Please select your home edition
Edition
PredictWind - Wave Routing 728x90 TOP

Spring Bay Mill SB20 Australian Championship 2020 - Day 1

by Jane Austin 7 Mar 2020 00:56 PST 7-9 March 2020
Spring Bay Mill SB20 Australian Championship © Jane Austin

The big seas of Spring Bay are already coming under the spell of experienced SB20 sailor Nick Rogers (Karabos) in the Spring Bay Mill SB20 Australian Championship. The regatta started in hectic conditions with 19-22 knots of mostly consistent south easterly breeze causing a big swell on the Bay. The 2017 champion Brett Cooper, sailing with Darren 'Twirler' Jones and Nick Corkhill, had a strong start to the day winning the first race in convincing style with a big lead on the rest of the fleet.

Cooper was virtually across the line in the first race when a 50-degree wind shift brought the finishing fleet to a standstill in 8 knots of breeze. Race Officer Ian Ross had all but ordered his team to reset the course when the prevailing conditions set back in and stayed for the full three races.

Unfortunately for Cooper, his fortunes changed when a protest, which was resolved through arbitration, cost him a 30 per cent penalty, dropping the team from first to fourth place overall, and lifting Rogers from second to first.

Victoria's Chris Dare (Ambition), was also in the protest room after some tension at the bottom mark in Race Two, which resulted in Dare being disqualified.

Paul Burnell (Honey Badger) had a glamour start in Race Two but it was considered too glamorous by the Race Committee with a UFD costing the team the race which was won by Fraser Read (Pinch). Burnell recovered well to take Race Three.

Series standings at the end of Day One has Rogers in first place on 12 points, Brett Cooper in second place on 15 points and Phil Reid (Mind Games) in third place on 18 points.

A highlight of the sailing was the impressive work of the youth teams. In equal fourth place is Will Sargent (Taz Racing Team) and Charlie Goodfellow (Obi Kenobi) who are relishing the intensity of one-design racing in this world class fleet. Felicity Allison (Cook Your Own Dinner) is leading the Women's Division while Rogers is leading the Masters' Division. Ross will aim for five races on Sunday to take advantage of similar conditions to the first day of racing.

Related Articles

Torbay Royal Regatta 2025
Fierce competition as Tor Bay delivers champagne conditions Teams from across the country converged on the Royal Torbay Yacht Club, hosts of the latest edition of Torbay Royal Regatta, for three days of intense racing and socialising over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Posted on 8 Sep
SB20 Europeans 2025 at Ostend, Belgium overall
Tense last race crowns Witzmann European Champion The 2025 SB20 European Championship came down to a nail-biting final race, where the title was decided in a head-to-head battle. The top two teams fought until the very end with every shift, wave and tactical move shaping the outcome. Posted on 23 Aug
SB20 Europeans 2025 at Ostend, Belgium Day 4
Even rougher conditions than the day before Day 4 in Ostend brought even rougher conditions than the day before with the tide building quickly against the strong northerly breeze. This created steeper waves, making it tough for the small SB20s to drive through the chop. Posted on 22 Aug
SB20 Europeans 2025 at Ostend, Belgium Day 3
Hairy and Scary Day 3 of the SB20 European Championships in Ostend delivered another bruising test for the fleet with three races in 18-22 knots and a rough sea state that had crews working hard. Posted on 21 Aug
SB20 Europeans 2025 at Ostend, Belgium Day 2
Shake and Stir After two demanding days and six races, the leaderboard of the SB20 European Championship in Ostend has been shaken, but team Xcellent (GBR) still leads after a relentless day on the North Sea. Posted on 20 Aug
Cowes Week 2025 Delivers Spectacular Racing
199th event completed in fine style The 199th Cowes Week annual regatta was completed in fine style with over 400 boats finishing the last race off the famous Royal Yacht Squadron line under multi coloured spinnakers. Posted on 19 Aug
SB20 Europeans 2025 at Ostend, Belgium Day 1
Three races completed in afreshening breeze and challenging steep chop The SB20 European Championship in Ostend opened on Monday with a full-on test for the 40+ boat fleet. After a slow start with a two-hour delay ashore three races were completed in freshening breeze and challenging North Sea conditions. Posted on 19 Aug
SB20 Europeans 2025 set to sparkle in Ostend
Promising a week of exciting competition and Belgian hospitality The stage is set in Ostend as the SB20 European Championship gets under way, promising a week of exciting competition and Belgian hospitality. Posted on 18 Aug
26th Western Circuit Sailing Regatta wraps up
A resounding success, continuing the event's proud legacy The 26th edition of the Western Circuit Sailing Regatta (WCSR) concluded with resounding success, continuing the event's proud legacy. Posted on 18 Aug
Cowes Week 2025 overall
Fabulous, flying finish With the spectacle of many of the fleets finishing in the sunshine, downwind under spinnaker, this year's Cowes Week concluded in style. Posted on 8 Aug
C-Tech 2021 America's Cup 728x90 BOTTOMSwitch One DesignMcDYachts_Pyewacket-for-Sale_1456x180 BOTTOM