Supernova Open at Cotswold Sailing Club
by Sam Hood 10 May 2011 12:56 BST
7 May 2011
Supernovas at Cotswold © Avril Carlton
A blustery force 3 to 4 and bacon butties greeted for 43 enthusiastic sailors at Cotswold Sailing Club’s joint Supernova and Lightning Open on 7th May. The 27 Supernovas went first: best away were Phil East and local sailor Cliff Milliner. Richard Pakes, defending the CSC Supernova Challenge Cup, chased hard. The lead changed several times but Milliner crossed the line a few seconds ahead. Not far behind was Gibson, comfortably ahead of East. 5th and 6th went to Steve Hawley and Paul Undrell.
An arduous beat, snappy reaches and lolloping, gybing runs produced keen appetites for an excellent 3-course lunch. Then off out for another well-set course by Gavin Young, two-times Supernova Nationals’ Runner-up. Pakes, Gibson and East got away. Milliner from a poor start battled past Hawley, picked the correct side on the next beat straight into the lead. Pakes and Gibson chased unsuccessfully and they finished in that order. East, Hawley and Undrell battled for 4th. Hawley just beat East, and Barry Buzzard on a late charge finished ahead of Undrell.
In race 3 Buzzard and Hawley risked all on a port tack start and crossed the whole fleet. First to the windward mark, Hawley was followed by Milliner and Buzzard. Quickly Milliner stole the lead. Pakes and Gibson threatened, but with Pakes retiring Buzzard was unchallenged for second place. Milliner took line honours followed by Buzzard, Gibson and Hawley.
Good battles and interesting capsizes further down the fleet earned a spread of prizes and a very enjoyable day’s sailing was rounded off with a fine array of home-made cakes and buns.
Overall Results: (last year’s placing in brackets)
1st & Cup winner, Cliff Milliner, Cotswold SC
2nd Richard Pakes, Haversham SC, (1st)
3rd Mike Gibson, Bartley SC (5th)
4th Barry Buzzard, West Oxfordshire SC
5th Steve Hawley, Severn SC (4th)