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Supernova Inland Championship at Blithfield Sailing Club

by Cliff Milliner 17 Sep 2018 22:01 BST 15-16 September 2018

The Supernova Inland Championships was held on the weekend of the 14th Sept at Blithfield SC.

Saturday saw a windier than expected start to the first race, with Alex Horlock winning the pin end and leading the way from a tight pack of Gibson, Bigg, Workman. These five pulled away, and as the wind dropped off the RO shortened course at one on the windward legs, this caught out Milliner dropping from third to sixth. It was a tight finish with the Race going to Horlock, then Young and Gibson.

Race 2. The wind was still dropping, Gibson, Milliner and Steve Hawley sailed into more pressure from the pin end and lead the way to the top mark. This was followed by a long slow run the entire length of the reservoir enabling Young to pull through back to fourth. The RO took pity and finished the fleet after only one lap with the order unchanged.

Race 3. The pin end looked good again but as the wind veered Hawley and Milliner showed how to sail yourself to the very back of the fleet, eventually ending up almost last by then bottom mark whilst being joyfully serenaded by Bolton's Frank McMullen. The leaders were so far away I have no idea what happened but I know it was slow going and again a very tight finish. Local sailor Phil Mason took the win from Gibson and Horlock, with Young losing out several places right on the line. This left Gibson at the top over night with a very consistent 3,1,2.

The class held their AGM and Blithfield laid on a lovely meal followed by some entertaining drinking games.

Next day an early start saw a nice building breeze with the RO setting a great course that gave opportunities for close racing.

Race 4. Milliner and Flitcroft broke away to lead at the top Mark. After much discussion at the next mark Flitcroft went the wrong side and had a long way to return. Milliner pulled away in a big gust on the reach for the win as the pack fought for positions behind. As they crossed the line 2-4 were all together, with Gibson grabbing second from Young on the line and Richard Lambert from Boughbeech having a great race to come in fourth.

Race 5. Milliner again popped out of the pack up the middle of the beat and held a nice lead, followed by the pack. There were lots of opportunities to gain and lose as the wind shifted around in the large gusts. Young and Biggs closed right up on Milliner at the last bottom mark and made the last beat a leg busting tussle. As the RO moved the committee boat for the finish it was Milliner who chose the right end of the line just piping Young and Biggs.

Race 6. A big left shift on the first beat meant the port end starters lead there way around. There was a tight group of Young, Horlock, Gibson, Hawley. With Milliner back in the pack. Young and Horlock pulled away having their own close battle with the pack chasing hard. Milliner caught a nice shift on the left of the last beat to close right up on the battle at the front and managed to sail very low on the reach to split the pair. Again, the finish was very tight with just metres in it. Young took the win from Milliner then Horlock.

With Young and Milliner tied on 12 points it was Milliner who took the title from Young courtesy of having one more race win, with Gibson in third, Horlock fourth and Biggs fifth. Everyone had a great weekend sailing and with every race going down to the wire, the closeness of the racing shows the competitive nature of the class.

Thanks to Phil Mason and all his duty team at Blithfield for putting on a great championship.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Nt Pts
11190Cliff MillinerCotswold SC62‑2411212
21192Gavin YoungCotswold SC24‑732112
31127Mike GibsonBartley3122‑6614
41060Alex HorlockExe1‑21357319
51175Matt BiggsBlithfield468‑153425
61133Steve HawleyBartley73‑2374526
71066Phil MasonBlithfield‑1211165730
81036Colin AndersonBlithfield11868‑13942
91071Andy FlitcroftBolton899‑1811845
101184Garry ButterfieldBartley1755128‑1947
111059Richard LambertBoughbeech1512114‑171153
121217Ray WorkmanCotswold SC516‑251391053
131189Tom ChadfieldBlithfield1310101416‑1863
141160Paul UndrellCotswold SC9‑25129181664
151203Steve JohnsonCotswold SC(DNF)71411211568
161145Peter MayBolton10‑282620101278
17576Clive BrownBolton16‑201917151481
181141Ellen ClancyCotswold SC21‑261510142282
191077Kevin LastAttenborough(DNF)3221161221102
201223Jon PebodyHunts‑391529222613105
211090Ian BarlowBurton27‑3616232220108
221171Mark MeadowsBurton1927132924(DNC)112
231121Martin BarrettRipon1824302119(DNC)112
241099Peter HousleySutton‑in‑Ashfield‑36294282528114
251057Ian CasewellCotswold SC3030‑31242024128
261043Richard StoreyCotswold SC29232727‑3326132
27706Ed JohnsonGirton2231‑34253223133
28679S BlairBeaver3317‑35312827136
29582Amie KingGirton28‑3832262331140
301224Chris HawleyBartley141918(DNS)DNSDNC145
311083Serena StewardsonEmberton Park34341735‑3629149
321130Nick WhilesAttenborough26‑4233382725149
331062Andrew GoodmanAttenborough204340(DNS)3017150
341161Dan RuleCarsington3714‑41363134152
351168John WahpoleExe25372819(DNS)DNC156
361134Tom BaldwinCarsington3135‑37343432166
371177Pete BinghamBowmoor(DNF)3336303533167
381159Phil DaviesScammonden Water2340393729(DNC)168
391180David StephenBartley32‑4438333730170
401068Frank McMullenBolton(DNF)1322DNSDNSDNC176
41603David MooreBlithfield243920(DNS)DNSDNC177
421082Andy ChadfieldBlithfield35224432(DNS)DNC180
43598John HumanPSC3841‑43393835191
441139Dana ChurchNotts(DNF)18DSQDNSDNSDNC206
45707Ian WhiteEPSC404545(DNS)DNSDNC224
461191Rachel Vaughan‑JohnsBowmoor(DNS)DNS42DNSDNSDNC230

Silver Fleet winner - Phil Mason (7th overall)
1st Lady – Ellen Clancy (18th overall)
1st Mk1 – Clive Brown (17th overall)
1st Master – Mike Gibson
1st Veteran – Tom Chadfield

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