Will Sargent has won a national title, the L2H and now has eyes on the America’s Cup

Despite a global pandemic, 2020 has been a good vintage on the water for a young Hobart sailor who hopes to race at the America’s Cup in 2021

• Alive win Launceston to Hobart with a new race record after Sydney-Hobart COVID-19 scare
• Local teacher wins L2H yacht race in his house

HE’S the reigning Australian SB20 champion, recently-crowned Launceston to Hobart racing-winning tactician on debut, and next stop for teenage tyro Will Sargent is the America’s Cup.

The 19-year-old full-time sailor, of Hobart, cannot barely split the difference between winning the national SB20 title at Orford earlier this year and winning the L2H on handicap aboard Scott Broadby’s Detail First this week.

“It’s a tough one because they are two very different races,” Sargent said.

“Being thrown around in 50 knots on the first night is a bit different to being on a short course track.

Detail First tactician Will Sargent at Hobart. Picture Chris Kidd

“They both come with different feelings and emotions but am very stoked with this one.”

The Detail First crew hoped for success in this year’s race _ it was a surprise when it arrived.

“We knew we were in with a shot but we had no idea we were actually winning as we were coming up the Derwent,” Sargent said.

“From the second we rounded the Iron Pot we didn’t look at our phones or watch the tacker, we just treated it like a time trial.

“We had no idea we were first until we went across the line and horns started going off and everyone started congratulating us.

“Until then we had no clue that we were going to win.

“It was a bit of shock and then we got excited.”

Launceston to Hobart handicap winner Detail First, skipper Scott Broadby and crew Tom Males, Brian Corcoran, James Butler, John Ryan, Callum Hollingsworth, Will Sargent and Max Cottier at Hobart. Picture Chris Kidd

Sargent will get a taste of the America’s Cup in New Zealand in 2021 after being invited to a match-racing series aboard Elliott 7 one-designs as part of the show.

“The course will be right outside the village so there will be lots of people watching,” he said.

“Hopefully we’re allowed to travel over there because I’m really keen to do it.”

Detail First won IRC, AMS and PHS Divisions overall and IRC Division 2, AMS Division 2 and PHS Division 2, Heat Wave won RIC Division 1, Jazz Player won AMS Division 1, Dream won PHS Division 1, and line honours winner and new race record holder Alive won ORCi Division.