Supernova National Championships at Dovey Yacht Club - Day 1
by Paul Kelly 4 Jul 2014 21:56 BST
4-6 July 2014
61 enthusiastic entries have descended on Aberdovey, mid Wales for the Supernova Nationals. A record entry was greeted by a forecast of 30 knots gusts on the Friday, with the wind expected to drop as the weekend progresses.
With three races scheduled today the PRO elected to run the races within the Dovey Estuary, giving a fantastic spectacular view for all who were on the beach. This also avoided the need to cross the bar at the entrance to the estuary, which did appear a tad angry in the strong south westerly breeze.
Most entries made the start line for the first race, which was the windiest of the day. It quickly became apparent that this year there was likely to be some fierce competition throughout the fleet. There are many new faces and a fantastically wide age range, with the youngest being Lewis Brailsford at 15 from Sutton in Ashfield SC. The youth element within the fleet stamped their mark on the event early with some excellent results.
Consistency was going to be key with many names capable of being top of the fleet including over half a dozen National champions.
Race one
The starboard end of the line was favoured with a strong tide flowing into the estuary. The fleet started first time and split into two sides, trying to avoid the strong current in the middle of the course. The port side seem to pay and at the windward buoy Mark Hartley of Blithfield SC sailing his new boat led the fleet followed by youth sailor Alex Collins from Bolton SC.
Race two
The tide was now ebbing causing a number of recalls as the tide pushed the fleet over the line. The race finally got underway under a black flag. The centre of the beat was now favoured to take advantage of the strong tide. Positions at the windward mark saw Duncan Adams from Attenborough SC take the lead around the mark followed by Cliff Milner, Gavin Young, Robin Kirby all from Cotswold SC and Mark Hartley. From here there was a number of position changes and a few circles taking place, Hartley took off leaving the rest of the pack to fight it out. On the last mark Mike Gibson did a cheeky manoeuvre and took second from Duncan Adams.
Race Three
With the tide leaving the area very fast, the course got moved to do deeper waters. With a clean get away Alex Collins, Mark Hartley, Peter Machin, Bolton SC and Tim Hand Sutton in Ashfield SC rounded in the top flight. With a few places changes this saw a very good days sailing come to an end with Alex Collins, Mark Hartley, Peter Machin, Cliff Milliner, Duncan Adams and Gavin Young all in the mix.
Results for the day were still being decided late into the evening as the race team checked for any Black flag penalties.
With four more races on the cards tomorrow and a lighter 8-12 knot breeze, will there be a different group at the front?
Results after day 1:
Pos | Helm | Details | Sail No | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
1 | Mark Hartley | Blithfield ‑ Gold ‑ Standard | 1108 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
2 | Alex Collins | Bolton S C ‑ Junior ‑ Gold | 1088 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 10 |
3 | Duncan Adams | Attenborough S C ‑ Standard ‑ Gold | 1111 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 12 |
4 | Mike Gibson | Bartley S C ‑ Master ‑ Gold | 1047 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 17 |
5 | Gavin Young | Cotswold S C ‑ Standard ‑ Gold | 1104 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 17 |
6 | Cliff Milliner | Cotswold S C ‑ Standard ‑ Gold | 1079 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 19 |
7 | Richard Pakes | Haversham S C ‑ Master ‑ Gold | 666 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 24 |
8 | Norman Halstead | Roadford Lake S C ‑ Master ‑ Gold | 1061 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 25 |
9 | Paul Undrell | Haversham S C ‑ Master ‑ Gold | 1060 | 16 | 4 | 8 | 28 |
10 | Chris Hawley | Bartley SC | 1100 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 38 |
11 | Andy Flitcroft | Bolton S C ‑ Standard ‑ Gold | 1071 | 13 | 18 | 11 | 42 |
12 | Steve Hawley | Bartley S C ‑ Standard ‑ Gold | 705 | 21 | 16 | 12 | 49 |
13 | Paul Kelly | Attenborough S C ‑ Standard ‑ Silver | 1102 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 50 |
14 | Tom Chadfield | Blithfield ‑ Master ‑ Silver | 1082 | 12 | 26 | 17 | 55 |
