Supernova National Championship 2025 at the WPNSA

Supernova National Championship 2025 at the WPNSA - Overall

by Chris Hawley 5 Jul 04:13 PDT 27-29 June 2025

It wasn't that long ago that the Supernova fleet were excited for their upcoming visit to Plymouth for the 2025 national championships. Sadly things weren't to be with some overrunning building work unfortunately leaving us without a venue.

Cue super Chair Tony Bleasdale and event coordinator David Bibby relentlessly trying to find us a replacement venue. Not only did they manage to find a venue for the same dates, but they also managed to get us into the impressive Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

The change in venue no-doubt cost a few entries but it was an impressive 88 nonetheless. Thank you to Hartley Boats for their continued support of the class and helping us out with the WNPSA entry fee.

Day 0

As is typical most of the fleet arrived a day early. A great opportunity for bimbling, checking out the latest mods and catching up with old friends.

It was also an opportunity to see the 505 sailors coming ashore from what was a windy day for them out in the bay. We know 505s like it windy but with them using phrases like "fruity" and "full on" we knew we were in for a punchy couple of days.

Supernova Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © David Henshall

2024 champion Sam Knight turned up to give us a great technical talk with other former champions including Matt Thursfield and Cliff Milliner - a great community feel.

Day 1

After a sail tuning session from top sail designer Steve, we ventured outside for what ended up being a strong breeze of mid 20s knots and some lumpy conditions. The sea sailors, the larger sailors and those born without fear did notably well. The new small sail proved itself to be effective, achieving some great results.

Great sailing conditions and we definitely had all earned the hot pasta served up ashore. In particular Alex Horlock who achieved 3 bullets.

Here's a bit of onboard action from Duncan Cheshire:

Day 2

After a long old wait the decision was taken for the fleet to sail in the harbour. Despite the continued fresh breeze the waves were more in control (favouring the pondies) and there was poor visibility with some kind of sea fog.

Supernova Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © David Henshall

Changes through the fleet as the wind eased to high teens by the last race, but at the top it was still Alex Horlock at the top with 3 more bullets.

Alex Horlock wins the Supernova Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Chris Hawley

Day 3

We waited and waited but the committee made a clear call at 11am to cancel sailing for the day with the wind not reaching our minimum 5 knots. This strong decision allowed the fleet to pack up to travel home in good time - although the lightweight sailors were crying inside at the lost opportunity to lock in some great results.

Overall

With no more sailing it ended up being another year for the big guys. A clear winner at the top but some great sailing all through the fleet. We can't remember anyone ever winning every race and in a strong fleet like the Supernova this is very impressive indeed. In an emotional victory speech Alex thanked his brother for the boat loan and his dad who turned up to tow the boat home and see the ceremony. We are really pleased to see Alex return to the fleet.

Too many standout performances to note, but Kevin Reed, Tom White, Tom Williams and Sean Ricketts all excelled over the weeked.

Chris Webber was using the FREE to use Class Association loan boat, a tool to allow new sailors to try our fleet. He's a very accomplished sailor and finished second overall, in a "post match" interview Chris said:

"The Supernova has got exactly the right balance between a friendly and welcoming group of people and excellent competitive racing. Everyone in the fleet looked to be enjoying themselves at the event. The loan boat is just beautifully set up, a fantastic asset for this superb class."

