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Supernova Open at Combs Sailing Club

by John Saunders 2 Oct 2013 12:55 BST 28 September 2013

Combs Sailing Club can provide fabulous scenery, good food and excellent race organisation however, the one thing beyond its control is wind direction! So it was on Saturday September 28th when the Supernova traveller fleet arrived. Ten home boats were joined by 11 visitors from as far afield as Cotswold and Haversham making a good fleet of twenty-one.

The wind was blowing from the N. E. and varying in strength from almost nothing in the lulls to 18 mph in the short sharp gusts with 90 degree shifts! Race Officer Rick Whitehouse set a committee boat start with as fair a line as possible. Never the less, race one started with a rather wobbly line and the fleet made its way towards the windward mark. After mark one progress was erratic due to wind peculiarities and four boats, S Catterall, C.Hawley, A Collins, Bob Pyett, broke way from the main fleet taking a considerable lead followed by S Hawley and N Reid then two further distinct groups. By the end of the race Catteral was first with Hawley and Collins second and third.

The fleet now broke for lunch and further discussion about wind direction. A hot topic!

Race two saw a moderated wind with less power in the gusts but still as awkward and shifty. The line was tidier t his time and for the first lap the fleet was more compact but A Collins was looking strong swapping places with P Earnshaw. Significantly Neil Reid from Combs was now going well in third in a borrowed boat. Lightweight lady Alexandria Bowden also in a borrowed boat had changed to a smaller sail and was now enthusiastically tussling with junior L Brailsford. Collins won pipping Earnshaw on the line with Reid in third.

Points were close going into race three with Collins on 4 and Catterall on 5. Reid was on 10 points but with his discard to take. A good clean start and the fleet tramped away into an improving wind. Very soon Reid made it to the front and continued to pull away. Collins and Underell chased but seemed unable to do anything about the Combs sailor. Reid increased his lead throughout the race and never looked in danger of being caught. At the bell it was Reid from Collins by a considerable margin, followed by Underell.

This gave the event win to Alex Collins from Bolton followed by Neil Reid from Combs and S Catterall from Haversham.

At the presentation Alex Collins received a tin of sweets for his efforts since at 17 he was too young for the first prize bottle of whiskey which went to Neil Reid instead! Wine for other places including first lady Alex Bowden.

The Following day, Sunday, the Supernova's took their circus to Carsington. A very different place to sail!

Overall Results:

1st A. Collins (Bolton)
2nd N. Reid (Combs)
3rd S. Catterall (Bolton)
4th P. Earnshaw (Haversham)
5th C. Hawley (Bartley)
6th S. Hawley (Bartley)

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