Noble Marine Supernova TT and Open at Attenborough Sailing Club

Supernovas at Attenborough © Carolyn Hand & Mike Pritchard

Supernovas at Attenborough © Carolyn Hand & Mike Pritchard

On the 16th May, Attenborough Sailing Club hosted the 6th event in the 2015 TT Series sponsored by Noble Marine.

The event took place in lovely sunny weather with a north westerly direction wind Force 3/4, with frequent shifty gusts, common to this inland sailing club located on a gravel pit on the edge of suburban Nottingham. There were 21 entries with 11 from visiting clubs for the three race series. Each race saw a committee boat start with a beat in gusty conditions to a temporary wind ward mark before the course took the competitors on a series of broad and close reaches, maximising the whole area of the pond.

Race 1 set the scene for the whole series with the four leaders at the first mark ending up contesting the series. After a poor start, Alex Collins (Leigh and Lowton & Bolton) worked the shifts to get to the windward mark in first place followed by Steve Hawley (Bartley), Gavin Young (Cotswold) and Tim Hand (Sutton-in-Ashfield). By the end of lap one Alex had established a good lead and there was a great battle for the 2nd and 3rd places with Steve Hawley and Gavin Young exchanging places each lap with Tim Hand solid in fourth and Robin Kirby (Cotswold), fifth. The Race Officer, Mike Pritchard, kept the fleet out for a 50 minute, 6 lap race and Alex took the win followed by Steve Hawley and Gavin Young. First Master was Paul Undrell (Haversham) and first Veteran, Bob Ceurstemont (Attenborough).

After lunch the wind remained in same direction so the Race Officer maintained the same course apart from changing a wing mark to give a better reach. Alex Collins led from the start reaching the windward mark first, with Tim Hand second and Robin Kirby third. Steve Hawley committed an infringement which saw him 10th at the first mark. Tim Hand slowly reeled in Alex over the next two laps and on the long broad reach on the third lap, overtook Alex to take the lead. This lasted seconds, as once past Tim bore, off and lost control in a gust, capsizing to windward. Once he had recovered in was in 12th place and Alex clear ahead. Having past Robin Kirkby, Gavin Young now moving in to second place with Robin third and local sailor Jon Adams (Attenborough) fourth. Alex sailed further ahead winning the race easily and with two firsts, the overall series, leaving Tim Hand to rue what might have been. Further back, Gavin Young sailed to second with Steve Hawley having sailed through the fleet ending up 3rd, crossing the line a second ahead of Jon Adams, who was tiring after an early morning 50 mile cycle ride. First Master and Veteran where as for the first race.

Race 3 was run immediately after race 2 was finished and with the same course. Although Alex had won, second place was between Gavin Young, Steve Hawley and Tim Hand. Alex Collins again led at the first mark from Gavin Young and Tim Hand with Kevin Last (Attenborough) fourth. On the second lap, Alex capsized on the beat after a severe shift, leading Tim Hand in first place with Gavin Young second and these positions were maintained to the finish of the six lap race. Steve Hawley again moved through the fleet to third with Alex fourth. Paul Undrell was first Master and Bob Ceurstemont first Veteran.

The second place, secured Gavin Young second overall, whilst the last race win meant Tim took third ahead of Steve Hawley. Overall an enjoyable day's racing despite the challenging conditions that led to a few retirements.

Overall Results: