Please select your home edition
Edition
Barton Marine Pipe Glands

Australians set for SB20 Worlds contest

by Jane Austin 20 Oct 2019 18:40 PDT 19-25 October 2019
2019 SB20 World Championship - Sin Bin from Finland © Pierrick Contin

Australia's SB20 sailors are primed for five days of intense sailing as the 2019 SB20 World Championship gets under way in France on Monday. The World Championship is the pinnacle event for the SB20 Class, and the international fleet can expect slick and aggressive sailing from the Australians as they vie for the coveted Waterford crystal trophy and the World Champion title.

Porco Rosso (Paul McCartney, Elliott Noye and Ed Snowball) has had an intense lead-up to the Worlds, securing bronze in the SB20 UK Nationals, sixth in the Portuguese Nationals and ninth in the pre-worlds French Grand Slam. "The team is feeling good and looking forward to the regatta - there are plenty of good teams, so we'll just be sailing our own regatta and see how things unfold," said Snowball.

The Imp (Andrew Smith and Lewis Noye) competed in the pre-Worlds Grand Slam, event finishing in eighth place. Smith sailed the Grand Slam with Hyeres-local Mikael Mergui, and there's no doubt that the local knowledge gave the Aussie lads a good introduction to sailing on the Mediterranean. The team welcomes current Australian SB20 Champion David Chapman back onboard for the Worlds and is already benefiting from his presence in Hyeres, according to skipper Andrew Smith.

"We are feeling good and have nothing to lose this campaign - it's all positive for me as I'm just a farmer going sailing. Chappo [Chapman] is settling in nicely and has definitely lifted the intensity on the boat. The French have left no stone unturned in their preparations and I feel that there are 10 or even 20 boats that are good enough to win this regatta," said Smith

Aeolus (Brett Cooper, Darren Jones and Jock Calvert) will be keen to carry on their exceptional form during the Grand Slam in which they finished in seventh place. The team was the leading Australian team in the 2018 Worlds which were held in Hobart in 2018, where they finished in sixth place.

Essence of Athena (Anna Reid, Meg Goodfellow, Emily Nicholson and Issi Declerck) are going into the Worlds with an open mind and are keen to gain as much knowledge and experience as possible. The Athena team will be hoping there's some luck in sailing as Essence of Athena, as Hobart-based Clare Dabner sailed Essence of Athena to victory in the 2018 SB20 World Championship but is not defending her title in France.

Overall, the pace has well and truly been set by the crack French crew of Give Me Five FFV Youth (Robin Follin, Emeric Michael, Gaulthier Germain and Laurie Candela) who won six of nine races in the French Grand Slam. Follin is a talented and highly competitive skipper and is keen to make amends after finishing as runner-up in Hobart in 2018.

The Australians can expect stiff competition from the Russians, the Portuguese and defending World Champion Gabrielle Szoczek, sailing with Team FFVoile Esquichade. The GBR team, Xcellent (John Pollard, Jack Wetherell, Stephen Procter) is certainly a team to watch, with the waters of Hyeres like a second home to the UK National Champions.

After a hectic practice race which saw heavy conditions and only 23 boats participating, the forecast for Monday is light with less than five knots from the west. The breeze is forecast to build on Tuesday from 20 to 25 knots out of the east, with a storm forecast for Wednesday.

Racing starts at 11am on Monday 21 October 2019. Twelve races are scheduled with a discard after five races and a further discard after 10. There is no warning signal after 1400 on the final day.

The championship is sailed under the authority of the Cercle D'Organisation de Yachting de Competition Hyerois (COYCH) in Hyeres with the SB20 Class.

For more information visit www.sb20hyeres2019.com.

Related Articles

SB20 UK National Championship
Xcellent back on top as Weymouth delivers four perfect days of racing Team Xcellent, led by John Pollard, reclaimed the SB20 UK National title at Weymouth Sailing Club after four days of competitive, high-quality racing in rare "champagne conditions" on the south coast. Posted today at 2:54 pm
Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy 2025 overall
A weekend marked by strong winds, demanding seas, and top-level racing in Cascais The 6th edition of the Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy came to a close this Sunday after a weekend marked by strong winds, demanding seas, and top-level racing in Cascais. Posted on 7 Jul
Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy 2025 Preview
International sailing & ocean conservation unite in Cascais From July 4 to 6, Cascais hosts the biggest sailing regatta of the year with a strong focus on sustainability. The Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy celebrates six years of diversity, competition, and environmental commitment. Posted on 30 Jun
Key Yachting Mid-Summer Regatta 2025
65 boats took part at the Royal Southern Yacht Club Last weekend, the Royal Southern Yacht Club hosted the second event in our flagship Summer Series for 2025 - the Key Yachting Mid-Summer Regatta. Posted on 28 Jun
North Sails May Regatta 2025 at Royal Southern YC
Including Round 2 of the Cape 31 class UK series Last weekend saw the first event in the Royal Southern's flagship Summer Series for 2025 - the North Sails May Regatta. 67 boats competed across six classes on three race areas. Posted on 25 May
How Pollard's Persistence won the SB20 Worlds
Part 1 of the decade-long fight for the title John Pollard's victory at the SB20 World Championship in Singapore earlier this year shows just how far grit, determination and organisation can take you in competitive sailing. Posted on 19 May
Royal Torbay celebrating SB20 Worlds win
After 14 attempts, team Xcellent have lifted the trophy After 14 attempts at the SB20 World Championships, Royal Torbay Yacht Club's John Pollard has finally secured the ultimate prize. Posted on 3 Apr
Sail on, John!
SB20 sailor and Class Chief Measurer John Outhwaite passes away It was with much sadness that we heard of the passing of our fellow SB20 sailor and Class Chief Measurer John Outhwaite. John has been supporting the class for over 20 years and many people have been touched by his support and helpfulness. Posted on 28 Mar
Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy returns
With the introduction of the high-performance TP52 class The prestigious Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy is set to return for its sixth edition from July 4-6, 2025, promising a thrilling weekend of top-tier sailing in one of Europe's most scenic and challenging maritime locations, Cascais. Posted on 24 Mar
Britain's mixed bag wins SB20 Nations Cup 2025
Rulebook? What rulebook?! Britain's SB20 fleet proved once again that there's no set formula for success, clinching the Nations Cup at the 2025 SB20 World Championship in Singapore. Eight British teams took on the tricky conditions alongside competitors from nine other nations. Posted on 24 Mar
Barton Marine Pipe GlandsHyde Sails 2024 - One DesignPredictWind - GO! exec 728x90 BOTTOM