Craftinsure Supernova Traveller Series and Welsh Dragon event at Cardiff Bay Yacht Club

Craftinsure Supernova Traveller Series and Welsh Dragon event at Cardiff Bay © Carmel Royston

The Supernova fleet enjoyed a challenging and highly competitive day of racing on a wonderful sunny day in Cardiff Bay. With the Welsh Dragon event delivering shifting winds, multiple course changes and close racing throughout the fleet.

The Race Officer and team were kept busy as the breeze swung dramatically but gradually built through the day to offer Champagne Sailing Conditions across the bay, requiring course adjustments and testing sailors' tactical awareness across five varied races.

Race 1

The opening race immediately delivered close competition at the front and back of the fleet. The battle for first and second place was hotly contested around the windward mark, while a tightly packed trio behind exchanged positions repeatedly.

Cliff Milliner rounded the windward mark first, followed by Charles Felgate in second and Josh Beardshaw in third. On the downwind leg, the majority of the fleet opted for the port-hand route around the leeward mark, with only Paul Undrell choosing to break away to the left-hand side.

Cliff Milliner, Tom White and Jon Wood rounded the right-hand side first, followed closely by Charles Felgate, Dave Cann and Josh Beardshaw who arrived three abreast in a particularly competitive rounding. Martin in 1307 followed, with Andy Goodman-Smith and Steve in Steve Denyer close behind.

While most of the fleet continued left at the lower mark, Steve in 715 elected for starboard roundings, with Martin Roots and Andy Goodman-Smith following the majority route.

As the fleet headed towards the finish, Tom White, Cliff Milliner, Gavin Young and Paul Undrell remained tightly grouped. Jon Wood spent the first half of the downwind leg on a different tack but managed to lose nothing to the boats around them.

The final approach remained fiercely contested. Dave Cann and Josh Beardshaw fought hard for position into the final mark, arriving on split tacks before converging for the run to the line.

At the finish, Cliff Milliner secured victory ahead of Tom White in second and Gavin Young in third.

Further back, Andy Goodman-Smith nearly missed the finish altogether after initially heading towards the start line. Realising the mistake just in time, they recovered sufficiently to pip rivals Steve Danyer and Shaun Welsh at the finish.

Race 2

A significant wind shift before the second race resulted in a brief postponement while the course was reset and some sailors ate some breakfast. The revised course introduced a slight line bias which occasionally swung back before eventually settling.

The start was extremely competitive, with the fleet tightly packed along the line. One boat was recorded OCS, while three sailors returned to restart, thinking they too had been over.

At the windward mark, Cliff Milliner led from Tom White and Josh Beardshaw. However, the finishing order would tell a different story. While Cliff Milliner converted their early advantage into another race win, Josh Beardshaw steadily closed the gap throughout the race to finish second, with Jon Wood taking third place. Tom White, despite rounding second initially, eventually crossed the line in fourth.

The race also featured three capsizes, just after the bottom gate- an unusual occurrence for the fleet and likely the result of some unpredictable gusts. Although places were lost, all affected sailors recovered quickly and resumed racing.

With the wind continuing to shift dramatically, the race was shortened to two laps before preparations began for another course adjustment ahead of Race 3.

Race 3

Race 3 introduced the first trapezoid course of the day, complete with an outer loop. The new layout prompted plenty of discussion amongst those afloat as sailors familiarised themselves with the revised course configuration.

Despite the uncertainty, the fleet produced a clean start. Interestingly, many boats were as much as five seconds late crossing the line, perhaps reflecting caution as the breeze continued to build.

Early gains could be made by boats switching onto port tack, although any advantage proved temporary as the wind direction gradually settled and racing became more consistent.

At the front, familiar names once again occupied the leading positions. Cliff Milliner took the win ahead of Tom White in second and Jon Wood in third. Josh Beardshaw followed closely in fourth, with Gavin Young, Dave Cann and 1307 completing the next group of finishers.

Further down the fleet, some of the closest racing of the day unfolded. Charles Felgate, Steve Danyer, Andy Goodman-Smith and Shaun Welsh traded positions repeatedly, continuing a pattern that would persist throughout all five races.

The finishing order in this group saw Paul Undrell take eighth place, Charlie from CBYC finish ninth, Andy Goodman-Smith tenth, CBYC's Steve eleventh and Shaun Welsh twelfth.

Craftinsure Supernova Traveller Series and Welsh Dragon event at Cardiff Bay - photo © Carmel Royston

Race 4

By Race 4 the wind had swung even further, approaching a 90-degree shift across the bay. In response, the Race Officer set a course that utilised the full width of Cardiff Bay, positioning the windward mark towards the clubhouse and providing spectators with spectacular views across the race area.

The opening lap produced another shake-up in positions. Jon Wood enjoyed an excellent first lap and led the fleet early on. Gavin Young occupied second place after the opening circuit, while Tom White sat third.

As the race progressed, positions continued to change. Gavin Young converted their strong start into a podium finish, ending the race in third place. Meanwhile, Jon Wood slipped back through the fleet to finish fifth after their impressive opening lap.

The constantly shifting breeze ensured that no position was secure and rewarded sailors who adapted quickest to the changing conditions.

Race 5

The final race of the day remained on the trapezoid format with an outer loop and delivered one of the most memorable moments of the event. CBYC's Martin in 1307 led the fleet approaching the windward mark, holding a narrow advantage over the chasing pack. As the leaders converged on the mark, Tom White and Cliff Milliner joined him in an exceptionally close approach, with all three boats arriving virtually three abreast on port tack.

Faced with a tight rounding situation, Martin elected to back out rather than force the issue at the mark. The decision cost him the lead as both Tom White and Cliff Milliner by now on starboard lay-lines rounded ahead, but he quickly regrouped and fought back into second place during the following lap.

The battle at the front remained intense throughout the race, with Martin ultimately securing third place at the finish after an impressive recovery and a fast reach to the finish.

The fifth race brought an excellent conclusion to a day characterised by shifting winds, tactical decisions, close mark roundings and competitive racing throughout the fleet. Across all five races, sailors were continually challenged by changing conditions, producing a thoroughly entertaining Welsh Dragon event in Cardiff Bay.

Craftinsure Supernova Traveller Series and Welsh Dragon event at Cardiff Bay - photo © Carmel Royston

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