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Supernova nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Club	Division	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Pts
1	1361	Alex Horlock	Exe	Platinum	‑1	1	1	1	1	1	5
2	1315	Chris Webber	Paignton	Gold	‑4	2	3	2	4	3	14
3	1337	Tom White	Olton Mere	Silver	3	4	4	3	2	‑8	16
4	1302	Matt Thursfield	Chelmarsh	Platinum	2	‑7	2	7	7	2	20
5	1357	Cliff Milliner	Cotswold	Platinum	5	‑6	5	4	6	4	24
6	1115	Peter Mackin	Stokes Bay SC	Platinum	6	3	7	‑9	3	7	26
7	1073	Sean Ricketts	Bartley	Gold	7	5	6	‑29	5	6	29
8	1218	Hugo Hansen	Cotswold	Platinum	12	16	(DNC [86])	5	11	5	49
9	1188	Kevin Reed	Roadford Lake	Bronze	9	10	12	10	10	‑21	51
10	1306	Richard Lambert	Bough Beech	Gold	19	‑31	9	6	8	10	52
11	1358	Gavin Young	Cotswold	Platinum	11	11	8	8	‑17	14	52
12	1163	Luke Fisher	Emberton Park	Bronze	10	12	10	11	13	‑15	56
13	1095	Thomas Williams	Bartley	Gold	13	8	‑21	13	19	20	73
14	1356	Mike Critchley	Bolton	Platinum	15	13	18	17	12	‑31	75
15	1201	Christopher Williams	Cotswold	Gold	8	19	‑37	26	9	16	78
16	1359	Andrew Flitcroft	Bolton	Gold	16	‑40	11	15	15	24	81
17	1248	Matthew Williams	Cotswold	Gold	21	18	16	16	‑43	13	84
18	1246	Anthony Critchley	Bolton	Gold	14	21	20	14	16	‑32	85
19	700	Douglas White	Cotswold	Bronze	‑28	17	13	19	21	18	88
20	1258	Ian Howett	Haversham	Silver	22	14	14	18	22	‑38	90
21	1333	Chris Hawley	Bartley	Gold	24	‑30	19	21	20	12	96
22	1162	Oliver Crocker	Cotswold	Silver	23	9	‑31	12	25	28	97
23	1319	Sean Muldoon	Haversham	Silver	40	‑41	25	23	14	9	111
24	1027	Steve Broom		Bronze	17	‑28	15	25	28	26	111
25	1318	James Gerwat	Shoreham	Gold	20	‑27	22	27	24	22	115
26	1329	Martin Smith	Chelmarsh	Gold	33	20	(RET [86])	22	30	11	116
27	1267	Jeremy Higson	Bartley	Gold	25	24	17	31	‑35	19	116
28	1202	Martin Burgess	Bough Beech	Silver	18	25	(RET [86])	39	18	17	117
29	1252	Andrew Gomm	Ogston	Gold	26	15	26	‑36	29	23	119
30	1309	Daniel Stewardson	Emberton Park	Bronze	‑46	23	36	20	27	39	145
31	1244	Julian White	Cotswold	Bronze	‑35	32	28	28	33	29	150
32	1249	Marcus Shaw	Girton	Silver	34	‑49	23	33	23	40	153
33	1256	Paul Burton	Girton	Bronze	36	22	30	‑50	41	27	156
34	1094	Clive Brown	Bolton	Gold	32	36	27	42	‑73	25	162
35	1281	Duncan Cheshire	Chelmarsh	Silver	29	29	‑46	37	39	34	168
36	1353	Dana Church	Notts County	Gold	38	‑43	29	41	32	36	176
37	1263	Daniel Morgans	Pembrokeshire YC	Bronze	30	33	35	‑44	38	43	179
38	1261	Shaun Welsh	Porthpean	Bronze	27	37	24	45	50	‑52	183
39	1219	Alistair Boyd	Haversham	Bronze	(RET [86])	44	33	40	36	30	183
40	1342	Philip Hind	Ogston	Silver	‑59	42	56	30	26	37	191
41	1257	Mike Gibson	Bartley	Gold	49	26	‑51	49	34	33	191
42	1277	Douglas Rankin	Blithfield	Silver	31	35	39	‑46	40	46	191
43	1230	Chris Kneale	Cardiff Bay	Bronze	‑56	34	32	34	47	48	195
44	1272	Andy Goodman Smith	Attenborough	Bronze	‑47	46	38	47	37	35	203
45	1250	David Partridge	Chelmarsh	Silver	42	38	‑50	48	44	42	214
46	1223	Jon Pebody	Hunts	Silver	50	39	40	43	49	‑57	221
47	1275	Rob Bell	Emberton Park	Bronze	37	50	(RET [86])	35	54	54	230
48	1176	Mark Hitchmough	Bowmoor	Bronze	39	48	(RET [86])	51	46	50	234
49	698	Charles Felgate	Cardiff Bay	Bronze	44	52	34	60	45	‑63	235
50	1184	Garry Butterfield	Bartley	Silver	43	‑59	45	56	52	44	240
51	1126	Alex Clapperton	Lilliput	Bronze	52	(DNC [86])	DNC [86]	32	42	41	253
52	1307	Martin Roots	Cardiff Bay	Gold	41	(DNC [86])	DNC [86]	24	61	45	257
53	1215	Michael Malcolm	Haversham	Bronze	‑61	56	43	57	59	47	262
54	1269	James Paterson	Bartley	Bronze	60	‑62	42	59	55	56	272
55	1220	Matthew Endlish	Bowmoor	Bronze	‑68	57	49	55	56	59	276
56	1334	Stephen Blair	Beaver SC	Bronze	53	55	(RET [86])	63	57	51	279
