The Supernova 2006 Nationals were sailed at Saundersfoot Sailing Club over a 4 dayperiod with 2 races scheduled for each day. The championship proved to be a very tightly fought competition with several people in with a chance of winning right up to the last day. However at the end of the event it was the wind that had the last say on who was to win the Championship. The competition included several categories, Gold Fleet, Silver Fleet, Ladies Helm, Under 21’s, Over 50’s and Over 60’s and was generously sponsored by Hartley Laminates with excellent prizes going to all the top places.

Those people who were unable to attend missed out on an excellent event. Not only did Saundersfoot prove to be an excellent sailing venue but we also had excellent hosts and excellent entertainment. The battle between Bolton, Bartley, Severn and Haversham continued on and off the water. Bartley SC definitely wining the dancing competition, somehow Severn SC wining the Pool competition, and Haversham SC without a doubt winning the overall drinking and entertainment competition. Unfortunately for Bolton, Tony seemed a rather lonely figure once Helen Britan had departed, but like a true northerner did show that he could take his drink, unlike Richard Pakes who was somewhat under the weather after one evenings drinking. (Rich stick with the Cider in future!!).

On Saturday 10 th June the first race was scheduled to start at 3 p.m. but due to the strength of wind and the excessive waves the OOD was unable to launch the safety committee boats and therefore the start was delayed until 4.30 p.m. This seemed like a lucky break for Steve Broom, a Championship favourite, who would have missed the original start. However things were not to go all Steve’s way that day. When the race finally got underway, in a reducing force 4 wind, it was Steve Broom who headed the field followed closely by Richard Pakes. Unfortunately, or was it exuberant youth, Steve Broom and the following three boats did not notice the shorten course flag and continued around the course. This allowed the more experienced competitor, Mark Giles who held off strong competition from Dave Everett, to take the winning gun 3 rd place was taken by Geoff Richards and 4 th Mark Hawley. In the silver fleet Chris Bower showed his intentions recording an overall 5 th followed closely by Ken Carroll in 8 th position.

The first lady of the day was Lesley Geanes who finished an excellent 10 th and showed her intentions for the Championship.

By the time the 2 nd race started some competitors were wondering if they would ever get back for Dinner that evening and more importantly were concerned that precious drinking time was being lost. Geoff Tucker, well known to be the first to the bar at Haversham no matter where he finishes in the race, was so concerned that he managed to record his best result of the whole competition finishing a very respectable 7 th, and of course he was the first in the bar.

On the first beat of the second race the fleet split into two, those heading in land to avoid the tide and those heading out to sea looking for additional wind. The sea route proved to be the right decision and Mark Giles, having been so surprised at winning the first race, took the bull by the horns and was leading the pack by the first mark followed closely by Paul Earnshaw, Tony Critchley and Chris Hawley. The group that went in land included favourites Steve Broom and Richard Pakes, which after there earlier mistake put them in an almost unrecoverable position in the Championship. In a dying wind the order at the front remained unchanged to the finish leaving Mark Giles with 2 firsts and leading the championship.

The entertainment for the week kicked off with a welcome and drinks with Saundersfoot Commodore, followed by the AGM. The major talking points from the AGM being the future resignation of Chairman Mike Gibson, and Race Programme Organiser, Neil Boneham. How will we go about replacing these two stalwarts, any volunteers?

This was a fairly quiet evening and not an indication how things would liven up throughout the Championship. However fun was had by all and the impromptu Pool championship showed the Hawley brothers are not only inconsistent when sailing. Chris in particular showed flashes of genius followed by shots that are rarely seen on TV. Having managed to be first to the bar it was Jeff Tucker and comrade in arms Geoff Birch who were also last to leave, not surprisingly Jeff Tuckers results deteriorated throughout the week.

This race was to prove quite a turning point in the Championship. A number of the fleet noticed that the OOD had set a line that was a port bias and that end of the line ended up rather crowded. Although it appeared that a large number of boats had been over the line it was only the unlucky Tony Critchley who was recorded OCS. The race started in a fresh breeze of about 15 knots and it was time for Mark and Richard Hartley, who on the previous day were obviously travel weary, to wake up and show the fleet how to sail the Supernova in the breeze. Some comments were made about how raked there masts must be to have the boom so close to the side decks (have they been taking tips from the Phantom sailors), some more sceptical, were asking the question “Is there sail bigger than mine how come there so fast?”. However Mark showed great skill and was able to hold off competition from Richard Pakes, Norman Halstead and father Richard Hartley, to take his first win of the Championship.

Mike Gibson at this stage must have been getting worried as he had recorded results 666, was this sign or was Mike just be-devilled by boat problems.

In the Veterans competition Neil Boneham showed that Mark Giles was not going to have an easy ride recording an overall 9 th with Mark Giles back in 12 th position. Obviously the pressure of two firsts on Day 1 was proving too much to bear on Mark’s youthful shoulders. In the Silver fleet Ken Carroll recorded an overall 7 th and Jeff Tucker an overall 11 th.

Race 4 got underway with the wind still blowing about 15 – 20 knots and it was the Hartley’s who once again were dominating the race with Richard Pakes again showing his strong wind expertise to keep within fighting distance. The wind strength and large waves provided an excellent mix to show just how good the Supernova handles the conditions. For those who hadn’t sailed the boat on the sea before there were many comments about the boats excellent characteristics. Surfing down the waves proved to be great entertainment for sailors and spectators. Unfortunately for the photographers, sitting around in the boats taking the pictures, the conditions were a little too much and that well known nausea feeling was to affect at least one. (We’re all looking forward to seeing the pictures).

