The Cheltenham Gold Cup was not the only competitive racing in the Cotswolds in mid-March. The going was officially tough for the twenty-six Supernovas at South Cerney on 17 March.

In race 1 Mike Gibson led tthe first leg but later hit a mark, leaving four others dominating and exchanging places frequently. Mid-race Richard Pakes seemed to have an unassailable lead, but by their return to the windward mark Jeff Mountain, local Norman Halstead, Bruce Howett and Richard Pakes were again bow to transom. A few capsizes gradually extended what had been a close-packed fleet. Finally Halstead took the race, followed in fast succession by Pakes, Mountain and Howett.

By the second race the gusts were building. Again Howett, Pakes, Gibson and Halstead led. The fleet began to thin with increasing capsizes but the skills of Howett, Pakes and Gibson in difficult conditions brought them first, second and third.

The final race commenced after a 30-minute postponement, and the force 6 matched the remaining competitors. Gibson led over the line and was still ahead after the first mark, amid many hectic events in between. In truly heroic sailing Howett, Gibson, Pakes, Boneham and Halstead battled each other and the conditions to finish in that order.

Overall Results:

Full Results