#sb20 – Lighter breezes and one of the biggest tides of the year combined to create tricky conditions for the 42 international crews contesting the UON SB20 World Championships yesterday , and the race management team who were kept busy setting and re-setting fair courses.

Current SB20 European champions, Russian Oleg Zherebtsov, his helm Rodion Luka and their 470 crew on Raketa are, as anticipated, in menacing form. A bullet and a third on day two has put them comfortably at the top of the Hamilton Island series pointscore.

This afternoon the Ukrainian born Luka said, "We are not worried about being first or second, it's about being in the top three. Today the owner is more happy, this is most important."

With currents up to five knots in the Whitsundays at this time of year, some crews are finding it hard to fit that piece of the puzzle. Luka's not concerned, commenting, "I grew up on a river with big tides so I am not worried, but here it's a more specific tide.  You can never get relaxed, you always have to look out of the boat to see what's going on".

Not so fortunate was yesterday's young standout, Ben Saxton, who scored a ninth and an 11th today with Bango Powered by SLAM. Yesterday's opening volleys gave the young British crew enough of a head start however to be second overall this afternoon and well in the running with four days remaining.

The consistency of Glenn Bourke and his Club Marine crew is paying dividends for the multiple world champion. The Hamilton Island CEO is now third on the pointscore after four races.

The might of two-time SB20 world champion, Geoff Carveth from the UK sailing WKD, is also starting to spoil the party for the rest. Carveth collected a second and a first today to be fourth on the pointscore.

"Today we had a clearer idea what was going on in the bay, and a bit of a theory," said Carveth just now. "Yesterday I broke the start and I think I was tired from performing major surgery on the boat the day before after we ripped the side of the keel.

"We had a decent start in race four, we stuck to our guns and we gradually picked off our opposition."

On the plan for the remainder of the week, Carveth says it's all about the starts. "All I want is to be on the start line going fast, after that we can do the rest. It's easier said than done though; you need some luck on your side".

The Aussies, which make up half the international fleet, fared better in today's light airs. Sydney's Ian Brown and his crew of dual Olympic gold medallist Malcolm Page, bowman Klade Hauschildt and 14 year-old Finn Gilbert on One Design Sailing picked up a handy third and fourth respectively to be sixth on the pointscore.

The fleet was recalled at the start of race four but got away cleanly on the second attempt. As the majority converged at the top mark in the best pressure of the day, peaking at 12 knots out of the east nor'east, there was a boisterous bunch-up and red angry flags were drawn.

The international jury however sat idle as the sun set over Hamilton Island and the sailors gathered on the Hamilton Island Yacht Club boardwalk to quench their thirst and talk over the day's events like gentlemen.

Andrew Oddie's GBR entry, Harry, picked up best result so far, a sixth in race three. Harry has been named after the bowman Freddie Blencke's son Harry, who was killed in a car accident last year. Blencke has used these worlds to launch fundraising efforts for Taronga Zoo's new Lemur exhibit, to honour his son's short life. The online auction has raised an $18,000 with other donations taking the tally to $30,000 so far.

"I've been really impressed by the support from around the world," said a grateful Blencke this morning.

Tomorrow's forecast is for similar conditions with Monday a planned layday before the final deciding half of the UON SB20 World Championships.

Results here

#sb 20 – Racing kicked off today in the Hamilton Island Resort area in Western Australia for the 2012 SB20 World Championships hosted by Hamilton Island Yacht Club. Early results are in, showing youngster Ben Saxton having early success with two wins in the first two races. Current world champion Geoff Carveth only managed a 5 & 17 in comparison.

The Russian team led by current European Champion and hot favourite Rodion Luka, are in 3rd just behind Italian Pietro Negri onboard Stenghele. Although none of the Irish crews travelled to the event citing cost as a major factor, one Irish boat is in fact entered. Perth based Irish sailor Declan Keogh, who works for sponsor UON Power Air Water will be sailing his boat Sidewinder in the World Series.

Declan has also just announced that he has just secured the distribution rights for Western Australia for the SB20 Sportsboat (formerly the Laser SB3) from UK based distributor and manufacturer Sports Boat World.

It's been a case of the apprentice showing the masters on the opening day of the Championships at Hamilton Island with Great Britain's 22 year-old Ben Saxton scoring two bullets.

With an average age of 23 among the four crew on the SB20, Bango Powered by SLAM, the youngsters won the first race having led the fleet around the course in Turtle Bay, to the east of the award winning island, in a 12-14 knot easterly breeze.

