Craftinsure Supernova Northern Traveller Series at Filey Sailing Club

Craftinsure Supernova Northern Traveller Series at Filey © Paul Burton

Friday 16th May saw the first boats arriving to be set up on the beach for the annual Filey Regatta. The forecast was for some daily strong northerly winds. Filey Brigg would offer some shelter for launching and recovery but there was bound to be a swell past the Brigg.

Fourteen Supernova were booked in with an overall regatta fleet of around 80 boats split over two courses. The Supernovas would have their own start 3 minutes after the Phantoms on the "P" course.

Saturday morning arrived along with the 19mph winds gusting around 30mph. The bay was sheltered but the course would have to be set up with the full force of the Northerly wind and the swell.

Most boats launched for the 1pm start but a fair few returned once they found the real conditions out past the Brigg were beyond their comfort zone.

Around half the Supernova fleet started but most retired before the end of race 1. Tom White and Andrew Flitcroft managed to complete the first race. Marcus Shaw and Paul Burton managed to complete one lap while the rest of the fleet retired. The downwind legs were brutal with a large 1.5m swell and many capsizes.

Only Tom White completed the second race. Daniel Brown in his Mk1 had serious hull failure but the boat was recovered and returned to the beach. Once Saturday racing was complete, I saw at least four broken masts within other fleets.

Filey SC had set on an evening meal, a bar and some live music for the evening which was well attended; shame the weather felt like February instead of May.

Craftinsure Supernova Northern Traveller Series at Filey - photo © Paul Burton

Sunday's forecast was similar with maybe a little less wind. The start was early to allow people to get packed away and on their way home early. At around 9.30am the fleet launched for a 10am start. The conditions seemed a bit more manageable with nine of the fourteen Supernovas getting away cleanly. The swell was similar to Saturday and the windward mark was set under the shadow of the Brigg which caused some big wind shifts at the top of the course.

Andy Flitcroft and Phil Hind tried the new small sail and I must say it does look the part.

There were plenty of place changes and capsizes with Tom taking the win followed by James Morley from Beaver SC in second place, followed by Andy for third.

The break between the third and last race saw the wind increase with a few worried faces, but the wind did back off slightly for the last race to start. Only six boats finished the last race with Tom taking his fourth win followed by Andy in second and James in third.

Thanks to Filey SC club who ran the whole event very efficiently with great courses, professional OOD, and first class safety cover. Thanks to all the volunteers from the galley people to the beach helpers, these events take a massive amount of organising for them to run as well as this one did.

Craftinsure Supernova Northern Traveller Series at Filey - Sunday morning - photo © Tony Bleasdale

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