Supernova Information, Review, Specs

History and Design

The Supernova's journey began with its design by Mark Giles, with production starting in 1996. Hartley Boats later took over the manufacturing, aiming to enhance the boat's appeal and comfort. Their redesign efforts focused on creating a more comfortable sitting position within the cockpit and achieving a sleek, stylish aesthetic. The Supernova is maintained as a "one design" class, meaning its hull, sail, and foils adhere to strict rules to foster close and competitive racing. Built with solid fiberglass hulls, Hartley Boats leverages its extensive expertise in fiberglass laminating to ensure the durability and performance of each boat.

Sailing Performance and Handling

Measuring 14.4 feet overall, the Supernova is lauded as one of the fastest single-handed, non-trapeze dinghies available. Its cat rig, with a reported sail area of 86 square feet, contributes to its lively and responsive character. Designed for high performance, it offers a "Super rig," a high boom for improved ergonomics, continuous control lines, and ball-bearing blocks, all contributing to efficient handling. Owners frequently praise its responsive yet stable feel, making it enjoyable to sail.

While generally a strong performer, some owners note that the Supernova tends to excel particularly in flat water and light wind conditions, with its hull shape being less forgiving upwind in choppy seas. Effective boat handling in strong, gusty, or shifty winds requires practice, with proper mast rake and Cunningham adjustments being crucial for depowering the sail. Hartley Boats continuously seeks to innovate within the class, introducing new developments such as a "square top" mainsail in early 2024.

Accommodations and Layout

As a dedicated racing dinghy, the Supernova's accommodations are focused on an open and functional cockpit layout rather than a cabin. The cockpit is described as roomy and self-draining, with its design specifically optimized for comfort during sailing. Its low-weight epoxy build not only contributes to its performance but also to its sleek and sensational style. Storage is typically limited to essential racing gear, consistent with its design as a high-performance single-hander.

Owner's Perspectives

Owners often highlight the Supernova's responsive yet stable nature as a key strength. It is also recognized for being very easy to right, a valuable characteristic for a racing dinghy. However, some owners of older Giles-designed and early Hartley-built Supernovas have reported issues such as hull cracks stemming from rig tension, though these are generally considered easily fixable. Additionally, instances of cracks appearing on the decking have been noted on some boats. Despite these isolated reports, many owners, including those with older models, have experienced no significant problems with their hull or rig over many years. The active Supernova Dinghy Class Association provides a robust community where owners discuss setup, tuning, and racing strategies. Hartley Boats stands behind its craftsmanship, offering a four-year guarantee on its build quality.