Supernova Inland Championship at Grafham Water Sailing Club

by Chris Hawley 9 Sep 2023 12:32 BST 2-3 September 2023

Class Chairman Iain Barlow had worked hard to get 69 pre-entries signed up for the Hartley Boats Inland Championships - the single biggest collection of Supernovas Inland in the Class' history.

The headline number was tantalisingly close to 70 and so Iain was very glad the NoR allowed for late entrants to be added in, as was James Gerwat who had made the journey from Felpham thinking he'd already signed up. So we hit the weekend with an incredible 70 entries and one of the best inland waters in the UK - all we needed was wind....

Morning - Supernova Inlands 2023 at Grafham Water - photo © Chris Hawley

The forecast of the Indian summer was causing a few concerns with Sunday looking like 2 knots with the occasional 3 knot gust. This wouldn't reach the required 5 knot minimum and so the chatter in the dinghy park was whether this might become a 1 day event.

The Race Officer and Class Committee took a very pragmatic approach and decided on a stretching target of 6 (yes 6!) back to back races on the Saturday. There was certainty breeze across the lake, more than forecast, and hikers and spray tops were order of the day.

As ever there was great racing all through the fleet with lots of battles. The comments below are based on a slightly hazy memory of the pointy end of the fleet.

Race 1

We started the first race in a nice 10 to 12 knot breeze. The most keen to start was outgoing Class event coordinator Tony Bleasdale - sadly for Tony the Uniform flag was flying so he suffered the first disqualification of the day. On the right side of the line it was the usual Cotswold Sailing Club superstar pairing of Gavin Young and Cliff Milliner out of the traps like greyhounds. Matt Thursfield and Chris Hawley had a good first beat and were in hot pursuit by the top mark. Chris managed to take Matt on the reach, as did Steve Hawley and Alex Reeve who were now right in the mix, showing their as ever consistent boat speed.

As Cliff and Gavin sailed off into the horizon (Cliff pulling away a little to take line honours and win the Paul Earnshaw trophy) it was Alex determined to make it a full Cotswold podium and he pulled away from Steve and Chris on the final run. Steve finished 4th, Chris 5th.

Fourth and first Veteran Mike Gibson - Supernova Inlands 2023 at Grafham Water - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Race 2

Race 2 was all about going right, right and then more right. Matt was "on it", with Chris able to follow like an excited puppy, the two of them were still pipped to the top mark by Gavin and Cliff. With Alex and Mike Gibson all in the mix it was a close first reach.

On the run, the top 4 managed to pull out enough distance to avoid the wind shadow of the chasing fleet and given the wind shift the second beat had fewer opportunities for gains and losses. Finishing order was Cliff, Gavin, Matt then Chris. Alex bested the rest to finish 5th.

Third overall Chris Hawley - Supernova Inlands 2023 at Grafham Water - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Race 3

Pre-start it looked like going right again and the battle for the committee boat saw several boats OCS including Chris Aubrey in a mark 1 who had been performing well with an 8th in race 1. I have to say my memory of the first beat was a bit hazy as the blood rushed to my head - having gone right early I thought I was on the lift of my life and on for first to the windward - unfortunately for me (and a few others too!) we'd sailed to the wing mark. The boats that had ducked us and continued going right had smashed it out of the ballpark. Tony Critchley and Matt Williams were in the driving seat, with great performances from others such as Nick Whiles.

The wind then went a bit peculiar with some interesting patches and shifts as the wind settled in the new direction. There was no challenging Tony and Matt W who were home and dry well before everyone else. Matt T was consistent and achieved another 3rd with Nick in 4th. 5th was Phil North, a very impressive performance.

Second overall Gavin Young - Supernova Inlands 2023 at Grafham Water - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Race 4

The wind had settled a bit more in race 4, but the strength had dropped and we were only just hitting the 5 knot limit. Cliff and Gavin were leaders again as we went into the first run, and by some margin. Chris and Mike in pursuit leading the peloton on a huge gust that worried the leading pair. With the lead eaten away at the bottom marks, it felt like all to play for in the final beat. The leading 2 pulled out a bit more, and as the breeze started to drop even more there was no catching them.

