Up and down

The Supernova Inland Championship had variable breezes which caused mixed results

A variety of very exclusive new trophies and generous prizes (supplied by class builders Hartley Laminates) awaited the 35 Supernovas contesting the five race Inland Championship at Blithfield.

Saturday morning broke with glorious sunshine and a flat calm sailing area. Nevertheless, wind began to fill in around the 12.00 start time and after a brief postponement, it was Paul Earnshaw in the lead after lap one in the light, but gradually increasing conditions, followed by Mark Giles and Helen Brittan. With large shifts and variable patches of breeze across the course, concentration was the order of the day with positions changing constantly. Eventually, current Winter Champion, Steve Broom took the honours, followed by Gibson, Giles, Pakes and Mountain.

As cloud pushed in, the breeze increased substantially for race two, with Mark Hartley showing his usual unbeatable pace in these conditions, leading comfortably from start to finish, ahead of Flitcroft, Pakes, Broom and Richard Hartley.

As the breeze eased back, race three saw the larger helms falling back into the pack. with a finishing order of Barry Buzzard, Broom, Flitcroft, Woodhead and Chris Hawley.

Despite lying second overnight, Flitcroft was forced to leave the regatta early. After one of Blithfield’s legendary evenings and one or two sore heads the following morning, the final two races were held in light conditions.

Race four saw Broom and Woodhead lead the fleet round the first mark and stayed ahead of the rest. After a trading places up the last beat, it was Woodhead who took the honours by a whisker, from Broom, followed by Gibson, Mountain and R Hartley.

Light conditions remained for the final race. Chris Hawley was first to round and never looked back. Finishing positions were C. Hawley, Pakes, S Hawley, Earnshaw and Broom.

Results:

1-Broom
2-Pakes
3-Gibson
4-C Hawley
5-R Hartley
6-Earnshaw