welsh countryside until climbing from
Llangynog high in a steep valley, out onto moorland, before descending
quickly to
Bala.
Reaching the lake, turn
left just before you cross the bridge into the
town, and the club down a turning 200 yds on
the right.
(Below: light air racing 2017, looking across to the Bala Watersports
Centre, on the edge of Bala town.)
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 are 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.
Into steam trains? For the kids there is the narrow gauge steam railway
that runs along the lake right past the Cat Club, and slightly further
afield there are the Ffestiniog and Talyllyn narrow gauge railways and
the recently opened Welsh Highland line from Portmadog to Caernarvon.
These lines form part of North Wales's industrial heritage. If you
want to learn more about one of the area's most famous exports, then you
can go down a slate mine at Blaenau Ffestiniog. What's more the Guardian
recently featured how Blaenau Ffestiniog has developed a number of other
tourist attractions including a hair-raising zip slide!
How about castles? There are more than you can shake a stick at:
Conwy, Penrhyn, Caernarvon, Beaumaris, Cricceith, Harlech and many more.
If you are a garden fanatic, then the world famous Bodnant Gardens
near Conwy are within easy reach.
hen there are the fabulous beaches generously spread around Cardigan
Bay, the Lleyn Peninsula and Anglesey.
Or how about a
stroll through the italianate streets of Portmeirion famous for its
pottery and being the scenic backdrop to the 60s hit series the
Prisoner?
This is the venue that has everything: fabulous surroundings and great
sailing. It is the high spot in the
Catapult calendar, so
don't miss it!
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