Supernova National Championships at Dovey Yacht Club

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