Bala Meet: Light Airs, Rain And Cricket (RoyB)
Martin struck the ball into the air, Eddie, Jan and I rushed to catch it and all three collided in a heap with Eddie triumphantly holding the trophy aloft. The OCSG Welsh weekend had got into its stride with all due frivolity. Numbers were on the low side as various members were on holiday, at the Portsoy festival or perhaps slumming it at home.
Retiring from the field of play we enjoyed the usual chat and humour in the gleaming white tent on Friday evening and woke the following morning to mist and light airs. JimB was on the water early, showing off his latest craft, a shining green Waterman, which certainly seemed to sail well. KeithM drove up shortly before we began a voyage (more accurately, a drift) to the fleshpots of Bala and fixed his electric motor to the gunwale. As we tacked and gybed about, waiting for everyone to leave the beach, I noticed a sail-less canoe smartly rounding the point and thought how effortlessly MartinO's family could paddle, before realising that they too had gone electric!
GrahamH, sporting a Solway Dory lug ketch rig, made good progress down the north side of the lake and was the first to arrive at our destination. Most of us had recourse to the paddle, but DaveT stuck to his guns, or rather his sheet, and was only a minute or two behind the last paddler. (By the way, it was not a race.)
On the return journey I was lounging in the sunlit doldrums off the catamaran club when unmistakeably Keith's canoe slid into my field of vision on the port side. "Good God, how does the man do it?", I thought. Then the gentle purring in my left ear provided the electric answer. He pulled me into what may have been a cat's paw and turned away to surprise WalterG. It was 5 p.m. by the time the campsite was regained.
After supper and drinks at various pubs a strange thing happened back at the campsite. We played French cricket - again! What is going on here? Can any behaviourologist give us a clue? Do we need help? This Bala campsite is arguably the most beautiful we visit. On Sunday morning the ridge beyond the lake rose to the summit of Aran Benllyn (2700 ft.) in a clear blue sky.
The race began from the beach at 10.30,TonyB having waded out 50 metres to ascertain the point at which he might legitimately board his canoe. Reaching slightly in the gentle breeze, Tony led the fleet round the first buoy before heading down the lake. RodL told me afterwards that he had noted five changes in wind direction during the race. We certainly had to keep a close eye on burgees on this second leg to a large yellow buoy about a mile down the lake. On the way EddieP had technical problems and after an ad hoc deliberation on the water, he was allowed to paddle to the bank, effect repairs and paddle back to the point at which his rig had ceased to work.
The light, flukey breezes meant that boats spread out over the lake as sailors sought likely patches of wind, but as we approached the buoy a stronger, steadier wind on the beam livened things up. The course rules allowed the buoy to be rounded in either direction and remarkably the fleet came together with barely 100 metres separating any canoe from another. Half tacked and half gybed round without incident with Rod in the lead!
On the third leg the wind gradually weakened as the rain strengthened. From my accustomed position at what one may call the blunt end, I saw boats string out and PeteH's distinctive yellow sail well ahead on the final leg back to the finish. I managed to round the final buoy, but, in the lightest of airs and in heavy rain, I decided enough was enough. Thanks to VeronicaH and TrudyO for keeping time.
As there was really no wind for other planned activities, bottles of wine were presented to Pete and Keith (N.B. we have no trophy for this race) and members began to pack up their belongings. The group tent, incidentally, was dismantled and folded up in about 15 minutes - quite simple. LisW organised things with her usual efficiency. Although the sailing was not brilliant it was a good, convivial weekend.
Designing A Junk Rig (Part 2) (RobertB)
Although the sheeting patterns are an important part of the design principle of the junk sail, they
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