Supernova National Championships at Dovey Yacht Club - Day 2

Cardigan Bay was wall to wall sunshine for the second day of the Supernova Nationals. The spectacular scenery of the area was a sight to behold as the fleet of 60 plus boats sailed out of Aberdovey Estuary and in to the bay to sail four more intense races in this hotly contested championships.

The winds were much lighter today and in a westerly direction, allowing PRO Rupert Tildesley to set a large triangle sausage course for the first two races, and a sausage, trapezoid for the final two races of the day.

Race 4

The start favoured the port end as the tide was flooding and it paid to be on the port side of the race course. During the first beat first place changed hands several times. The top six consisted of Cliff Milliner, Gavin Young, Richard Pakes, Tim Hand, Alex Collins and Duncan Adams. This group rounded the windward mark close together. But Cliff and Alex pulled clear, leaving the rest to scrap it out for the remainder of the top ten places. It now looked as if Cliff Milliner had found his form which won him the championship last year. It finished Cliff Milliner, followed by junior sailors Alex Collins and then Peter Mackin both from Bolton SC.

Race 5

The second race of the day started and again the port side favoured although a few were over at the start. Once again Milliner took the lead closely followed by Alex Collins. Brothers Mike and Tony Critchley from Bolton SC found their speed. The individual recall signal saw Mark Hartley return to the line putting him out of contention in this race. The race continued with little place changes and with a dying wind the finish came at the right time. Milliner scored his second bullet of the day, followed by, fellow Cotswold sailor and last years runner up Gavin Young, then came Mike Critchley and Duncan Adams (sporting his pink rudder), and Tony Critchley.

Race 6

The race began on a very even start line. The top contenders started at both port and starboard end of the line. Once again Milliner came out on top at the windward mark closely followed by Andy Flitcroft and then Alex Collins, Gavin Young and then Mark Hartley and Duncan Adams. The wind had increased slightly for this race and there were a few more shifts up the beat making for very interesting racing. The race finished Milliner, Hartley, Flitcroft, Collins, Young and then class chairman Paul Earnshaw from Haversham getting his best result so far.

Race 7

The final race of the day saw the lightest winds. Milliner had so far been on a role, the conditions to his liking. But it was not to be a fourth straight win. Mike Critchley from Bolton SC sailed a storming first beat keeping to the port side of the course to be well clear at the windward mark, a lead which he kept until the end. Milliner scored second, with past champion Norman Halstead from Roadford lake SC scoring his best result of the series in third. Mike Gibson came in fourth, followed by Gavin Young.

So at the end of the second day Cliff Milliner had taken the overall lead from Mark Hartley, followed closely by junior sailor Alex Collins.

Mike Gibson was first master, Steve Johnson first Veteran. Youth sailor Peter Mackin was leading the Silver fleet at his first Supernova event.

Sunday sees the final three races, with similar winds forecast as was seen today.

Cliff Milliner & Mark Hartley currently both hold two previous Supernova championship wins. Will either of them make it a third, or can Alex Collins or Gavin Young take the victory?

Results after Day 2: (seven races, 1 discard)