It was no fluke, the young Brit picking up the second gun of the day after match racing the Italian team of Stenghele, led by Pietro Negri, around the track to a photo finish just four seconds clear when it counted.

When asked between races whether the first bullet was a surprise, the winner of the Endeavour Trophy, the UK's Dinghy Champion of Champions event, grinned from ear to ear, "not at all" he said with typical Gen-Y confidence.

"We hoped both races would be easier, but we finished feeling like we'd worked really hard, which is a credit to the rest of the fleet. The line-up has some serious quality to it and that's the reason we are here," added Saxton. "We looked at the entry list and thought 'we have to get involved in that!'"

On their prospects at the end of the six-day world title the skipper commented, "We'd like to be in the game going into the last day".

Current SB20 world champion, Geoff Carveth, who has also won the Endeavour Cup, has in the past affectionately referred to Ben and his twin brother Tim as "the pesky kids".  Ben Saxton was a credentialed British Sailing Team 470 development squad sailor who has transferred to the Nacra 17 mixed catamaran for the Rio Olympics.

Sailing four-up with his brother Tim, Maria Stanley, 24, and Johnny McGovern, 26, on the bow, Saxton joked dockside this afternoon, "We have a bit of wisdom at the front of the boat to tell us where to go". McGovern also has Olympic designs, in the 470 class, while Tim's happy to let his brother shoot for the stars. "I have a real job," he jests.

Behind the young Brits, the minor placings shuffled at each top mark rounding in race one with 2010 SB20 world champion Jerry Hill's Sportsboatworld and Australia's own Glenn Bourke on Club Marine grabbing vital opening points from the 42 strong fleet.

In the slightly pressured up race two, the Italians found their mojo in the Med-like conditions, Steghele and Andrea Racchelli's Altea placing second and third.

The best placed Australian in race two was Bourke, a multiple Laser world champion, who was buried on the right side of the course when the breeze unexpectedly came out of the left.

Denis Thompson and his heavyweight team of international umpires, including Oracle Team USA's rules advisor Richard Slater, New Zealand's Bevan Woolley and American Charlie Arms, reported a  great opening day in light to moderate easterlies.

Tomorrow's forecast is for sunny skies and SE-E winds at 8-14 knots.

Two races have completed so far with provisional results posted here,

#SB20 – The SB20 Class World Council have announced the class will host their sixth World Championships in Hyères, France in 2013. Racing will take place between Monday 9th and Friday 13th September and will be hosted by the internationally acclaimed COYCH.

COYCH has a wealth of experience running excellent national and international regattas including the Hyeres Olympic Week and the Club was recently named by the ISAF as the host for one of the six Sailing World Cups.  Entries for the SB20 2013 Worlds are expected from over 15 countries with crews coming from as far away as Australia, Singapore and the UAE. The number of entries, which will exceed 100 boats, will be significant from Italy, UK and Russia while the French entries will represent about 30% of the total fleet.

The SB20 fleet has experienced strong growth in France recently; the local class is supported by the dealer, Marçon Yachting, base in Martigues. "In France, we are delighted to host the SB20 World Championship next year, a truly international class" explained Edward Russo, President, SB20 World Council. "One of the key ingredients in a successful SB20 event is choosing the correct location and we are confident that by  awarding the Championship to COYCH in Hyères we have ticked this very important box!"

The SB20 will be exhibited at Salon Nautique de Paris from 7th – 16th December at the Porte de Versailles. To view a new SB20, built by White Formula in the UK, please visit stand number EF90.

#sb20 – Sportsboat World promoters of the SB20 one design sportsboat announced the launch of a SB20 Grand Slam circuit that will take place in Europe in 2013. The SB20 Grand Slam will consist of three events that have been scheduled to take place at three favourite SB20 sailing locations giving Irish crews an extra travel incentive in 2013.

The SB20 Grand Slam will kick off in Hyeres at the beginning of May (3rd – 5th) with three days racing before heading to Malcesine, Lake Garda for the second Grand Slam event (24th – 26th May). The third SB20 Grand Slam will take place at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week (3rd – 6th August), where a special race format has been agreed with the organisers.

The SB20 Grand Slam events are aimed at those in the class that enjoy sailing in beautiful places and enjoy a lively social scene; which will be set up to support each of the Grand Slam events. Each SB20 Grand Slam will have a winner in its own right and while sailors will be encouraged to take part in as many events as possible, there will not be an overall Grand Slam Champion.

