EFG Bank Supernova Nationals at Mayflower Sailing Club

36 helms for the EFG Private Bank Supernova Nationals at Plymouth © www.SailPics.co.uk

36 helms for the EFG Private Bank Supernova Nationals at Plymouth © www.SailPics.co.uk

36 Supernovas headed for Mayflower Sailing Club in Plymouth over the long weekend of 3rd to 5th July for their EFG Private Bank sponsored National Championships. This was the second time the class had held their National Championships in Plymouth in the last two years.

A number of the fleet arrived on Thursday to a cool and rainy Plymouth from the balmy heatwave that was gripping the rest of the country. Class builders father and son Richard and Mark Hartley were out practicing, a few other class stalwarts could be observed getting in some early social practice.

Friday and 3 races to be held inside the breakwater. As with all of the races the course was a reverse “P” giving a long-ish beat, two reaches and a run. A course that has proved popular at all the recent Supernova Nationals. After eventually tracking down the committee boat racing got underway in champagne sailing conditions for the Supernova. Bright sunshine, not too hot and a good steady breeze that all could handle.

Race 1 saw a pile up at the pin end with boats having to bale out and start again. Richard Pakes started behind the melee and had a cracking start and was never headed. Race 2 in slightly lighter conditions saw Mark Hartley recover from a 22nd in race 1 to win race 2 comfortably. Race 3 saw yet another different winner with Steve Hawley popping out of the start and banging the right hand side of the course – which proved to be very much the way to go. As the front runners were struggling to find consistency, former National Champ and Albacore hotshot Norman Halstead was plugging away with a worst result of 5th on day 1. Things though were about to change on Day 2.

Day 2 did not get off to a good start. A double booking cock-up meant that the Supernovas, Lightnings (who had arrived for their sea champs) and the Larks, in a pre-Nationals warm up were relegated from the main car park which was taken over by some huge power boats populated with what appeared to be Phantom sailors on steroids types and their attendant trucks and BIG apparel.

However, once out on the water and sailing the smiles returned again. Because of the stink boats need for flat water, the dinghies headed outside the break-water. Here in a thin wind there were big lumpy waves and a number (especially the more generously proportioned)were find eeeking speed out of Supernovas tricky. Not so though Mark Hartley hew was out under his toe-straps and he won three of the four races with last years National Champ Mike Gibson winning the other. It was Richard Pakes finding consistency two 2nds but with none of the top four finishing out of the top 5! Saturday night abandoning the clubhouse to the propeller heads most of the class headed for the lively night life of the Barbican. Most of the class social stalwarts found pub to adopt and the landlord is probably polishing his Bentley right now!

Sunday brought near chaos as 60 dinghies aimed to launch down one steep slope into a freshning breeze. It was a cracking sail out to the start and once outside the breakwater the waves were big and fun! There was some delay and some call for the black flag as the Larks had a number of goes getting away. Then, having been shown by the Larks how to organise a general recall, the Supernovas promptly had their 1st of the weekend! As they got away a dark cloud was looming on the horizon and as the leaders headed off down the 1st reach it got fun, liveley then very hairy. The rain came down hard, the chop was flattened from the waves and the rolls looked bigger. It became hard to keep track of who was where as those that stayed upright struggled to get down the run – trying to lose power – somehow from the powerful Supernova rig. Fair dos to the Larks who almost made it look easy and managed to stay upright. When it gets windy “Bruce” Howett is normally near the front and his experience, great boat handling and err weight saw him win this one easily. It was youth, fearlessness and abilty that saw young Jonathon Pakes through to 2nd for his best result of the week. Very wisely PRO Dave Curno –who had been excellent all weekend - stopped the race early for a quick headcount.

We bobbed around for while as another grey cloud came and went over and it was clear that it wasn’t likely to be a repeat of race 1. Then we were underway for race 2 in moderate conditions for the best sailing of the day. Normal service was resumed here as once again Mark Hartley hit the front and stayed in front and it was clear that the crown was his.

Race 3 saw more wind again and depleted numbers as both boat and human fatigue set in. The wind being up saw Bruce hit the front again. There was a real scrap for 2nd, 3rd and 4th but big wind consistency and a gentlemanly retirement from race 5 by Norman Halstead rather than going to protest saw Richard Pakes in runners up spot for the 2nd year running. Last years national champ Mike Gibson was 3rd.

Mark Hartley was sailing the newest boat there (the new foam reinforced construction) used the new Hyde sail throughout. Most others, even those with a new Hyde in their armoury, chose to use the apparently less powerful Banks sail. Mind you Norman Halstead in a Giles built boat in 4th looked to be using his original sail!

A cracking weekend sailing on some of the best water the UK has to offer.

Overall Results: