Event Report - Massacre Pursuit Race Sunday 260323
Published 14:00 on 26 Mar 2023
The First Event of the Year at Bala SC was well attended with 17 entries with visitors from Bassenthwaite, Pwllheli and Llangorse. The Race Officer Gary Darch set a long first lap on this beautiful long lake with a gentle force 2 to 3 NE breeze blowing on this fine Spring day.
First away at 13.00 in this 3 hour pursuit race was the Laser Radial of John Haywood followed one minute later by the Solo of Miles Thomas. There were different strengths of wind in the one & quarter hour start sequence with the RS400 and the Javelin of Brian Dixon/Stuart Reid have the best of the wind at the start.
Leader at the end of the first lap was Miles Thomas in his Solo followed 30 seconds later by the Laser Radial, 1 hour for the first Lap for these boats. Last boat to start one and quarter hours after the first boat was the NACRA F18 of Paul & Jude Allen, wind strength Force 3 NE at 14.15.
At 14.44 Dan Partington sailing his Vareo took the lead with the RS400 of Jon Heissig/Nicky Griffin making good ground along with Mike Allen and crew in the SB20. The NACRA F18 completed the first lap in 22 minutes !! With 1 hour to go the Vareo was leading with the RS400 and the Javelin catching, with the NACRA F18 starting to un-lap themselves. Steve Pooley sailing his new F101 Foiling Trimaran was improving with some pace but with half an hour to go the wind dropped off to a force 1 to 2.
At this point Andy Todd sailing his RS100 was making good ground on the group of leading boats. With 20 minutes to go the RS400 sailed past the Vareo into the lead which they increased into a 3 minute gap at the sound of the race finish on 3 hours.
At the prize giving Jon Heissig thanked Bala SC for putting on an excellent enjoyable event and said they will be returning for the Long Distance Weekend in June.
(report courtesy of Gary Darch, photos Jonathan Telfer)
Results
- RS400 - Jon Heissig/Nicky Griffin
- Vareo Dan Partington
- RS100 8.4 Andy Todd
- SB20 Mike Allen/Richie Allen/Chris Bassett
- Javelin Brian Dixon/Stuart Reid
Last updated 15:47 on 27 November 2025