"One of our missions when we formed Sportsboat World was to provide events that would appeal to sailors internationally; in top locations with great socials" explains Alan Hillman. "The SB20 Grand Slam will do just that and we're really looking forward to kicking these events off in 2013."

#SB20 – A remarkable season for the 'Sharkbait' crew of Ben Duncan, Brian Moran and Joe Turner has seen them dominate the top of the SB20 Ireland Sportsboat ranking ladder. Full ranking ladder available to download below as an Excel file. The Dublin trio had wins in all but one event in 2012 and topping the table at a maximum available 165 points, the first year that this has been achieved. The high quality of the fleet in Ireland made it no easy task however, and the team was consistently under pressure throughout the season from some exceptional sailors, with Mel Collins, Scott MacKeown and Aidan MacSweeny in 'Magic' finishing the season with a very solid second on the ladder, just edging out class stalwarts Peter Kennedy & Stevie Kane sailing 'Ridgefence' in third.

Only just missing out on the ranking-list chocolates (by half a point) was Aidan O'Connell on 'Ruby Blue', however with a win in the very last race of the season at Lough Derg he has bragging rights on the fleet over the Winter! Davy Taylor helming 'Boatmec' was a consistent performer and will likely have his machine well-greased for next years events. SB20 season newbies Ger Dempsy & Chris Nolan on 'Venuesworld.com' were also often found in the mix at the head of the fleet, whilst Darragh Sheridan, Shane Murphy and John Phelan sailing 'Dinghysupplies.ie' also missed a couple of events costing them places on the ladder, but still rounding out the season on the eighth rung. Darren Martin sailing 'Soda Bread' from the North (would it not get soggy?) and Rob Howe on board 'Milvus Milvus' rounded out the top ten in a 47 boat ladder for 2012, with many other familiar names not far adrift on points. (NB: The ranking list is calculated from the best 4 of the 5 regional events in any year, and always includes the Nationals at a 1.5x weighting, with points awarded for the first 30 boats in any event.)

Unlike many other classes, the SB20 has only had a slight decline in numbers over the last few years due to the relatively cheap cost of running a boat at a highly competitive level. A resurgence in the Southern fleet is envisaged next year when several new boats from Cork will be on the water, and much interest in the class has been from owners looking to downsize from cruiser sailing. Competitive second hand yachts with all the trimmings can be bought from around €9000, and when towed behind an average car getting to the fantastic SB20Ireland regional events couldn't be easier! The strict one-design ethos of the class ensures very close racing across the country, and it is up to the crew work of the teams to edge out any gains in performance...

#SB20 – With a month until the SB20 World Championships entries close there are no Irish takers for the Anitpodean event so far.

Today marks one month to the close of paperwork for this year's UON SB20 World Championships when an extraordinary line up of Olympians and sailing world title holders in the SB20 and other classes will rendezvous at Hamilton Island in the Northern Territories, Australia.

The 2012 Championships will be the first time the class has held its world title in the southern hemisphere. Up to 45 SB20s are expected on the start line for the Whitsunday battle to be staged from December 12th – 20th.

SB20 World Council President Edward Russo says, 'There are few opportunities like this in one's lifetime; in the deepest part of a cold and rainy winter in Europe to head to Hamilton Island, Australia, for 10 days of the highest level of one-design competition available in average winds of 15 knots plus and temperatures of over 25°'.

Australia's own London Games 470 gold medallist, Malcolm Page, will be on the mainsheet for Ian Brown's entry, One Design Sailing. Brown's no slouch either; his credentials include Olympic 470 bronze medallist and Olympic coach, Moth world champion and top four in the world in numerous classes.

Brown mentored a young Malcolm Page and 30 years later the pair has reunited to continue their SB20 alliance. Their for'ard hand is 22 year-old university student, Klade Hauschildt, who has trained with Olympic super coach Victor Kovalenko and his 470 squad but is now focusing on Lasers. Sabot and Flying 11 sensation, 14 year-old Finn Gilbert, will rejoin Brown's crew assisting the bowman and wherever else his nimble hands are needed.

Brown came across Finn Gilbert by chance on the beach at Clontarf, Sydney, while searching for his missing car keys. Finn and his father Lachlan were returning from an outing on the family's Mirror dinghy and struck up a conversation after the youngster located Brown's keys. Due to his size, weight and sailing nous Finn was handpicked for Brown's SB20 campaign, and has become a successful dinghy sailor in his own right.

