Supernova Dinghy Fleet Divisions

Background:

The 2023 AGM voted in favour of reworking the previous Gold/Silver/Bronze system in favour of an alternative. The Committee have developed a system of five "Divisions" with the aim of reflecting the wide range of expertise and experience of Supernova sailors. The aim of the updated approach is to spread the prizes more evenly through the fleet, encourage competition at every level and provide extra incentive for sailors to progress. 

2024 is essentially a transition year as some of the qualification criteria are based on the prior year's Division results (which will become relevant for future seasons).   Divisions will be recalculated after each Inland Championship (to align with the travellers events) and apply for the following year to and including the Inland Championships*.

Important - anyone in any Division can win any event and individuals will only be eligible to win a single prize at prize givings. 

In the situation that a member achieves a podium result at any Championship event they will be automatically advanced into the Platinum Division.  This will apply from and including that event and all events for the remaining period until the next reassessment of Divisions. 

It is up to host clubs of travellers events to decide how they decide prizes at events, but considering the Division system is encouraged.

*The Committee and the Fleet Manager reserves the right to allocate sailors to another Division based on past performance in another class or in the Supernova Class.

2024 Classifications

The Divisions for 2024 can be found in the link HERE.

The Fleet Manager will be able to provide explanation of any individual's fleet classificaition if required.

Criteria

The criteria for the Divisions are as follows:

Platinum recognises the elite performers, including those who have won a Supernova National Championship over the last ten years, plus those who, during the previous season, have achieved any of the following:

  • Top 10% overall at any Championship
  • Winner of any of the Travellers’ circuits (Combined, North or South)
  • Winner of the Gold Division at any Championship

Gold consists of those who don’t qualify as Platinum but, during the previous season, have achieved any of the following:

  • Top 25% overall at any Championship
  • Top three of the Silver Division at any Championship
  • Top three in any of the Travellers’ circuits (Combined, North or South)
  • Winner of any open meeting

Silver consists of those who don’t qualify as Platinum or Gold but, during the previous season, have achieved any of the following:

  • Top 50% overall at any Championship
  • Top five in the Bronze Division at any Championship
  • Top five in any open meeting

Bronze consists of those who don’t qualify in Platinum, Gold or Silver and is the default for most sailors.  It is also the fleet that all new sailors will enter. At National events any Bronze division member who gains a final result above the top 30% will be Automatically Advanced into the Silver division for awards in that event and year remaining, and into their qualifying division for the following year.

Beginner is sub-division of Bronze and can be opted into at the start of an event by sailors who would like to be in this Division.  Should a Beginner finish in the top 70% at any event they will be Automatically Advanced to be Bronze classification for that event and year remaining, and into their qualifying division for the following year.

(All percentages will be rounded down and based on boats competing not boats entered e.g 102 boats registered, but 99 competing, top 10% is positons 1-9)