Supernova Open at Girton Sailing Club
by Peter Mason 24 Jul 2022 17:55 BST
Supernovas at Girton © Steve Johnson
Fifteen Supernovas from as far apart as Winsford and Cotswold made the trip to Girton Sailing Club near Newark for the annual open meeting.
Weather conditions could not have been much better with a force two south westerly breeze and hazy sunshine allowing race officer Sam Mason and his team to use all of the lake without too much interference from the trees.
Race 1 saw the fleet a little shy of the line and was started at the first attempt. Gavin Young (Cotswold Sailing Club) was the first to show and was first to the windward mark, closely followed by Ed Johnson (Girton) and local Solo ace Alan Bishop. These three pulled progressively further and further away while battles were fought all the way through the fleet. Young took the gun with Bishop second and Johnson third.
After an excellent lunch race 2 was started on a slightly different course, still using the entire lake. Gavin Young again led at the windward mark, this time with Alan Bishop in very close attendance and Ed Johnson and Jonti Mason (Girton) also in the mix. As the two leaders started to pull away, modern technology reared its ugly head and Gavin Young was recalled for a work emergency and took no further part in racing which was a great shame. This left Bishop with a huge lead and the fleet squabbling for the places. Johnson secured second with Dana Church (Nottingham) passing Mason for third, leaving all to play to in the final race.
Race 3 again got away to a clean start and this time Johnson led at the windward mark with Mason second, Church third and Bishop in a close fourth place. For a short time the wind dropped slightly, and became more variable in direction, allowing Bishop into the lead with Johnson, Church, and Mason very close to each other making for a close race. As the breeze stabilised Bishop led from Johnson, with Church on the charge and Mason falling slightly off the pace, and this was to be the finishing order.
Overall Results:
1st Alan Bishop (Girton Sailing Club)
2nd Ed Johnson (Girton Sailing Club)
3rd Dana Church (Nottingham Sailing Club)
1st Mk1 Ady Davis (Girton Sailing Club)