The One Design Sailing team began training out of Manly Yacht Club in September; Page sneaking time out from his busy Australian Farr 40 program and even busier public speaking and other post-Olympic official duties.

To fit in with Finn's high school timetable, three training sessions a week are slotted in before and after school. For the final run in to the worlds, the opportunity for match practice will come from competing in a number of Melbourne SB20 regattas.

Page cites the UK as the country to beat at the world championship and Glenn Bourke as Australia's standout chance. As for the likelihood of Brown & Co. picking up a trophy Page says, 'We have the potential, just not the time. We'll go and have fun'.

Hamilton Island is fast becoming the preferred Australian destination for hosting major warm water sailing events, including sports boats titles and the preeminent keelboat regatta, Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. Come December a multinational fleet will take to the course area, likely to be east of the award winning destination. Ashore families and supporters travelling with the competitors will be enjoying the many pools, restaurants, shops, wildlife zoo and other facilities on offer.

To date the countries represented on the starters list include Italy, United Arab Emirates, France, The Netherlands, Russia and the UK.

One of the most anticipated entries is coming from a crew of Perth based indigenous school girls whose inaugural SB20 campaign is being sponsored by the 2012 world championship naming rights sponsor, UON, supplier of power generation, air compressors and water pumping solutions to industry.

Entries close December 1. Meanwhile the Irish class has published a list of its 2013 SB20 fixtures.

As out going Chairman of SB20 Ireland it gives me great pleasure to be handing over to the very experienced Justin Burke.

Being part of an emerging class was a very exciting prospect when I took over three years ago.

The SB20 class has had a number of challenges, changing its name from SB3 to Sb20. A new regime of Sportsboat World has recently taken over the franchise.

One of the main reasons for the success of the SB20 has being the number high quality sailors who compete in the class.

The class has maintained very strong numbers and there is very good value to be had in the second hand market.

With a very strong Dublin Bay fleet of 28 boats and good numbers Nationwide bringing the total to in excess of 60 boats, second largest fleet after the UK. The strength of the fleet has being enhanced by having an exciting calendar year on year, point in case is 2013 with Galway hosting the Nationals for the first time.

A real testament to racing around Ireland is the very warm welcome the fleet receives from all the host clubs, and especially its members who volunteer their time to ensure we the competitors have the superb time on the water.

Having the Worlds in 2008 hosted by the National YC with over 140 boats, the class has fleets in Australia, Belgium,Germany,France,Italy, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Holland & the UK.

This years worlds are this December in Hamilton Island Australia.

In 2013 the Worlds return to Europe and will be held in September in Hyeres in the South of France. This promises to be very well attended regatta as many boats will make a family holiday out of the trip.

As the season ends and we pack our boats away for the winter, we can contemplate a wonderful season ahead in 2013, see below.

Jerry Dowling

Chairman SB20 Ireland ( outgoing)

Calendar 2013

Spring Warmer HYC - April 6/13/20

Followed by the Easterns

Easterns Howth Y.C. - April 27/28th

Westerns L.Ree - May 11/12th (or18/19)

Southerns (Kinsale) - June 08/09th

DunLaoghaire week - July 11/14th

Nationals Galway - July 26/28th

Northerns - Aug 10/11th

Carrickfergus or Royal Ulster

Worlds France - Sept.7th – 13 th

Midlands L.Derg - Oct 19/20th

#loughderg  – Beautiful Autumn sunshine greeted the combined fleets of Dragons, SB20's, Squibs and J80's as they started the final day of the Lough Derg Yacht Club Freshwater Keelboat regatta. Not a ripple stirred Lough Derg as the fleet left the dock but the forecast South Easterly 10-20 knots soon made its appearance for race 1.

In the Dragon Class, Martin Byrne from RSGYC crewed by Anthony Shanks and James Espey stormed to a decisive victory counting five 1sts and two 3rds to win by a 12 point margin over RSGYC stablemates Gerry Treacy, Paul McGuire and Don O'Dowd. Byrne didn't have to race the final race in the series and left it up to the pack to decide second overall.

