SB20 UAE has seen an amazing growth in the last three years with major events on the calendar, such as the Dubai Duty Free Regatta in December and of course the SB20 Commodores Cup – the most important, perpetual SB20 trophy for the SB20 UAE fleet that runs all the winter. This season the joint efforts of the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club and the SB20 UAE association secured 7 months on the water with 12 racing days in total counting to 40 races! The local fleet had a considerable growth from only 13 boats in 2021 to 17 last year. Nowadays, the SB20 UAE is a 28-strong fleet. Who are these awesome sailors making in happen in Dubai? Top position was secured for UAE3363 team superSONIC of Michal Pajak. With UAE3824 Desert Eagle of Hendrik Anjos not attending the last few days due to other commitments Michal and his team secured the overall lead. There have been multiple contenders for the 2nd & 3rd place overall, but it went to UAE3239 team Herbie of Bekky Britton & UAE3512 team Shades of Patrick O’Callaghan. Congrats to the winning teams!
On the sailing side Dubai has provided amazing planing conditions on day 1 of the final Commodores Cup with 15-18kts gusting 20kts. There were four races sailed with exciting starts, several UFDs including team Herbie losing a bullet due to a UFD. Team Kidzink of Charlotte Borghesi (4th overall in the Commodores Cup season) performed very well with two youth sailors onboard and a 12-year-old on the helm!
Some great battles on the water with many boats close on points shuffling in the final season results. Day 1 ended on equal points between superSONIC and Yalla Shamal (Rachel Blackburn), but won on countback by superSONIC. Team Kidzink took 3rd place. Only 3 points were separating the following teams Herbie and Shades.
On Day 2 the wind started on a very light pattern surprising everyone as the forecast was for another fairly windy day. Nevertheless, three races have been sailed with wind speed increasing in very shifty conditions. Race committee did a great job re-adjusting the course until more solid breeze came back for the last race of the regatta.
Team superSONIC won the day with 3 bullets, young gang on Kidzink had another amazing day taking 2nd place. Bekky Britton on Herbie took 3rd place on the day. Shades and Herbie continued the battle in overall results, but it wasn’t the best day for team Shades of Patrick O’Callaghan.
With this regatta the 2022/2023 SB20 UAE sailing season concluded with superSONIC in 1st place, team Herbie in 2nd and team Shades in 3rd overall. Fantastic results for the teams! Next season will start on 30th September 2023 including the next circuit of Commodores Cup and entire pathway to 2024 SB20 Worlds hosted by Dubai Offshore Sailing Club on 11-16 February 2024.
“Big thanks to EVERYONE for making it such a great season and to DOSC for organising such a great racing for us for the 7 months of 2022/2023 season. We grew significantly in the last two years and improved greatly in handling such a fleet both on shore and on the water. Happy to have welcomed female and youth teams at every event. It was a great season!” – said Michal Pajak, the SB20 UAE chairman. “Now a little downtime for SB20 UAE as we head into the summer. Will be preparing for the 2023 SB20 Worlds with 4-5 UAE teams going to the Netherlands. We are back on the water in October with full-on schedule of events and, of course, we are very much looking forward to host the 2024 SB20 Worlds in less than a year!” – he concluded.
Click here for the overall DOSC Commodores Cup season 2022/2023.