Under leaden skies, 22 Supernovas braved slanting rain and a mean norwesterly at the Cotswold Sailing Club’s Open Meeting on 8 th May. Uncharacteristically cold the weather may have been; not so the competition, with all races hotly contested.

Boneham was first to the windward mark of a well-set course, pursued by Giles, Halstead, Flitcroft and S. Hawley. Halstead edged into the lead and held it, eventually winning from Boneham, Flitcroft, Hawley and Buzzard who had clawed his way from 11th, to push Giles into 6th.

Fortified by an excellent lunch and in a break from the rain, Everett led round the windward mark of a fresh course, followed by Halstead and these two held those positions for the second and third laps. Behind them S Hawley, Boneham, Simmons, Gibson battled for supremacy. An intense final lap saw more jockeying: Flitcroft stole the honours from Halstead, Everett, Simmons, Boneham and Gibson in that order.

Well-earned tea and then the third race with a freshening breeze and new course adding further interest. Flitcroft led from the outset despite taking the leaders on a short diversion round an additional buoy and won comfortably from Gibson, Boneham, Steve Hawley, Giles and Chris Hawley. Some of the day’s fiercest battles were mid-fleet with Jamieson, Brown, Blackwell, Birch and the gentle-natured Watton in the forefront. At the back spectators viewed bent burgees, and weed and mud splattering onto deck and helm. It takes all sorts … Full Results

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