Supernova Travellers at Bowmoor Sailing Club
by Mark Hitchmough 12 Nov 2023 20:55 GMT
4 November 2023
Supernova Travellers at Bowmoor © Stephen Tanner
The 2023 Craftinsure Supernova travelers series finale was held in a challenging range of conditions at a wet, windy, calm and sunny Bowmoor.
As the competitors assembled for briefing, with the wind and rain lashing against the windows, an extra rescue boat was launched and nervous sailors debated the wisdom of putting sails up. Remarkably by the time we launched, both wind and rain had disappeared and the wind had dropped to virtually nothing.
The one lap drift was clinched on the final leg by Alex Reeve (Cotswold) with the first 5 boats all finishing within a few seconds, whilst back markers were still trying to reach the windward mark which, by the time I reached it, was very much a leeward mark.
An early lunch was called before heading out for race 2. This time the challenge was staying upright as 25 knot + gusts ripped across the lake and the rescue crews became fully occupied. Survival was the target at the back of the fleet whilst heavy weather experts fought for podium spots. Victory went to Matt Williams (Cotswold) ahead of Sean Ricketts (Bartley/Cardiff Bay). First race winner Alex finishing 4th to set up an interesting last race.
The gusts were still blowing through as race 3 started with the event still up for grabs. However, by the end of the first lap the sun was out and the wind was dropping, almost to nothing by the finish. Capsized boast on the start line and drifting across the finish line - appropriate bookends to a very tricky day for both sailors and the excellent race team managed by OOD Charlie Sansom.
Matt showed his ability to adapt to the changing weather by getting a second victory, just ahead of Alex in second, to clinch the event. Local hero Chris Hobbs taking overall third for Bowmoor.
One of 5 open meeting first timers, Oliver Crocker, was a very creditable 4th (two 3rd place finishes) with Sean Ricketts taking Mark 1 honours, ahead of Bowmoor's Liz Fewings.
The Supernova Class Association thank Bowmoor for hosting the event and everyone who travelled to make the event worthwhile.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 1248 | Matt Williams | Cotswold SC | ‑3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2nd | 1280 | Alex Reeve | Cotswold SC | 1 | ‑4 | 2 | 3 |
| 3rd | 1179 | Chris Hobbs | Bowmoor SC | 2 | ‑7 | 4 | 6 |
| 4th | 1162 | Oliver Crocker | Cotswold SC | ‑5 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 5th | 698 | Sean Ricketts | Cardiff Bay | ‑11 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
| 6th | 1160 | Paul Undrell | Cotswold SC | ‑12 | 5 | 6 | 11 |
| 7th | 1256 | Paul Burton | Girton | ‑8 | 8 | 5 | 13 |
| 8th | 1307 | Martin Roots | Cardiff Bay | 4 | ‑10 | 10 | 14 |
| 9th | 483 | Liz Fewings | Bowmoor SC | 6 | (RET) | 8 | 14 |
| 10th | 1254 | Tony Bleasdale | Girton | 7 | 9 | (DNS) | 16 |
| 11th | 1176 | Mark Hitchmough | Bowmoor | ‑15 | 6 | 11 | 17 |
| 12th | 1260 | Ben Viggars | | 10 | ‑12 | 9 | 19 |
| 13th | 1069 | Andy Marshall | Bowmoor SC | 9 | ‑13 | 13 | 22 |
| 14th | 436 | Owen Griffiths | Bowmoor | ‑14 | 11 | 12 | 23 |
| 15th | 433 | Robin Cartwright | Bowmoor SC | 13 | (RET) | RET | 29 |