The starting line for the 59 boats contesting the 2018 SB20 World Championships on the River Derwent is providing a spectacular sight for Hobart residents living up the hillsides of Sandy Bay and across the river at Howrah.
Day 2 began after a short delay with race four of the series, with the crews hitting their straps at 1.15pm in a light northerly breeze.
Local crews took up the leading positions on the first beat to windward and consolidated this on the first spinnaker run, with Australian champion Brett Cooper opening up a handy lead with Aeolus.
In second place was 2Unlimited (Greg Prescott, AUS), followed by the British boat Marvel (Richard Powell, GBR), Difficult Woman (Rob Gough, AUS) and Honey Badger (Paul Burnell).
Overall leader from day one, Export Roo (Michael Cooper, AUS) was in 12th place at the leeward mark for the first time.
Brett Cooper extended his lead with a brilliant spinnaker run, with Powell moving into second place, followed by Prescott and the French boat Give Me 5 – French Youth Team (Robin Follin) the big mover on the spinnaker run, lifting its place in the fleet eighth to fourth.
The Australian champion Aeolus maintained the lead to win race four of the SB20 Worlds from the Marvel and the fast finishing Give Me 5 – French Youth Team.
In fourth place came Difficult Woman (AUS) followed by 2Unlimited (AUS), Karabos (AUS), Porco Rosso (AUS), sportsboatworld.com (GBR) and series leader Export Roo (AUS) in ninth place in fleet.
Words: Peter Campbell
Photos: Jane Austin
1500/AEST – 8 January 2018
