Supernova Inland Championship 2024 at Blithfield Sailing Club

Supernova Inlands at Blithfield © Neil David

Such is the popularity of this blue ribbon event for the Supernova Class, and possibly the popularity of the venue, the entry list reached the maximum of 70 boats with weeks still to run. If you weren't quick off the water to enter, you didn't get the chance to prove how quick you were going to be on the water.

Blithfield is the largest reservoir in Staffordshire and although they don't have the run of the entire water, a special agreement was made with South Staffs Water to extend the normal sailing area for this significant event. Moreover, the use of a much larger camping field which readily swallowed up all the competitors and provided luxurious levels of personal space. The unintended presence of some sheep brought an added connection with nature.

With many competitors arriving in a steady stream on Friday night, some of whom had nightmarish journeys, the Blithfield hospitality team were able to serve hot Chilli Con Carne and drinks to the latecomers even as they sorted their boats after dark - in the car park. To say those in receipt were astonished would be an understatement. With a warm day and stunning sunset, the Supernova audience piled into the hospitality in all its forms. Food was served on a continuous basis throughout the evening and we suspect that the vegan option will become the pre-eminent choice next year! Another thumbs up to the catering team for serving up cracking breakfast baps over the weekend.

Supernova Inlands at Blithfield - photo © Neil David

Saturday morning saw the wind start to show its predicted colours - ENE and ~10 knots, a direction that remained constant over the weekend of competition although the wind hit 17 knots at the Clubhouse it was estimated as gusts of 20-25 knots on the reservoir.

As the remaining competitors arrived all were sorted and briefed for the day ahead. 'Max sailing, min faffing', 'launch and recover in seconds, not minutes' were orders of the day to fit in races and lunch.

The first race started on time and at first ask. The start line provided sufficient length for all to have a fair chance. The Easterly wind is notorious at Blithfield for its gustiness and this made the race hard physical and mental work for all competitors. It was less about the absolute wind strength, more about the sudden change in direction and strength and there were as many capsizes to windward as to leeward. The first windward mark was particularly unforgiving as the approach on starboard required you to overstand if you had any chance of managing the tricky wind shifts, not least with the, as yet unsplit, mass of boats charging down on this one point.

Supernova Inlands at Blithfield - photo © Neil David

It was class superstar Matt Thursfield first at the windward mark, demonstrating his upwind dominance in the breeze. The fleet quickly diverged into a leading echelon of less than 10 boats who frustratingly (for the rest) managed a disproportionate separation from the remainder.

With such a large fleet, clear wind was everything and hard to obtain, so those lower down the fleet were not only contending with the gusts but had the added challenge of dealing with the impact of the gusts bouncing off the boat to windward. The visitors quickly recognised that the northern side of the reservoir provided the lift up the shore thus negating the local knowledge advantage that the home team might have had. The downside was that all those being lifted were coming in on port tack so the windward mark was very congested. That said, plenty of clear warning shouts as well as some wonderfully good-mannered exchanges of perspective brought fun rather than tension to competing in such a large fleet. Of note, the Chair of the Protest Jury, a local RYA Judge, was out on the water as an observer and was able to proffer a few thoughts afterwards. Suffice to say there were no protests during the weekend! A few had the tedium of re-rounding the windward mark for the aforementioned reasons and otherwise turns were taken as needed.

Supernova Inlands at Blithfield - photo © Neil David

There were two gybe marks, each providing another opportunity for capsize, not least from the fast reach into them. The finish was deliberately separate from the start to avoid the challenge of identifying multiple boats crossing close-hauled. Defending champion Cliff Milliner demonstrated an olympic level performance - he reeled in Matt T and ended up nearly a whole leg ahead of second place.

Everyone played ball and the recovery was straightforward with only a little help required from the Beachmaster team. A lunch of baked potatoes and multiple filling options was consumed in an orderly manner before all were back on the water for a 1345 start. The second and third races on Saturday saw only a minor change to the course and each start was clean. The PRO was both pleased and surprised by the behaviour and discipline of the Supernova Fleet (he's a Merlin sailor). Races 2 and 3 were won by Cliff M and Matt T respectively. The PRO had inserted several fast reaches (more than 12 knots recorded by one sailor) which were hugely appreciated and 'yee-haw' was a frequently heard expression of joy.

Supernova Inlands at Blithfield - photo © Neil David

Each of the races had been around 50-55 minutes so everyone had a good physical work-out and was ready for the evening's relaxation!

All were ashore in good time for a very well attended AGM and a high-end evening meal with all the trimmings. A good-natured crowd stayed long into the evening, drained the last of the real ale barrels (note to self, more next time) but the logistics chain had foreseen this and nobody left the bar without something to their liking.

After a quiet night in the campsite, the atmosphere was more one of people waiting for the Sunday papers rather than psyching themselves into the 3 back to back races that lay ahead.

The fourth race was started just before 10.00. The wind had remained loyal and essentially unchanged in force and direction so the course reflected this too. The observations from the first race remained true but a subtle change in the course tightened some of the reaches which brought additional spice to the plane down to the second of the two gybe marks. Two of the three starts were clean with only one individual recall in the third. From the Committee boat perspective, the Black Flag never even looked like it would be needed during the weekend.

Cliff Milliner wins the Supernova Inlands at Blithfield - photo © Neil David

Fourth, fifth and sixth races were also won by Cliff M - wozer - a clear dominance for the overall win ahead of Matt T. There were some great performances and battles through the weekend, including Andrew Wilde from Ogston in the Class Loan boat, being in the mix all over the weekend and scoring two impressive second places (no wonder he is a former Phantom national champion!). The Cotswold duo of Will Gifford and Gavin Young were always at the front too, finishing 4th and 5th overall. The chasing pack in the 10 top were led by class builder Mark Hartley, but also Bolton's Corin Bamford (who had an incredible weekend) and Mike Critchley. Finally Bartley's Chris Hawley and Cotswold's Alex Reeve made up the top 10 with a string of consistent performances. It was incredible competition through the fleet and the 5 division system worked wonders to help support those on the water rivalries.

Scores were collated and passed to the Class Association team and prizes were awarded with a large and appreciative audience present. The overall champion (for the 11th time!!!) was Cliff Milliner from Cotswold Sailing Club who along with the Class President, Tony Bleasdale offered thanks to Blithfield Sailing Club Ltd. for, as one senior sailor put it, a 'flawless' event.

Overall Results:

GOLD
1st Mike Critchley - Bolton - 7th overall
2nd Colin Bamford - Bolton - 8th overall
3rd Andy Flitcroft - Bolton - 11th overall
4th Jeremy Higson - Bartley - 13th overall
5th Dana Church - Notts - 17th overall

SILVER
1st Martin Smith - Chelmarsh - 14th overall
2nd Martin Roots - Cardiff Bay - 15th overall
3rd Clive Brown - Bolton - 16th overall
4th Julian Bassett - Blithfield - 18th overall
5th Doug Rankin - Blithfield - 19th overall

BRONZE
1st Eddie Johnson - Girton - 24th overall
2nd Phil Hind - Ogston - 25th overall
3rd Duncan Cheshire - Winsford Flash - 26th overall

MK1
1st David Allen - Haversham - 39th overall
2nd James Stark - Winsford Flash - 42nd overall

LADY
1st Matilda Harrison - Ogston - 48th overall

BEGINNER
1st Sam Osbourne - Ogston - 63rd overall