Setting sail with internationals

NINETEEN i nternational crews will be among the 59 boats contesting next week’s SB20 one-design sports boat world championships on the River Derwent.

Many of those in the crews from France, Ireland, Italy, Britain, Germany, Singapore and Russia have already arrived to rig their boats and test the waters of the Derwent.

The Russian crew flies in today.

France is sending seven crews, including four youth crews, one skippered by 2015 world champion Robin Follin, with French sailors busy yesterday rigging their boats at Derwent Sailing Squadron, along with some Australian crews.

In addition to Follin, the current world champion Jerry Hill, from Great Britain, will be defending his title, having previously won the Worlds in 2010 and 2017 at Cowes, England.

The DSS and the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania are jointly conducting the championships which start with a three-day pre-Worlds regatta from Wednesday.

The Worlds championships, of up to 12 races, start on Sunday and continue through to Thursday, January 11.

The championship promises to be one of the most spectacular regattas on the Derwent in decades, with forecasts of fresh to strong sea breezes for the midsummer racing giving the SB20 downwind planing conditions.

Racing is scheduled to start at 1pm with two to three windward/leeward races each day.

Australia president of the SB20 class Stephen Catchpool has had a setback to his campaign with Hypertronics, with his mainsheet hand Chris Keal injuring himself in a fall from a ladder.

Heading the Hobart contingent are the current Australian champion crew of Aeolus — Brett Cooper, Darren “Twirler’’ Jones and Corkhill — and the 2017 Worlds runner-up at Cowes, Export Roo, skippered by Michael Cooper with his crew of David Chapman and Gerry Mitchell.