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Kennedy's Ridgeway Team Win SB20 Nationals on Dublin Bay

1st July 2018
Team Ridgeway - Peter Kennedy (right), sailing with Stephen Kane (centre) and Hammy Baker from Strangford Lough are the 2018 SB20 National Champions Team Ridgeway - Peter Kennedy (right), sailing with Stephen Kane (centre) and Hammy Baker from Strangford Lough are the 2018 SB20 National Champions Credit: Afloat.ie

In a series led from start to finish, Strangford Lough Olympian Peter Kennedy, sailing with Stephen Kane and Hammy Baker, was the winner of the SB20 National Championships at the National Yacht Club on Dublin Bay.

The former Flying Dutchman crew from both the Seoul and Barcelona Olympics, finished seven points clear of a Howth Yacht Club crew led by Cillian Dickson with Sam O'Byrne, Gordon Stirling and Diana Kissane. The result confounded pre-race predictions that favoured Dun Laoghaire crews to take the title.

The top Dun Laoghaire boat was Royal Irish Yacht Club skipper Jerry Dowling sailing with Stefan Hyde and Jimmy Dowling in third overall.

Download overall results below.

The National Yacht Club hosted event attracted 16 entries for the three–day sportsboat contest. Today's final two championship races, under race officer Colin McMullen, were set in the northern part of Dublin Bay and again sailed in light but steady northeasterly breezes.

SB20 Peter Kennedy 3187Team Ridgeway's scoresheet included three race wins Photo: Afloat.ie

Published in 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