Craftinsure Supernova Traveller Series at Chelmarsh Sailing Club

Craftinsure Supernova Traveller Sequence at Chelmarsh Crusing Membership

by David Thursfield 1 Oct 23:05 PDT
29 September 2024

With forecast winds of 20+ knots, the bemused Supernova fleet gazed upon the mirror-like and windless 110 acre Chelmarsh reservoir, positioned within the coronary heart of rural Shropshire.

Nevertheless, all of them knew what was coming! By the point the fleet had launched, an 8-10 knot breeze had began to settle from the South East, giving PRO John Dickinson the size of the water to set a course filled with angles and beats.

Race 1 began on time. Matt Thursfield (1302,Chelmarsh SC) bullied the windward finish of the road main Gavin Younger (1261, Cotswold SC) and Mike Gibson (1257, Bartley SC) as clear second and third throughout the road. The close to one km beat to the windward mark noticed these boats arrive in that order with the remainder of the pack on their heels. The selection to place a future allowed these behind to cowl and get the rising gusts first.

Regardless of a ‘do not go above me’ warning on lap 1, Gavin made a transfer to windward of Matt which prompted a luffing battle permitting Mike to take the lead by a wholesome distance, the remainder of the fleet on the protagonists transoms, squabbling for room on the leeward mark.

The lengthy closing beat noticed Gavin and Matt draw back to shut the gap to Mike, the three hoots have been so shut, solely the OOD actually knew who had the bullet. Gavin, Mike, Matt.

Race 2 noticed an rising 12-15 knots of breeze. Luke Fisher (1163, Emberton Park) banged a nook and grabbed the lead place with each fingers. He led round with Duncan Cheshire (1281, Winsford Flash SC) and Chelmarsh’s David Partridge (1250) vying for the rostrum locations.

With the complete fleet now extra bunched, the requires mark room have been handed outwards creating clear however painful place modifications. Luke retained his lead till the ultimate lap when a charging Matt, getting a shifty beat bang on, simply squeezed by means of. Luke held off Gavin who took third and Mike fourth.

Race 3 adopted a legendary Chelmarsh lunch – the anticipated robust and strengthening wind had arrived. Ambient 20 knots with close to 30 at occasions rattled down the lake. Seven hardy souls took to the water. Mike was first out of the blocks with a distinct rig. This was the prototype new smaller sail from Hartley Boats, designed with the intention of giving the fleet the brand new model sail however with a 20% lowered space.

In Mike’s wake have been Dan Stewardson (1309 Emberton Park SC) and Marcus Shaw (1032, Girton SC). Three masts slammed within the water on the primary run. Mike in full management of his rig survived the loss of life rolls of his opponents. But it surely was Gavin Younger who simply dominated this race, obtained the gusts, performed the shifts, depowered his rig superbly.

Dan and Marcus battled tooth and nail for third and fourth, swapping locations by means of the maelstrom that had beset the Shropshire panorama

A final minute drama with Gavin having a 200 yard lead inside a ship size of the end line tacked into irons and was going astern! Matt was barrelling in, solely a cool head gave Gavin the race with round 20 yards to spare. Dan obtained his timing proper and led Marcus throughout the road to take third.

Taking the final gun of the day was David Partridge who survived the worst of the climate because the squally gusts continued to construct.

So it was Gavin’s second occasion of September, Matt’s bridesmaid run continues with one other second, Mike Gibson displaying class is everlasting in third. Fourth was Luke Fisher simply pipping Dan and Duncan into the minor placings.

As a observe to say, Serena Stewardson additionally took the brand new smaller sail for a racing trial within the morning races. Though not the ‘large’ winds of the afternoon, it was fascinating to listen to her ideas on how the sail carried out. “It seems to be good, it felt good, I used to be in management”.

The subsequent occasion for the Supernova Travellers is Haversham; a coaching day run by Alistair Goodwin on Saturday twelfth October, the open on the Sunday.