Double Digit Lineup for First SB20 Event of the Season at Dun Laoghaire Cup 2024

16th May 2024

The 2023 Irish Champions, IRL3809, helmed by Michael O'Connor from the Royal St. George Yacht Club (RStGYC), will compete at this weekend's Dun Laoghaire Cup 2024, incorporating the SB20 Eastern championships at the Royal Irish Yacht Club Credit: Afloat

This weekend's Royal Irish Yacht Club hosted Dun Laoghaire Cup 2024, incorporating the SB20 Eastern championships, marks the first test for SB20 crews in the current season. Thirteen crews, including the national top tier, will be on the starting line.

The 2023 Irish Champions, IRL3809, helmed by Michael O'Connor from the Royal St. George Yacht Club (RStGYC), will compete. The 2023 runners-up, Bad/Kilcullen IRL3741, led by Jerry Dowling from the Royal Irish Yacht Club (RIYC), will also participate, along with third-place finisher Carpe Diem IRL 3761, helmed by Colin Galavan of the RIYC.

Ted and Bad/Kilcullen were in the top ten at the 2022 World Championships in Dublin, ensuring a world-class level of competition.

Elsewhere in the fleet, three boats that debuted in 2023 will compete: Elandra IRL3313, helmed by Joe Conway from RIYC, Sportchip.ie POL3279, with Gregorz Kalinecki from RStGYC, and last season's best newcomer, Gilded Lady IRL3254, helmed by Trevor Bolger from RStGYC. These crews had a fierce rivalry the previous year, so seeing how they perform this season will be exciting.

Published in SB20

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SB20

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SB20 (formerly Laser SB3) information

Designed by Tony Castro, the SB20 is a British-built strict one-design 6.15m keelboat conceived as a wide appeal, affordable, competitive sportsboat for teams of three or four sailors. It is also, arguably, the most successful sportsboat in the world with 800 owners competing regularly in a programme of exciting local, national and international events.

Originally known as the Laser SB3, the SB20 continues to deliver on its pioneering promise: a boat that is fun, fast and easy to sail by anyone of any age; the best value-for-money sportsboat in the market.

The Laser SB3 was designed by Castro and launched in 2002. In 2007 the Laser SB3 was awarded ISAF Recognised Status and the first World Championships were held in Ireland in 2008. In 2012, Tony Castro appointed a new builder, Sportsboat World. At this time, the Laser SB3 was renamed the SB20 and building was returned to the UK from Malaysia. The ethos of the class continues.

The boat is a strict one-design class, economic to buy and campaign, easy to sail with a simple deck layout and electric downwind performance delivered by the generous sail plan. The boat has a lifting keel, can easily be launched from a slipway and towed behind a family car.

Previous SB20 World Champions

2008 GBR: Geoff Carveth, Roger Gilbert, Roz Allen & Sarah Allan

Host National Yacht Club, Dun laoghaire, Ireland

2009 GBR: Craig Burlton, Stephen White, Adam Heeley

Host Clube Naval de Cascais, Cascais, Portugal

2010 GBR: Jerry Hill, Grant Rollerson, Joe Llewellyn

Host Circolo Vela Torbole, Lake Garda, Italy

2011 GBR: Geoff Carveth, Andy Ramus, Ian Mills & Emma Clarke

Host Royal Torbay Yacht Club, Torquay, UK

2012 GBR: Geoff Carveth, Lesley Dhonau, Roger Hudson & Asenathi Jim

Host Hamilton Island Yacht Club, Queensland, Australia

2013 GRB: Craig Burlton, Stephen White, Adam Heley Host COYCH Club, Hyeres, France