Supernova Open at Llangorse Sailing Club

12/13 October 2003

Twenty Supernovas ventured into the Welsh mountain country for this popular event with travellers from as far as Cornwall, Bolton and Essex attending the two separate one-day events.

Saturday dawned to sunshine, unbroken blue skies and virtually no wind.

Race 1 started at about 2pm in a fickle force 1. Boneham and Brown were first round the windward mark after the wind filled in from the left side of the course. The first reach turned into a drift and the fleet bunched until the wind filled in with a 90-degree shift giving Hollier, Ingram, Giles and Hawley the advantage to the reaching mark. Trott and Furnival gained places, but the shortened race finished with Hollier followed by Ingram, Giles and Hawley.

Race 2 started with a little more wind, Furnival was first round the windward mark, followed by Hawley, Boneham and Hollier. Boneham gybed to gain the inside lead to the leeward mark from Hollier and Furnival. Hollier passed Boneham on the next reach to take a double first, Furnival coming in to a well-earned third place.

Sunday – Travellers Trophy Event

True to form Llangorse weather changed to overcast skies with a force 3 gusting 5 around the mountains, providing plenty of spills and thrills. Two back to back races were held in the morning and one after lunch.

The long windward leg in race 1 proved to be an endurance test. Flitcroft, Boneham, Simmonds, Birch, Wylde, Harris and Hawley were in the front pack, Flitcroft took an early lead but lost out to Boneham who led round the windward mark followed by Simmonds and Birch. Flitcroft came back strongly with Wylde and on the final down wind leg, Boneham lost the lead by gybing to gain inside position over Wylde. Flitcroft and Simmonds went through to first and second place Boneham dropping back to third with Wylde fourth after a penalty at the gybe mark.

The line was set with a big port bias for race two. Harris, Wylde and Hollier led the field in slightly less wind. Flitcroft, Giles and Boneham were in the running after start line errors, but Harris took an early lead, taking Wylde and Hollier with him and Boneham, Flitcroft and Giles were close on the leading bunch for much of the race and finished in that order.

The wind increased again after lunch for race 3 and Wylde, Flitcroft, Birch, Harris and Boneham were first up the windward leg. Boneham rounded the windward mark first followed by Wylde, Flitcroft and Harris, then trailing, Birch, Ingram and Giles. The race order at the front changed on the final down wind leg when Flitcroft and Wylde passed Boneham to take first and second place respectively Boneham third and Harris, Birch and Giles to fight for the remaining places.

Overall Results:

Neil Boneham