Zhik SB20 UK National Championships in Falmouth - set to go

by Katie Jackson on 5 Jul 2013 All but half a handful of the thirty one entries in the Zhik SB20 UK National Championships are launched and ready for racing. The Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, Falmouth will host three days of windward leeward racing under the expert management of Chief Race Officer, Peter Saxton.

This is the third occasion that the fleet have made the journey west to Falmouth for their annual Championships. The first National Championship held in Falmouth was in 2003 when Jerry Hill took his first National Championship title with a crew of Adam Heeley and Mark Tomson. The fleet returned in 2009 when Craig Burlton, also accompanied by Adam Heeley won the title. In 2013 Adam Heeley sails again with Craig Burlton and 2009 crew member Stephen ‘AB’ White. Will Heeley’s West Country winning streak grace Gill Race Team in 2013?

2012 SB20 National Championships winners Team Russia, helmed by Rodion Luka and crewed by Oleg Zherebtsov, will not defend their title in Falmouth; however there is plenty of competition at the top of the class. Jerry Hill, sailing his brand new SB20 ‘SportsboatWorld.com’ is joined by an ace crew of Whitbread veteran Craig ‘Spike’ Watson and Hill’s 2010 World Champion crew member Grant Rollerson. Steve Venables will sail Crewsaver Racing with multiple class World Champion Jim Hunt.

Paralympic gold medallist Helena Lucas, sails with Barbara ‘Bird’ Brown, Penny Clark and the RYA’s Stephen Park with a suit of sails donated by Harken, the SB20 Class Official Equipment Sponsor. Lucas is not the only female helm in the fleet; class regular and 2008 World Champion crew member, Sarah Allan will be sailing hard for top lady helm spot!

2011 National Championship winner, and also a member of Jerry Hill’s 2010 World Championship winning crew, Joe Llewellyn will helm Henri Lloyd/Forelle Estates. Llewellyn, along with co-owners and crew members Nigel Wakefield and Jerry ‘Pasty’ Vigus are tipped for the top of the fleet in what is forecast to be a light airs regatta.

This afternoon, entrants to the Zhik SB20 National Championships have enjoyed a class coaching session, laid on by Alan Hillman of Sportsboat World. 'The standard of the sailors in the session was good and it’s great to see the difference a few focus points make,' grinned Hillman as he came off the water.

So there’s plenty of competition, there’s plenty of sunshine and there’s plenty of pasties and prizes up for grabs from our sponsors Zhik, Harken and Sportsboat World. These are the makings of another splendid Championship in Falmouth. The only thing that might be missing is the wind, but we’ll wait and see what tomorrow brings. The first warning is scheduled for 12 noon on Friday 5th July.

For more information visit SB20class.com