Mike showed impressive downwind speed to take the final podium spot, Chris 4th and Tony 5th. Special mention to Serena Stewardson for a stellar performance to finish 6th.

Winner Cliff Milliner - Supernova Inlands 2023 at Grafham Water - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Races 5 and 6

With the wind dropping further the decision was made that we couldn't hit the 5 knot minimum and after a short postponement racing was abandoned for the day.

Sunday

Sunday dawned with an impressive fog, representative of some of the "foggy" heads from a good evening in the bar the night before. Saturday night had been a classic great food, great company and catching up with friends.

Sunny morning - Supernova Inlands 2023 at Grafham Water - photo © Sally Bleasdale

A good early decision was made and the prize-giving started whilst some of us were still tucking into our bacon sandwiches. Several had been counting on a discard that wasn't to come, including Steve (with an uncharacteristic 44th) and Tony (with a 31st to go with his 1st) - sadly it wasn't to be and it was all races counting meaning consistency won the day.

Whilst it was disappointing to lose a day, such is the nature of sailing and having a day back to travel home early, drop the boat off and enjoy the sunny weather was a silver lining.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Club	Fleet	Category	R1	R2	R3	R4	Pts
1	1245	Cliff Milliner	Cotswold SC	Gold	Standard	1	1	6	1	9
2	1261	Gavin Young	Cotswold SC	Gold	Standard	2	2	9	2	15
3	1333	Chris Hawley	Bartley SC	Gold	Standard	5	4	15	4	28
4	1257	Michael Gibson	Bartley SC	Gold	Veteran	9	6	14	3	32
5	1302	Matt Thursfield	Chelmarsh SC	Gold	Standard	14	3	3	15	35
6	1218	Hugo Hansen	Cotswold SC	Silver	Standard	6	13	8	11	38
7	1280	Alex Reeve	Cotswold SC	Gold	Master	3	5	11	20	39
8	1248	Matt Williams	Cotswold SC	Gold	Standard	20	8	2	10	40
9	1009	Tom White	Olton Mere SC	Silver	Standard	7	7	20	7	41
10	1246	Anthony Critchley	Bolton SC	Gold	Veteran	10	31	1	5	47
11	1264	Andy Flitcroft	Bolton SC	Gold	Master	19	15	12	19	65
12	1263	Steve Hawley	Bartley SC	Gold	Standard	4	44	10	8	66
13	450	Alan Bishop	Girton SC	Silver	Master	15	9	19	23	66
14	1275	Iain Barlow	Winsford Flash SC	Silver	Standard	12	10	32	13	67
15	1125	Corin Bamford	Bolton SC	Silver	Standard	13	11	26	18	68
16	1139	Dana Church	Nottingham SC	Silver	Veteran	23	19	13	14	69
17	1160	Paul Undrell	Cotswold SC	Gold	Veteran	17	20	24	22	83
18	1234	Nick Whiles	Girton SC	Silver	Veteran	49	25	4	9	87
19	1250	David Partridge	Chelmarsh SC	Bronze	Veteran	31	18	31	30	110
20	1270	Alastair Reid	Blithfield SC	Bronze	Veteran	27	26	44	17	114
21	704	Rob Bell	Emberton Park SC	Silver	Master	41	24	7	44	116
22	1153	Paul Bloom	Snettisham Beach SC	Gold	Standard	29	17	45	25	116
23	1032	Marcus Shaw	Girton SC	Bronze	Veteran	37	14	40	28	119
24	1164	John Mason	Girton SC	Bronze	Veteran	46	22	27	24	119
25	709	Chris Aubrey	Bolton SC	Silver	Standard	8	29	UFD	12	120
26	1124	Sean Ricketts	Bartley SC	Silver	Standard	38	47	18	21	124
27	1171	Mark Meadows	Teesdale SC	Silver	Veteran	34	23	21	51	129
28	1059	Adrian Davies	Girton SC	Bronze	Master	11	37	55	29	132