The race finished 1 st Mark Hartley, 2 nd Richard Hartley, 3 rd Richard Pakes. Mike Gibson finally managed to break his sequence and finished 4 th. Jeff Mountain sailed extremely well to record is best position of the Championship finishing 6 th.

Ken Carroll at this stage had taken the lead in the Silver fleet but unfortunately had to leave the competition the following day leaving the door open for Chris Bowyer and Jeff Tucker.

The only evening that we had rain !! Yes it was BBQ time! The club arranged an excellent spread of food and after the hard days sailing it was welcomed by all. Jeff Tucker was again first in the bar and last to leave along with the rest of the Haversham crowd. Dave Everett did stay and keep them company and drove a hard bargain selling off old Supernova goodies. Somehow he managed to persuade Jeff Tucker that a boot bag would make a good rain cap, Jeff was to been seen sporting this cap on several occasions afterwards, he’s obviously a fashion setter.

Well it had to happen at least once, we got to the start line the wind was shifting about 40 degrees. The OOD tried to lay a course and then the wind shifted. After over an hour of waiting the wind finally seemed to be settling down. We prepared for the start with a Port biased line, as we got to the 1 minute gun the port bias was getting worse and there was a mass exodus toward that end of the line, 30 seconds to go OOD takes the right decision before a mass pile up and postpones again. (Big groans).

When the race finally gets underway it is Tony Critchley who dominates proceedings. The first 4 places in this race being taken by the final days title contenders, 1 st Tony Critchley, 2 nd Norman Halstead, 3 rd Paul Earnshaw and 4 th Mark Hartley.

Richard Pakes and Steve Broom taking 5 th and 6 th respectively again showing what might have been had it not been for the mistake on the first race.

Despite being on the water for nearly 4 hours before the start of this race it was worth the wait with the strongest winds of the competition so far. It was the Hartley’s again who showed there strong weather expertise with father Richard taking the early lead. However this race they did not get things all their own way and Norman Halstead showed how to sail downwind in the stronger airs and was able to pass both Mark and Richard to take the gun. It was a shame for Richard who dropped his mainsheet on the last leg only to let Mark slip through into second position. Stephen Hawley showed his strong wind expertise in passing Paul Earnshaw and Tony Critchley to take his best position of the championship finishing 6 th.

At the end of Day 3 there were 4 people in serious contention for the title:

Norman Halstead 18 points
Mark Hartley 21 points
Paul Earnshaw 22 points
Tony Critchley 23 points

Following close behind were a number of people on 30 points so it was wide open for the championship.

The last evening and what an evening ahead…..

Little did we know about the skills of Mike Gibson on the Tambourine, Richard Pakes on the Bongo the dancing skills of Mrs Watton.

A local band was booked for the evening we were told they were loud but very good.

Mark Hartley was obviously taking things very seriously as he retired early, I guess these young lads don’t have the same stamina?! Tony Critchley and Paul Earnshaw were certainly taking things seriously mainly Paul standing on the foot rest at the bar to be able to shout in Tony’s ear that Yorkshire were going to whip Lancashire in the morning. Norman, where was Norman??

The winds had disappeared again, but we all headed for the start in the hope of a freshening breeze. It was pleasing to hear the call’s of good luck from the leading competitors as they waited for the start. The spirit of the competition had from day 1 been keen but friendly.

The race got away on time in a gentle 2 – 3 breeze and Mark Giles once again found himself heading the fleet only to be caught out on the second lap by a major windshift that allowed Mark Hartley and Paul Earnshaw to slip through into 1 st and 2 nd places.

Mark and Paul managed to pull away from the following pack and at this stage, with Norman Halstead and Tony Critchley some boats behind, were holding 1 st and 2 nd places overall. About 35 minutes into the race the wind died, Mark and Paul looked secure with only Mike Gibson and Steve Broom being within striking distance. Unfortunately for the leading two boats things were about to go from bad to worse. On the final run Norman Halstead, Steve Broom and Geoff Richards managed to find the slightest bit of breeze and hauled in the lead. The race finishing with

1 st Steve Broom, 2 nd Norman Halstead, 3 rd Mark Hartley, 4 th Geoff Richards and 5 th Paul Earnshaw.

In the battle for the Silver fleet Chris Bower kept up his bid for the title finishing 11 th with Jeff Tucker finishing 16th

The rain had now set in and the wind had died. Facing the prospect of having to wait around on the last day for several hours, waiting for wind in a monsoon rainstorm, a unanimous decision was taken that we would abandon the race and head home.

Over the 4 days it was noticeable how close the racing was and the spirit in which the races were sailed. Up to the last day anyone of the top 8 boats could have won the title. In the end Norman Halstead showed his skills in being able to compete in all conditions and that you don’t have to be a young athlete to be able to compete in the class.

Overall the event completed 7 out of 8 races excellently organised by Saundersfoot SC. It was a pleasure for everyone to partake and most competitors expressed their wish to return to such a great location. Thanks to Saundersfoot SC for their excellent hospitality.    Full Results