SB20 sailing hotting up in 2021
by Jane Austin 14 Jan 2021 02:09 NZDT
30-31 January 2021
The Tasmanian SB20 fleet will return to the water this Thursday for the first race of their post-Christmas pennant in what marks the start of a full sailing program for Tasmania's premium sportsboat class.
SB20 Australia President, Scott Glanville, is predicting a large number of boats will compete this week, in preparation for the upcoming major regattas. Nick Rogers (Karabos), winner of the pre-Christmas series, will be keen to maintain his form while Phil Reid (Mind Games) and Stephen Catchpool (Rebellion), two of the most consistent performers on the water, will be looking for a series win.
Entries are open for the 6ty degrees SB20 Tasmanian Championship which will be hosted by the Port Dalrymple Yacht Club from 30 to 31 January. The event will be held on the Tamar River for the first time in acknowledgement of the growing Launceston fleet which now numbers 9 boats. SB20 Class Vice President, Victorian Chris Dare, will be defending his 2020 state title and is expecting some tough competition from the local sailors who will sail well to the local conditions.
The SB20 fleet will then back up for the Banjo's Shoreline Bellerive Crown Series Regatta, one of Tasmania's largest sailing regattas, hosted by Bellerive Yacht Club from the 12th to the 14th of February.
The pinnacle of the sailing program is the 2021 Australian Championship which will be hosted by the Derwent Sailing Squadron over the March long weekend, with the young guns on the Taz Racing Team, Will Sargent, Eddie Reid, Jacob McConaghy, and Harry Gregory striving to defend their title. Hobart is home to one of the largest SB20 fleets in the world, with interest in the Class growing interstate and within the Asia-Pacific region.