the Hartley Boats Supernova Inland National Championship

Report

Supernova Inland Championship at Grafham Water Sailing Club

by Chris Hawley 9 Sep 12:32 BST2-3 September 2023

Downwind during the Supernova Inlands 2023 at Grafham Water © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Class Chairman Iain Barlow had worked hard to get 69 pre-entries signed up for the Hartley Boats Inland Championships - the single biggest collection of Supernovas Inland in the Class' history.

The headline number was tantalisingly close to 70 and so Iain was very glad the NoR allowed for late entrants to be added in, as was James Gerwat who had made the journey from Felpham thinking he'd already signed up. So we hit the weekend with an incredible 70 entries and one of the best inland waters in the UK - all we needed was wind....

First Morning - Supernova Inlands 2023 at Grafham Water - photo © Chris Hawley

The forecast of the Indian summer was causing a few concerns with Sunday looking like 2 knots with the occasional 3 knot gust. This wouldn't reach the required 5 knot minimum and so the chatter in the dinghy park was whether this might become a 1 day event.

The Race Officer and Class Committee took a very pragmatic approach and decided on a stretching target of 6 (yes 6!) back to back races on the Saturday. There was certainty breeze across the lake, more than forecast, and hikers and spray tops were order of the day.

As ever there was great racing all through the fleet with lots of battles. The comments below are based on a slightly hazy memory of the pointy end of the fleet.

Race 1

We started the first race in a nice 10 to 12 knot breeze. The most keen to start was outgoing Class event coordinator Tony Bleasdale - sadly for Tony the Uniform flag was flying so he suffered the first disqualification of the day. On the right side of the line it was the usual Cotswold Sailing Club superstar pairing of Gavin Young and Cliff Milliner out of the traps like greyhounds. Matt Thursfield and Chris Hawley had a good first beat and were in hot pursuit by the top mark. Chris managed to take Matt on the reach, as did Steve Hawley and Alex Reeve who were now right in the mix, showing their as ever consistent boat speed.

As Cliff and Gavin sailed off into the horizon (Cliff pulling away a little to take line honours and win the Paul Earnshaw trophy) it was Alex determined to make it a full Cotswold podium and he pulled away from Steve and Chris on the final run. Steve finished 4th, Chris 5th.

Fourth and first Veteran Mike Gibson - Supernova Inlands 2023 at Grafham Water - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Race 2

Race 2 was all about going right, right and then more right. Matt was "on it", with Chris able to follow like an excited puppy, the two of them were still pipped to the top mark by Gavin and Cliff. With Alex and Mike Gibson all in the mix it was a close first reach.

On the run, the top 4 managed to pull out enough distance to avoid the wind shadow of the chasing fleet and given the wind shift the second beat had fewer opportunities for gains and losses. Finishing order was Cliff, Gavin, Matt then Chris. Alex bested the rest to finish 5th.

Third overall Chris Hawley - Supernova Inlands 2023 at Grafham Water - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Race 3

Pre-start it looked like going right again and the battle for the committee boat saw several boats OCS including Chris Aubrey in a mark 1 who had been performing well with an 8th in race 1. I have to say my memory of the first beat was a bit hazy as the blood rushed to my head - having gone right early I thought I was on the lift of my life and on for first to the windward - unfortunately for me (and a few others too!) we'd sailed to the wing mark. The boats that had ducked us and continued going right had smashed it out of the ballpark. Tony Critchley and Matt Williams were in the driving seat, with great performances from others such as Nick Whiles.

The wind then went a bit peculiar with some interesting patches and shifts as the wind settled in the new direction. There was no challenging Tony and Matt W who were home and dry well before everyone else. Matt T was consistent and achieved another 3rd with Nick in 4th. 5th was Phil North, a very impressive performance.

Second overall Gavin Young - Supernova Inlands 2023 at Grafham Water - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Race 4

The wind had settled a bit more in race 4, but the strength had dropped and we were only just hitting the 5 knot limit. Cliff and Gavin were leaders again as we went into the first run, and by some margin. Chris and Mike in pursuit leading the peloton on a huge gust that worried the leading pair. With the lead eaten away at the bottom marks, it felt like all to play for in the final beat. The leading 2 pulled out a bit more, and as the breeze started to drop even more there was no catching them.

Mike showed impressive downwind speed to take the final podium spot, Chris 4th and Tony 5th. Special mention to Serena Stewardson for a stellar performance to finish 6th.

Winner Cliff Milliner - Supernova Inlands 2023 at Grafham Water - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Races 5 and 6

With the wind dropping further the decision was made that we couldn't hit the 5 knot minimum and after a short postponement racing was abandoned for the day.

Sunday

Sunday dawned with an impressive fog, representative of some of the "foggy" heads from a good evening in the bar the night before. Saturday night had been a classic great food, great company and catching up with friends.

Sunny Sunday morning - Supernova Inlands 2023 at Grafham Water - photo © Sally Bleasdale

A good early decision was made and the prize-giving started whilst some of us were still tucking into our bacon sandwiches. Several had been counting on a discard that wasn't to come, including Steve (with an uncharacteristic 44th) and Tony (with a 31st to go with his 1st) - sadly it wasn't to be and it was all races counting meaning consistency won the day.

Whilst it was disappointing to lose a day, such is the nature of sailing and having a day back to travel home early, drop the boat off and enjoy the sunny weather was a silver lining.

For full Results - see the results page.

First Overall - Cliff Milliner - 2023 Supernova Inland Champion

Second - Gavin Young

Third - Chris Hawley

Silver - Hugo Hansen
Bronze - James Adair
Veteran - Mike Gibson
Master - Alex Reeve
Youth - Sean Rickets
Mark 1 - Alan Bishop
1st Lady - Serena Stewardson
Paul Earnshaw Trophy (r1 win) - Cliff Milliner