Tasmanian SB20 Championship 2020 on the River Derwent - Overall
by Jane Austin 16 Feb 14:11 GMT
15-16 February 2020
Newly crowned Tasmanian SB20 Champions Chris Dare Lockie Dare and Ben Lamb (Ambition) © Jane Austin
Victorian father and son combination Chris and Lockie Dare with Ben Lamb from NSW sailed their SB20 Ambition to victory today in the final day of racing in the Tasmanian SB20 Championship.
Dare, from the Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club, sailed well in the chaotic conditions of the first day of sailing, and maintained his lead in the softer Sunday weather.
Race Officer Ian Ross managed the racecourse well with the fleet completing all eight races in the series and was impressed with the quality of the fleet today.
"Today was certainly a different day to Saturday when we had every single mark drifting at some point, and the start mark actually sank at one stage. The regatta has been absolutely fantastic racing, really close, really tight sailing with lots of different people at the top end of the fleet - which is what SB20 racing is all about," said Ross.
"Chris and his team certainly sailed a fantastic regatta - they didn't sail the last race, so I figured they'd done their sums, and were feeling confident in the results. Brett Cooper (Aeolus) had a lot of bad luck - breaking his spreader bracket twice in two days, smashing into his daughters' boat yesterday, and copping an OCS in Race Six," said Ross.
Ross was also impressed with the sailing of the SB20 Australian Class President Steve Catchpool (Rebellion) who took a well-deserved second. "It's great to see Steve sail so well today, especially knowing all the work he has done for the SB20 Class. And what else is interesting is how many people who have been out on the water watching who have commented on how spectacular SB20 racing is, and how they are looking forward to the Nationals in Spring Bay on the East Coast," said Ross.
Dare will be on the water in Spring Bay contesting the Nationals, without Lamb, but Lamb will re-join the team to campaign Ambition in the SB20 Worlds in Cascais. Lamb's inclusion in the SB20 fleet certainly gives the Class some additional gravitas in Australia. Lamb won the 2016 Etchells World Championship with John Bertrand and Paul Blowers and was an America's Cup campaigner on Softbank Team Japan in 2019.
"I love the Class - the boats are like the Melges and the J70s that I sail in the US, and there are some very good sailors in Hobart, which makes it interesting. While I know nothing about the SB20s, I am keeping an open mind and applying some of what I know from my experience in other one-design close racing," said Lamb.
Paul McCartney (Porco Rosso), sailing with David Chapman and Ed Snowball, finished in third place in front of Andrew Smith (Imp) and Phil Reid (Mind Games).
For full results go to byc.org.au/results/CSB20/SGrp21.htm