15 | Matt Williams | Cotswold S C ‑ Standard ‑ Silver | 1073 | 26 | 15 | 14 | 55 |
16 | James Leckie | Bartley S C ‑ Silver ‑ Standard | RED | 19 | 19 | 27 | 65 |
17 | Gary Cawthorn | Attenborough S C ‑ Standard ‑ Silver | 687 | 25 | 21 | 23 | 69 |
18 | Simon Robins | Porthpean S C ‑ Master ‑ Silver | 1072 | 33 | 20 | 20 | 73 |
19 | Peter Mackin | Bolton S C ‑ Junior ‑ Silver | 1112 | 3 | 10 | 62 | 75 |
20 | Steve Johnson | Cotswold S C ‑ Veteran ‑ Gold | 1042 | 29 | 23 | 26 | 78 |
21 | Tony Critchley | Bolton S C ‑ Master ‑ Gold | 1074 | 62 | 12 | 6 | 80 |
22 | Mike Walker | Bowmoor S C ‑ Master ‑ Silver | 692 | 28 | 31 | 21 | 80 |
23 | Brian Smith | Bowmoor S C ‑ Veteran ‑ Silver | 703 | 31 | 22 | 30 | 83 |
24 | Tim Hand | SASC ‑ Gold ‑ Standard | 1030 | 14 | 11 | 62 | 87 |
25 | Warren Mitchell | Snettisham Beach S C ‑ Master ‑ Silver | 1016 | 39 | 24 | 24 | 87 |
26 | Iain Wilson | Blackpool and Fleetwood S C ‑ Standard ‑ Silver | 576 | 9 | 62 | 18 | 89 |
27 | Gordon Tweedle | Haversham S C ‑ Veteran ‑ Silver | 691 | 35 | 28 | 29 | 92 |
28 | Shaun Smale | WGCSC ‑ Master ‑ Silver | 1091 | 36 | 30 | 28 | 94 |
29 | Mike Critchley | Bolton S C ‑ Standard ‑ Silver | 1094 | 22 | 14 | 62 | 98 |
30 | Garry Butterfield | Bartley S C ‑ Master ‑ Gold | 1078 | 30 | 62 | 15 | 107 |
31 | Alan Bull | Seafarers ‑ Master ‑ Silver | 601 | 20 | 25 | 62 | 107 |
32 | Kevin Last | Attenborough S C ‑ Master ‑ Silver | 1077 | 24 | 27 | 62 | 113 |
33 | Geoff Turner | Fishguard Bay S C ‑ Master ‑ Silver | 587 | 38 | 62 | 19 | 119 |
34 | Mike Malcolm | Haversham S C ‑ Master ‑ Silver | 613 | 34 | 62 | 25 | 121 |
35 | Paul Earnshaw | Haversham S C ‑ Master ‑ Gold | 1034 | 11 | 62 | 62 | 135 |
36 | Robin Kirby | Cotswold S C ‑ Standard ‑ Silver | 1110 | 18 | 62 | 62 | 142 |
37 | Pete Bingham | Bowmoor S C ‑ Veteran ‑ Silver | 1068 | 62 | 62 | 22 | 146 |
38 | Jon Pebody | Hunts S C ‑ Standard ‑ Silver | 723 | 23 | 62 | 62 | 147 |
39 | Phil Davies | Scammonden S C ‑ Veteran ‑ Silver | 1052 | 27 | 62 | 62 | 151 |
40 | Ian Barlow | Attenborough S C ‑ Standard ‑ Silver | 702 | 62 | 29 | 62 | 153 |
41 | Lewis Brailsford | Sutton in Ashfield S C ‑ Junior ‑ Silver | LUE | 32 | 62 | 62 | 156 |
42 | Eddie Waring | Bolton S C ‑ Master ‑ Silver | 1024 | 62 | 32 | 62 | 156 |
43 | Sam Hood | Cotswold S C ‑ Veteran ‑ Silver | 1046 | 37 | 62 | 62 | 161 |
44 | Roger Prince | Bolton S C ‑ Veteran ‑ Silver | 479 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 186 |
45 | Ian Casewell | Reading S C Veteran | 1057 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 186 |
46 | Dave Harris | Severn S C ‑ Veteran ‑ Silver | 1038 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 186 |
47 | Stephen Swain | Haversham S C ‑ Veteran ‑ Silver | 1007 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 186 |
48 | Rob Corner | Attenborough S C ‑ Master ‑ Silver | 1090 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 186 |
49 | Joe Bacon | Carsington S C ‑ Standard ‑ Silver | 425 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 186 |
50 | John Banbrook | Bowmoor S C ‑ Standard ‑ Silver | 1069 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 186 |
51 | John Walpole | Exe SC | 1093 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 186 |
52 | Hedley Dowler | Cotswold S C ‑ Veteran ‑ Silver | 390 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 186 |
53 | Donald Appleton | Bolton S C ‑ Gold ‑ Veteran | 1022 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 186 |
54 | Dave Bexson | Attenborough S C ‑ Master ‑ Silver | 684 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 186 |
55 | Chris Watts | Bough Beech S C ‑ Veteran ‑ Silver | 1059 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 186 |
56 | Tom Baldwin | Carsington S C ‑ Master ‑ Silver | 595 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 186 |
57 | Geoff Ditchfield | Bolton S C ‑ Master ‑ Silver | 624 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 186 |
58 | Peter May | Bolton S C ‑ Standard ‑ Silver | 680 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 186 |
59 | Keith Rix | Chipstead S C ‑ Veteran ‑ Silver | 1063 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 186 |
60 | Robert Ceurstemont | Attenborough S C ‑ Veteran ‑ Silver | 1075 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 186 |
61 | Mervyn Jones | Cotswold S C ‑ Veteran ‑ Silver | 1036 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 186 |