Tasmania’s world champion sailor Nick Rogers (Karabos), with his crew of Cole Dabner and Simon Burrows, has blitzed the fleet to win the 2024 Australian Championship on 13 points. Rogers dominated the regatta winning seven of the ten race series to secure his first ever SB20 Australian title. The trophy caps off a great 2024 for Rogers who was crowned the SB20 Tasmanian Champion, with Dabner and Burrows, in February this year.
Rogers, one of the key drivers of the SB20 Class and the local dealer in Australia, has been after this title for over a decade and was thrilled with the win. Rogers dominated the regatta winning seven of the ten race series to secure his first ever SB20 Australian title. The trophy caps off a great 2024 for Rogers who was crowned the SB20 Tasmanian Champion, with Dabner and Burrows, in February this year.
Rogers, one of the key drivers of the SB20 Class and the local dealer in Australia, has been after this title for over a decade and was thrilled with the win: “I feel absolutely fantastic – the first one I have won in the SB20s, and I’m pretty excited about it. We loved the conditions out there. Today, we tried to just stay away from the other two boats, [Nutcracker and Ares], but we ended up getting involved with them anyway, and winning those two last races, I couldn’t believe it,” said Rogers
Rogers paid credit to his crew, especially the local knowledge of Dabner who grew up sailing on the River Tamar from the Port Dalrymple Yacht Club, and stressed the importance of preparation for events like this.
“We spent months going through it all – deciding what sails we would use, and everything we chose worked well.” said Rogers.
Despite the intense forecast, Race Officer Peter Sluce sent the fleet off for their last two races in 14-18+ knots of WNW breeze and on an incoming tide. The breeze was gusting over 20 knots which saw a few more thrills and spills on the race course.
Early leader Nutcracker, skippered by Rob Davis from Victoria, with David Chapman and Jock Calvert onboard, finished in second place on 20 points while Ares, skippered by Paul McCartney, with Will Sargent and Sam Tiedemann, finished in third on 23 points.
Rogers also took out the Masters’ Division and Wicked, skippered by Paige Caldecoat from New South Wales, sailing with Nick Jones, Eirini Marios and Stephen Henley from Hobart, took out the Women’s Division, despite a late charge from the Cook Your Own Dinner SB20 Sailing Team.
Follow the action on SB20AUS Facebook & Instagram and results via the PDYC here.
Words and images: Jane Austin, SB20AUS Media