Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Dynamic 40 Leaderboard

2021 Harcourts Hobart SB20 Australian Championship at Derwent Sailing Squadron - Day 1

by Jane Austin 7 Mar 2021 02:17 AEDT 6-8 March 2021
Honey Badger and Taz Racing Team - the two lead boats in the Youth Division of the Harcourts Hobart SB20 Australian Championship © Jane Austin

Hobart sailor Phil Reid (Mind Games) is leading the 2021 Harcourts Hobart SB20 Championship on day one of the 3-day regatta.

Reid, sailing with Rohan Langford, Amelia Catt and Harry Gregory, started the championship in fine style winning the first race ten seconds ahead of Honey Badger (Oli Burnell) and Wedgewood (David Graney). Race Officer Ian Ross kept the mark boats busy with two course changes in response to the shifty and building breeze and kept the over-eager fleet on its toes by bringing out the U flag and then the black flag to penalise early starters.

Langford, tactician on Mind Games, described a very happy crew. "We are very happy onboard the boat, especially with the first race - it was very light and very fluky, and the westerly was fading; we were towards the pin end and had a good start and managed to port tack the rest of the fleet and go from there," said Langford.

Mind Games was quick out of the blocks again in Race Two leading the fleet to the top mark from Wedgewood and Ambition Sailing (Chris Dare). Most of the fleet took the left-hand side of the course after the course change with Reid again leading at the top mark but Dare picked the shifts well on the last downwind run to score a solid win from Mind Games and Taz Racing Team (Will Sargent).

Race Three started in a consistent 20 knots after a general recall. Most of the boats took the eastern side of the river with Ambition Sailing winning from 2Unlimited (Oli Nicholas) and Imp (Andrew Smith).

Mind Games leads the championship on 11 points, with Ambition Sailing on 12 points and Karabos (Nick Rogers) on 15 points. Karabos leads the Masters' Division, while Brainwave, skippered by Clare Brown, leads the Women's Division and Honey Badger leads the Youth fleet.

Race Officer Ross was impressed with the SB20 sailing on show. "There are a few keen people in the fleet pushing for the black flag and keen to get their name on the trophy that's for sure. We had excellent sailing from Chris [Dare] and his crew from Victoria and Phil Reid and the team from Mind Games, and it was great to see the two boats from the north of the state involved in the championship. They [the SB20s] are such a competitive fleet...I'm looking forward to another great day tomorrow," said Ross.

Sunday's forecast is for variable winds to 10 knots south-easterly, becoming 10 to 15 knots in the early afternoon.

Related Articles

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
Devoti to revive the Class in Italy
And bid for the SB20 Worlds in 2028 Many SB20 sailors will remember the Class' strong presence in Italy, hosting major events such as the 2010 SB20 Volvo Laser SB3 Worlds, the 2013 European Grand Slam and the 2015 SB20 Worlds on Lake Garda attracting competitive fleets of up to 100 boats. Posted on 9 Mar
Banjo's Shoreline Crown Series Bellerive concludes
Intrigue and Saga had comprehensive victories in the Tasmanian Yachting Championship Intrigue, skippered by David Calvert from the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, and Saga, skippered by Troy Grafton from the Bellerive Yacht Club (BYC), had comprehensive victories in the Tasmanian Yachting Championship in Hobart on Sunday. Posted on 26 Feb
Pantaenius Sail 2025 AUS FooterX-Yachts X4.3Rooster 2025