Big summer of racing

NEXT weekend’s Showdown regatta on the River Derwent has added significance this year. It’s the lead-up to more than a dozen Australian national championships for off-the-beach and sports boat classes in Hobart this summer.

Tasmania’s biggest off-thebeach and one-design keelboat regatta, next Saturday and Sunday includes events for most of the classes that will be holding their nationals on the Derwent in late November and from late December to mid-January.

The Derwent Sailing Squadron will conduct the SB20 sports boat nationals from late November to early December, and the Sandy Bay Sailing Club will host Australian titles for International Cadet and Optimist dinghies in the Christmas-New Year period.

The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania has a big commitment, running nationals for 420, 9ers and Nacra 15 in early January, followed by the prestigious 2019 Australian Youth Championships in midJanuary.

The Optimist nationals have already attracted more than 60 entries and Sandy Bay Sailing Club is expecting more than 200 competitors in these junior single-handed dinghies.

Another big national regatta in January will be the Australian and Oceana Laser championships at Devonport’s Mersey Yacht Club, sailing on the open waters of Bass Strait.

Most of the Laser 4.7 and Laser Radial sailors will head south for the Australian Youth Championships, joining those already in Hobart for the 420, Nacra 15 and 29er championships.

Classes contesting the Australian Youth Championships will include Bic Techno 293 and Bic Techno Plus sailboards, Int Laser 4.7s, Int Laser Radials, Int 420s, Int 29ers, with classes for boys and girls, and the Nacra 15 catamaran for mixed crews.

Early entries for the BMW Showdown already reflect mainland interest in the many national championships, with Victorian Kirwan Robb entering his SB20, Ikon10.

Derwent Sailing Squadron commodore Felicity Allison has also entered Cook Your Own Dinner for the SB20 nationals from November 30 to December 2.

A fleet of at least 20 SB20s is expected for Showdown, with a smaller fleet of International Dragons also expected to compete

The large off-the-beach dinghies will include strong fleets of Cadets, Optimists, Lasers 4.7s and Laser Radials, 29ers, Sabots, and Nacra 15 and Paper Tiger catamarans.

In addition to the Showdown Regatta, the RYCT has revived the Green Island Race for next Saturday, which will take the keelboat fleet to Green Island in the Channel.