Bala Long Distance Race For many the significance of the 4th of July lies with events 233 years ago, when America declared Independence from the British and established itself as an Independent nation. However for a contingent of sailors from Chelmarsh the date has a far greater significance. This year it was marked by the running of the annual Long Distance Race at Bala Sailing Club.
	A total of 15 Sailors (8 boats) and 4 supporters made the journey from Chelmarsh. An early departure ensured that we were able to secure the best lake side launching spot at Bala ahead of the crowds arriving later in the morning. Whilst the boats were being assembled, the Wilson girls, Jenny and Claire prepared bacon and egg baps for everyone and supplied teas and coffees. A most welcome distraction as the fair weather at the start of the day began to give way to drizzle. The course set was a simple one. Start in front of the club house, Beat for 3 miles to the distance mark then return on a Broad Reach to a mark near the end of the lake, back through a lap gate in front of the Club House and repeat. The duration of the race was set for 3 hours. The organisers had decided on a single start for all the boats participating, with results to be broken down in to three fleets, a Fast Handicap fleet, Slow Handicap fleet and the Asymmetric fleet. As the start time of noon approached in excess of 60 boats massed on the start line, which had a heavy starboard end bias. There was no familiar hooter from the committee boat, which Chelmarsh sailors are accustomed to, only a flag signal to signify the start. This was a good half mile away on the race control room and was difficult to see from the water. In the mayhem that ensued the massed boats began to head off towards the distant horizon, this must have been the start so we followed.
A South Westerly wind at a fairly steady force 3 made for some very pleasant sailing at the start of the race. However as the race progressed the wind became increasingly more gusty and shifty. On the return leg of the first lap a strong gust of wind filled the spinnaker of the Xenon being sailed by Pete Townend and Terry Gumbley, overpowering and capsizing them. By the end of the first lap of the course, all the Chelmarsh boats were placed in the first half of the field, an excellent result was in prospect. Derek Richards in his Stratos, ‘Collywobbles’, crewed by Sabine Townend was the first Chelmarsh boat to complete a lap, with Julian Talbot in his Laser, and Terry and Pete’s Xenon in hot pursuit. Around an hour and a half in to the race and half way up the beat for the second time, the wind picked up, the surface of the water became a boiling mass of white capped waves and the drizzle stopped, only to be replaced by a torrential downpour of monsoon proportions. Pete Wilson and Nigel Reaney sailing Pete’s GP, ‘Pimpernel’, spotted a change in the shade of grey in the water ahead and predicted a change in wind conditions, a timely tack ensured they were ready for whatever was on offer; as the weather reached them they realised this was no wind shift. Oh no! it was a patch of water where the rain falling so heavily it was flattening out the waves, it was like sailing in a car wash but without the hot wax pre-wash.
	As the boats closed in on the distance mark for the second time Ade and Ollie Speke sailing their GP, Terry and Pete in the Xenon, Nigel and Pete in their GP and Ian Wills and Vernon, in their newly acquired Sport 14, were all in close contention. Then the wind stopped blowing. The boats drifted onwards until eventually they came to a standstill. The racers that had made the mark and had begun sailing back down the lake sailed away with wind in their sails, and those behind, still in the wind closed in on the stranded contingent, who were marooned. When eventually the wind did begin to fill in, it did so slowly from the left bank, to the advantage of those boats on that side of the lake. It was at this point that the outcome of the race was pretty well sealed. In the closing stages of the race, Julian headed the Chelmarsh sailors by a short margin. Derek and Sabine showed Terry and Pete the way home, beating them across the finish line in a close run contest, with Ade and Ollie just behind. In another closely fought dash for the line Ian Wills and Vernon managed to sneak in front of Pete and Nigel at the last mark and made their way across the finish line ahead of them. Sometime later Ian Evans and Jenny Orton sailing Ian’s new Sport 14 came in to view, capsized in front of the club house and turned turtle, the centre board disappeared inside the housing and couldn’t be recovered, forcing them to retire, their race over. Moments later the spectacle of a capsize was repeated by Dave and Zoe Partridge in their Xenon performing a victory roll as they approached the final mark. Luckily they were able to recover the boat and sailed on to finish.

	Allowing for the corrections that have to be made in a handicap race, the results showed the honours for ‘Best Chelmarsh Sailor of the Day’ going to Ade and Ollie Speke, securing a fourth position in the slow handicap fleet and a very credible overall position of 32nd in the race. On the way back the team stopped off at The Green Inn at Llangedwyn for a well deserved supper and drinks, whilst tales of the days sailing were recounted, elaborated and passed in to sailing folk law. A fantastic end to a fantastic days sailing! Anyone interested in joining us next year should speak to Pete Wilson or Derek Richards and we will ensure you are informed of arrangements in due course. Pete Wilson
	-Row 3, Cell 2-