29	1223	Jon Peabody	Hunts SC	Silver	Master	48	35	16	33	132
30	1329	Michael Alexander	Rutland SC	Bronze	Veteran	16	45	33	38	132
31	1318	James Gerwat	Shoreham SC	Silver	Master	47	27	50	16	140
32	1203	Steve Johnson	Cotswold SC	Silver	Veteran	18	16	49	61	144
33	1236	Julian Schoefield	Hunts SC	Bronze	Veteran	39	57	23	26	145
34	1108	Gary Kirton	Girton SC	Bronze	Master	50	40	25	RDG	145.5
35	1127	phil North	Girton SC	Silver	Veteran	54	30	5	62	151
36	1211	Martin Smith	Chelmarsh SC	Silver	Veteran	26	12	UFD	42	151
37	1230	Chris Kneale	Cardiff Bay YC	Silver	Master	32	56	34	RDG	152.5
38	1083	Serena Stewardson	Emberton Park SC	Silver	Lady	55	38	54	6	153
39	1274	Andrew Gould	Cotswold SC	Silver	Veteran	36	39	29	53	157
40	1073	Colin Ricketts	Bartley SC	Gold	Youth	24	28	53	54	159
41	1228	Steve Jellicoe	Olton Mere SC	Bronze	Master	33	41	48	40	162
42	1074	Richard Williams	Bartley SC	Bronze	Master	58	54	17	34	163
43	412	Philip Hind	Ogston SC	Silver	Master	57	34	35	37	163
44	1130	Ed Johnson	Girton SC	Silver	Master	40	42	41	41	164
45	1133	Paul Jago	Girton SC	Silver	Standard	35	32	UFD	27	165
46	1080	Craig Russell	Olton Mere SC	Silver	Standard	45	36	37	49	167
47	1305	Stuart Stephen	Bartley SC	Silver	Veteran	44	21	52	52	169
48	1057	Ian Casewell	Cotswold SC	Bronze	Veteran	28	48	57	36	169
49	1272	Andrew Goodman‑Smith	Attenborough SC	Silver	Standard	42	46	36	46	170
50	1202	Martin Burgess	Bough Beech SC	Silver	Veteran	53	43	42	35	173
51	698	Charles Felgate	Cardiff Bay YC	Bronze	Master	30	53	46	45	174
52	1180	David Stephen	Bartley SC	Silver	Standard	22	50	56	47	175
53	1256	Paul Burton	Girton SC	Silver	Standard	51	51	22	56	180
54	1227	James Adair	Hykeham SC	Bronze	Veteran	56	49	28	50	183
55	679	Stephen Blair	Beaver SC	Silver	Standard	21	58	51	57	187
56	1277	Douglas Rankin	Blithfield SC	Silver	Veteran	52	61	43	39	195
57	1254	Anthony Bleasdale	Girton SC	Silver	Master	UFD	52	30	43	196
58	1103	Nigel Davis	Tamworth SC	Bronze	Veteran	43	33	60	60	196
59	1134	Tom Baldwin	Carsington SC	Silver	Veteran	25	59	61	58	203
60	1099	Peter Housley	Swarkestone SC	Silver	Veteran	59	55	39	55	208
61	1118	Ian Hancock	Olton Mere SC	Bronze	Master	60	60	47	48	215
62	588	Karen Bell	Emberton Park SC	Bronze	Master	62	63	38	64	227
63	1195	Ian White	Emberton Park SC	Bronze	Veteran	61	62	59	63	245
64	1196	Mike Griffiths	Emberton Park SC	Bronze	Veteran	DNC	DNC	58	59	259
65	1306	Richard Lambert	Bough Beech SC	Gold	Master	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	284
65	1094	Clive Brown	Bolton SC	Silver	Veteran	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	284
65	1235	John Walpole	Exe SC	Silver	Veteran	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	284
65	1319	Sean Muldoon	Haversham SC	Silver	Standard	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	284
65	1184	Garry Butterfield	Bartley SC	Gold	Veteran	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	284
65	1080	Paul Bickley	Olton Mere SC	Bronze	Standard	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	284

Silver - Hugo Hansen
Bronze - James Adair
Veteran - Mike Gibson
Master - Alex Reeve
Youth - Sean Rickets
Mark 1 - Alan Bishop
Lady - Serena Stewardson
Paul Earnshaw Trophy (r1 win) - Cliff Milliner