The SB20 class clearly enjoyed the fresh and gusty conditions on the trapezoid course today. It was neck and neck between rivals Ben Duncan and Peter Kennedy going into the final races but it was Duncan who scored a 1,3 today over Kennedy's 6,2 to win the midlands title for the first time in its 6 year history. Kennedy who has won this event for the past three years running had to contend himself with second. Third place had to be fought over today by Aidan O'Connell and James Gorman but the Black Flag that Aidan received for being over early in race 1, upset his chances and James took his podium result by a single point lead over Aidan in the end. O'Connell did manage to finish on a high by winning the final race of the series.

In the 2012 SB20 circuit Duncan has all but shown a clean set of results having only lost 1 event this year.

The squibs also shared the Windward/Leeward course today with the Dragons. No results were available last night due to protests but it was James Matthews from Kinsale who scored 3,1,3,1,3 to win over Jonathan Craig's very solid 1,4,2,4,2 Only two points separated the leaders in the end.

The J80's were given a lesson in consistency this weekend by Andrew Deacon who's lead was never in doubt. Scoring 1,1,1,1,1 and discarding a first to win by an 11 point margin over second place Hetty Sanders (5,4,3,2,2). Next on the podium was team "Cougars" helmed by Sue Smithwick and crewed by Adair Leech, Mary Hughes and Alison Smithwick who scored 4,5,2,3,2.

Dinner in the yacht club last night followed by a charity night in the Whiskey Still where Johnny Logan made a guest appearance, keeping the crews entertained.

PRO Claire Toohey and her team did a great job this weekend running the side by side courses. Lough Derg Yacht Club are past masters at this type of event and the combined classes look forward to keeping this an established part of their calendars.

#loughderg – This weekend sees the gathering of the biggest of the keelboat one design fleets in Lough Derg for the annual freshwater keelboat regatta. For what is fast becoming a popular feature in the trailer sailor one design classes, Lough Derg Yacht Club is hosting a one design weekend for the Dragons, SB20's, Squibs and J80's.

The classes share the same race area but split between windward/leeward and trapezoid courses with a common start line.

The dragons assembled early on Friday with 2 races sailed and with a further 4 races today out of a 8 race series. Martin Byrne from the Royal St. George YC is clear ahead by the end of racing with a massive 11 point lead over RIYC rival Richard Goodbody. Martin counts 5 race wins in the 6 races sailed.

In the SB20 class 4 races sailed leaves the two front runners on tied points overnight with two first places and a second each for Ben Duncan and Peter Kennedy (RNIYC) each discarding a 10+ point race for 4 points nett, this being a somewhat familiar result between these two top boats. Further back James Gorman and Aidan O'Connell battle it out for 3rd but the Lough has proven a formidable challenge for all crews with the shifting and gusting southerly breeze. Who will emerge as overall leader is very much yet to be decided.

In the J80s Andrew Deacon is having it all his own way with 3 first places but discarding a Joint first (1.5). He is leading overall by 3.5 points to nearest rival Hetty Sanders with a 1.5,2,3.

At the time of writing the squibs overall was dependent on the outcome of a protest so were not available.

A beautiful October sunny day on Lough Derg, some more trying and difficult conditions tomorrow in the heartland of Ireland.

#sb20– The battle finally ended yesterday evening on Belfast Lough to decide the Irish national championships for the SB20 Sportsboat class. Gold and Silver fleet results are available for download below. The margin being only 2 points between the front runners Ben Duncan and Mel Collins, it was Collins who had to mount the attack and Duncan to defend his slim advantage. Only one race was sailed and Royal Ulster YC race officer Robin Gray and his team got the slimmest window possible for a decider and sent the fleet off in 5 knots of breeze.

Ben Duncan and crew got the slight advantage at the start with Collins not quite getting the same boat speed off the line. Duncan rounded the weather mark in 3rd with Mel Collins and crew rounding in 10th. However Collins made a remarkable comeback to place 4th in the final race but it was Duncan who pulled off another race win to make it a 3,1,1,1,1 to Collins 2,2,2,2,4.

Second placed Mel Collins from Royal Cork at full speed

So Ben Duncan, Brian Moran and Joe Turner reign supreme in the class with an incredible second nationals title in a row. Adding that to his Scottish nationals title along with a practically clean sheet at all the regional events makes it his best season yet.

Third was Andrew and Ross Vaughan (4 5 4 5 1), 4th was class Chair Jerry Dowling helmed by Stefan Hyde (3 4 8 4 6) and 5th was Ger Dempsey and Chris Nolan staging a very impressive first season appearance in the class.