Thrilling SB20s return to the Derwent

HOBART’S fleet of highperformance SB20 sports boats is back on the Derwent this weekend, with crews returning to championship racing after the hiatus that followed the spectacular world championships last summer.

A fleet of 14 SB20s, smaller than expected but high quality, will contest the inaugural midwinter championship over eight races.

Racing should be spectacular, with 10-20 knot north-westerly winds forecast for today, becoming variable around noon, while on a wet and cold Sunday the forecast is for northerly winds of 10-15 knots, turning northwest and freshening to 15-20 knots.

While many crews have been taking a break, Elliott Noye, Paul McCartney and Edward Snowball have been racing McCartney’s European-based boat, Porco Rosso, internationally this winter including placing second overall in the Portuguese nationals.

With this most recent overseas competition, the Porco Rosso team will go afloat this morning favourites for the midwinter title, but they face strong opposition.

Michael Cooper, runner-up in the 2017 worlds at Cowes, England, will be hard to beat in Export Roo, as will be Paul Burnell in Honeybadger, Nick Rogers in Karabos, George Peacock at the helm of Team Musto and Frazer Read, helming Pinch. Two allwomen crews from Athena Sailing have entered, Anna Reid steering Essence of Athena and Colleen Darcey and Claire Cunningham in Pride of Athena.

Derwent Sailing Squadron is conducting the SB20 MidWinter Championships and will also run the nationals on the river in spring.