With the 2020 Marblehead Australian Championship just weeks away the SA Marblehead Toad Cup was an ideal practice regatta and with eighteen sailors competing it was tough.
With a light SSW breeze blowing down 'The Pat' conditions were ideal for some good quality racing, and with eight South Australian's entered in the Marblehead Australian Championship, this was the last solid practice before heading off to Yarrawonga (VIC) in the coming weeks.
Race wins didn't come easy with the top four alternating wins throughout the day, reflective of tight competitive racing. Paul Littledyke started well winning the first race but with a number of 19's on his scorecard, these could well have been the difference between a cup win and his overall finish of 4th. Brett Osborn regularly found a top three finish as well as winning four races, but this was only enough to place 3rd overall while Grant Edwards, consistent throughout the day remaining in striking distance to the lead, ended up 2nd overall.
At the end of the day it was Scott Mitchell with his recently launched Red Ant F6 who won the 2020 Toad Cup winning seven of the nineteen races sailed to end up 9 points clear of Edwards.
While the clash at the front end went on, throughout the fleet the racing was tight with some great tussles in an effort to finish one better than the bloke next to you.
The Marblehead Class is going from strength to strength with fleet numbers growing in numerous states in Australia and with eighteen boats competing in this event along with the class being re-established in Western Australia, the outlook is extremely positive. This years Australian Championship is expected to see a fleet size in excess of 35 boats which will be the largest fleet in over 20 years, being a true reflection of the interest in the class.
The winner Scott Mitchell pictured below having a well earned beer!
