SB20 North Sea Regatta Delivers High Speed Dutch Grand Slam spectacular

20th May 2016

Jerry Hill's SB20 at full speed in the North Sea Credit: Sander van der Borch/North Sea Regatta

Twenty SB20s headed to the Netherlands for the Dutch Grand Slam, part of the North Sea Regatta, sponsored by Delta Lloyd

The forecast was for big breezes on the racing area of Scheveningen, close to The Hague, and it didn’t disappoint. Strong winds and large waves dominated the first three days, together with strong tides to further challenge the sailors.

Although on Saturday the weather was too extreme to allow for racing, eight good races were held over the remaining three days with a closely matched tussle at the front between local fleet captain Marco van Driel on ‘MXTC’ (NED), the French ‘Ocean Team’ of Johan Ravier and British visitors Jerry Hill and ‘Sportsboatworld.com’.

Hill commented after racing: “We’ve had some very challenging conditions which were a test for many of the fleet, but the downwind legs with boats sailing at more than 20 knots will be remembered for a long time!”

Hill and the ‘Sportsboatworld.com’ team shared the first day honours with ‘MXTC’, each scoring a win and a second place. On day three Johann Ravier’s French squad had a solid day, winning two races and finishing all others in the two three to put together a very consistent scoreline.

Hill went on to win another race on the last day, but van Driel had scored two more race wins and discarded a fourth place to earn an all-podium results list and win the event. The final race of the event was won by Adrian Peach with ‘Uber’ (GBR). Ravier was second overall and Hill third.

Other visiting nations included teams from Ireland and Germany in this second European Grand Slam of the SB20 season. Off the water the teams enjoyed the atmosphere of the largest Dutch sailing event, which attracts around 2,500 sailors each year, as well as a bowling competition on their enforced layday (thanks to the Damen-sponsored crew) and an excellent class dinner at the yacht club.

The next Grand Slam event takes place at Cowes, during Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, from August 6-9, 2016.

Overall Results:
1st NED 3714 Marco van Driel 2 1 2 1 -4 1 2 3 12,0 pts
2nd FRA 3034 RAVIER Johan -9 4 1 2 1 2 3 2 15,0 pts
3rd GBR 3475 Jerry Hill 1 2 -7 3 2 3 1 7 19,0 pts
4th NED 3441 Paul Gast 3 7 (ocs) 4 3 4 7 6 34,0 pts
5th NED 3702 Martijn Buitenhuis 5 -6 5 6 6 6 6 5 39,0 pts

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