Supernova National Championship 2025 Runners and Riders

Supernova Inlands at Blithfield © Neil David

The Supernova National Championships is at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy this coming weekend.

With a whopping 88 entries, it's a contender for the largest adult single-handed event in the UK this year. But who will shine on the south coast, and who will fade like a sea breeze at dusk?

The Established Elite

It's hard to see past the top guys in the fleet, and if you try, they'll probably luff you. They've been at the top for a while, so they know how to get the job done.

Cliff Milliner is a former champ and has been on the podium so often he has to pay tax on it as a second home. Most expect him to win, but he has struggled a little with the set-up of his new boat. Oh, who am I kidding? He'll probably win.

Gavin Young has been surprisingly inconsistent this season, but he's the best at recovering from a bad start. Expect to see him near the front most of the time, especially if conditions are variable.

Matt Thursfield last won in 2022, and, as a big man, he famously likes big winds. But his bigness isn't quite as big as it was, and he's looking more svelte than in previous years. He's ordered an XXL event rash vest (we give away free stuff in the Supernovas) but will he still fill it out, or will it be flapping around his newly aerodynamic hindquarters?

Peter Mackin has come out from behind the camera and achieved a few top ten results. He also likes the windy stuff and is one of the few sailors on this list who's a member of a sea club.

Will Gifford, the third Cotswold sailor in this section, is no longer a new boy in the class, having achieved a couple of top tens, and been second at the Inlands too. He loves a breeze and has tremendous boat speed upwind and down, but he's also recovering from an injury.

The Old Guard

Experienced counts for a lot, especially as the current forecast is for a variety of conditions. Can the old heads nurse their old bones to beat the young'uns?

Mike Gibson is a many times national champ, and his refashioned hip joints are now fully bedded in. He's no slouch in any conditions and is super-fast in the light stuff. If consistency is key, he'll be near the front.

Steve Broom was last national champ in 2007, which is before some of our sailors were born. He claims not to have sailed for a decade, but do we believe him? Well, yes, but sailing is like riding a bicycle, only much wetter and with fewer hills.

Mike Critchley goes well in all conditions. Maybe a better bet for top ten result than a podium, not least because the event is so much nearer to the equator than he's used to.

The Kids

Young people, eh? Don't you just hate them? They can sail all day, hiking up the beats by their toenails, and then in the evening go clubbing. No aches, no pains, no Voltaren. The only consolation is that they're burdened with student debt and will never afford a mortgage.

Hugo Hansen is getting better all the time. Sailing regularly against Cliff and Gav certainly doesn't do any harm. He's fast and flat upwind, and deadly on the runs, possibly because he weighs less than a carbon tiller extension and has less windage too. Surely a future national champ - but will it be this year?

Sean Ricketts likes a breeze and tends to stay out of trouble, relying on boat speed and consistency. He's been close to the top ten for the last couple of years, and keeps improving, as young people infuriatingly do. He's a good bet for some top placings.

Doug White and Ollie Crocker are wildcard options. Both are young and fearless, and they'll go fast in a variety of conditions, and may provide an upset in one or two races. Doug will be sailing his venerable Mk1, which could be washed up on the shore in small pieces if the wind blows.

The Newcomers

Like Manchester United trying to stay relevant, if you can't grow top talent from within, there's always the option of stealing it from someone else. So, here are the contenders who've more often been seen in other, lesser classes, but have recently seen the light.

Chris Webber is a top sailor in an RS400 and is now trying his hand at a boat which doesn't have the turning circle of Salisbury Cathedral. The question is, can he go fast without Nicki telling him what to do? The evidence suggests he can, having been second overall at POSH and winning a race at the Cardiff Bay open. He'll be in the class loan boat, so please, everyone, don't collide with him.

Alex Horlock isn't really a newcomer as he's a former national champ, but he's been away sailing other classes (including one with metal bars sticking out of it) and a lot has changed since then. Like the sail shape, for example. But he's fast, fit and still youngish. He could definitely win this thing.

These are just the challengers near the top of the fleet. In the Supernovas, we like to give prizes at all levels, so everyone has a chance of glory. So, if you're interested in joining the friendliest fleet on the water and competing in some of the biggest events of the year, visit our website at supernovadinghy.org.