57	1151	Andrew Bethell	Lilliput	Bronze	58	53	47	61	‑63	62	281
58	1360	Owen Griffiths	Bowmoor	Gold	63	51	(RET [86])	53	60	61	288
59	1059	Adrian Davis	Girton	Silver	51	45	41	(RET [86])	DNS [86]	66	289
60	1180	David Stephen	Bartley	Bronze	(RET [86])	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	38	31	49	290
61	1235	Malcolm Crundwell	Exe	Bronze	69	60	(RET [86])	58	51	60	298
62	1282	Gareth Blakemore	Bartley	Bronze	64	63	44	64	‑68	68	303
63	1074	Richard Williams	Bartley	Bronze	62	58	(DNC [86])	54	67	67	308
64	1021	Daniel Boddice	Bartley	Bronze	‑65	65	53	65	62	64	309
65	1009	Steve Jellicoe	Olton Mere	Bronze	45	47	48	(RET [86])	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	312
66	1083	Serena Stewardson	Emberton Park	Bronze	‑70	66	52	62	64	69	313
67	1172	Emily Osborne	Ogston	Bronze	‑71	67	55	66	65	65	318
68	1069	Andy Marshall	Bowmoor	Bronze	55	64	(RET [86])	68	66	70	323
69	1134	Tom Baldwin	Ogston	Bronze	66	69	54	69	69	‑71	327
70	1203	Steve Johnson	Cotswold	Bronze	(DNC [86])	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	52	58	55	337
71	1211	David Hansen	Cotswold	Bronze	67	61	57	73	(DNS [86])	DNC [86]	344
72	1298	Matthew English	Bowmoor	Bronze	(RET [86])	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	72	48	53	345
73	1190	Nick Booth	Pembrokeshire YC	Bronze	(DNC [86])	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	67	53	58	350
74	1103	David Allen	Haversham	Bronze	54	54	(RET [86])	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	366
75	1305	Stuart Stephen	Bartley	Bronze	48	68	(RET [86])	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	374
76	1041	James Ashworth	Cotswold	Bronze	(RET [86])	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	74	71	72	389
77	1057	Ian Casewell	Cotswold	Bronze	(DNC [86])	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	71	70	RET [86]	399
78	1099	Peter Housley	Swarkstone	Bronze	57	(DNC [86])	DNC [86]	RET [86]	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	401
79	1196	Mike Griffiths	Emberton Park	Bronze	(DNC [86])	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	75	72	DNS [86]	405
80	1254	Tony Bleasdale	Girton	Bronze	(DNC [86])	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	70	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	414
81	1362	Paul Undrell	Cotswold	Silver	(DNC [86])	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	430
81	588	Karen Bell	Emberton Park	Bronze	(RET [86])	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	430
81	1363	Tony English	Bowmoor	Bronze	(DNC [86])	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	430
81	436	Owen Griffiths	Bowmoor	Bronze	(DNC [86])	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	430
81	1124	Colin Ricketts	Bartley	Bronze	(DNC [86])	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	DNC [86]	430

Gold - Sean Ricketts (Bartley)
Silver - Luke Fisher (Emberton)
Bronze - Steve Broom (Spinnaker)
Beginner - No entrants

Ladies - Serena Stewardson (Emberton)
Youth - Matthew English (Bowmoor)
Family - Mike and Tony Critchley
Team - Cotswold

Cotswold Team at the Supernova Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Chris Hawley

An event like this doesn't happen on its own. Massive thank you to Tony Bleasdale and the rest of the Committee for their efforts. Thanks also to the team at WNPSA for a great event and finally thanks to everyone for joining - it is only worth the effort if people turn up.

Roll on 2026 where the event will be "North" - location and dates TBC!!! Early running shows Richard Lambert as the gate boat - so we can spend the next year practicing his port starts.