Craftinsure Supernova Traveller Series at Cardiff Bay Yacht Club
by David Cann 19 May 17:19 NZST
11 May 2024
Craftinsure Supernova Travellers at Cardiff © Cardiff Bay Yacht Club
It was a respectable turnout of 13 boats at the Craftinsure Traveller Series event at Cardiff Bay Yacht Club, including 7 visitors mainly from Cotswolds Sailing Club but also from as far afield as Bartley and Fishguard.
The forecast had been predicting light winds all week but thankfully Competitors were greeted with brilliant sunny conditions and steady 10 knots of Easterly breeze, which is a perfect direction for Cardiff Bay.
RO Matt Sayer set a course that was in the style of a full Nationals event and everyone got away cleanly for the first race. The pin end looked good, but it was the left-hand side that paid at the top mark, Will Gifford led the way from Cotswold SC with Alex Reeve close behind. 3rd round was Paul Undrell, who was sailing fast but not always in the right direction! It was a four windward leg race with Hugo Hansen making his way up from 4th to 1st on the second windward leg to eventually take the win from, Will Gifford, Alex Reeve, then last years winner, Gavin Young in 4th.
There was no stopping for lunch (this was Nationals practice) and the RO was keen to get the races in quickly before the wind died.
Race 2 saw 'two hats' Sean Rickets from Cardiff / Bartley first to the windward mark. In hot pursuit were Gavin Young and Will Gifford from Cotswold SC. David Cann from Cardiff Bay sneaked up to 4th around but steadily lost through the rest of the race eventually finishing 8th. Unfortunately, Sean lost out to Will Gifford who eventually took the win, with Sean 2nd and Alex Reeve 3rd.
Race 3 again saw Will Gifford from Costwold SC first to the windward mark again. Close behind were Hugo Hansen and Gavin Young with Martin Roots from Cardiff Bay closely chasing in 4th. Despite some shifty conditions the order of the front four stayed the same all the way around and in the end it was Will who took the win again, from Hugo in 2nd and Gavin in 3rd.
Race 4 saw 'local hero' Dave Cann first to the windward mark after shooting off the pin end at the start with Hugo Hansen and Gavin Young on his tail. Unfortunately, Dave lost out to Hugo at the bottom mark and eventually sank back to fourth. Behind Hugo, Gavin and Will were chasing hard but were unable to close the gap with Hugo finishing 1st, Will 2nd and Gavin 3rd.
The wind was now starting to drop with the sea breeze starting to take effect on the prevailing wind but RO Matt got the race under way with wind just above the 5 knot limit. Yet again Will Gifford was firsr round closely followed by Hugo and Gavin. On the second windward leg in dropping and patchy conditions, Dave Cann from Cardiff banged the right hand corner to see him rise from 7th place to 3rd after Hugo and Will. There were a quite a few place changes throughout the fleet in the dropping and sometimes drifty conditions but eventually Hugo took the win with Will second and Alex Reeve in 3rd.
It was a Cotswold clean sweep this year and the Winner of the Supernova Dragon Trophy was Hugo Hansen with Will Gifford 2nd, and last year's winner Gavin Young 3rd
Charles Felgate was first Mk1 in 10th position but it was close racing with Geoff Turner all the way from Fishguard Bay with his Mk1 (despite being the first ever supernova it still looks like it just came out of the factory!).
Prizes kindly supported by Geldard's Solicitors.
The class association thanks Cardiff Bay Yacht Club for hosting and for all of the visitors and competitors taking park. Next event is the Sea Champs (now one day) at Exe Sailing Club.