DSS/RYCT SB20 Pre-Christmas Summer Pennant Series
by Jane Austin 5 Dec 2020 22:56 PST
3 December 2020
A race within a race was the flavour of Thursday night's DSS/RYCT SB20 Pre-Christmas Summer Pennant Series racing on the River Derwent in Hobart. The breeze was mixed and the current strong, presenting more than a few problems for the fleet at times with some awkward spinnaker hoists and some boats bumping into the top marks.
A few boats were late to the start of the first race giving the rest of the fleet a head start, but the classy SB20 team Mind Games, skippered by Phil Reid with Rohan Langford and Sam Ibbott, sailed a relaxed race to be first home in Race Ten. Series leader, Karabos, skippered by Nick Rogers, with Will Keyes and Simon Burrows, took second place with Taz Racing Team (Will Sargent) in third.
There was a bit of tension within the fleet on the start line of Race Eleven, but Mind Games and Taz Racing Team got away cleanly with the teams soon locked in a match race. Skipper Will Sargent, sailing with Hugo Allison, Eddie Reid and Ed Broadby, and fresh from a third place in the recent CYCA Sailing Youth Academy match racing in Sydney, mentored the exuberant youngsters around the course. Sargent picked the shifts and in a game of cat and mouse in the fluky conditions, took out the final race of the night from Mind Games then Karabos.
Mind Games was boat of the night winning on performance in Race Ten while the young crew on St Virgils College, skippered by Mathew Cubit and sailing five-up, won on performance in Race Eleven.
The Pre-Christmas Summer Pennant Series overall winner was Karabos on 24 points from Mind Games on 30 points, Wicked (skippered by Stephen Henley with David O'Neill and Leigh Behrens on 44 points, Honey Badger (Toby Burnell) on 46 points and Rebellion (Stephen Catchpool) on 47 points.
Mind Games rounded out a consistent series winning performance handicap on 34.5 points from Blue Gull (Scott Glanville) on 43 points, Wedgewood (David Graney) on 45 points, Cook Your Own Dinner (Felicity Allison) on 46 points and Rebellion on 47 points.
The SB20 fleet will be back on the water next Thursday night for the annual dress-up race, and back for the Post-Christmas Summer Pennant Series on 14 January 2021. The next major regatta is the SB20 State Titles which will be held for the first time on the Tamar River under the authority of the Port Dalrymple Yacht Club on 30 and 31 January 2021.
Full series results here.