Dempsey Leads Irish Hopes at SB20 Europeans at Royal Irish Yacht Club

29th August 2018

47 SB20s start race two of their European Championships on Dublin Bay with IRL 3737 Black (James Gorman) pictured centre Credit: Afloat.ie

Ger Dempsey of the host club is the top Irish boat of 22 home entries in an international fleet of 47 after two races sailed at the SB20 European Championships at the Royal Irish Yacht Club yesterday.

Russia's Victoria Sailing Team of Vadim Pushev, Ivan Gromov and Aleksey Kolobanov lead overall from Australia's Porco Rosso, Elliott Noye, Paul McCartney and Edward Snowball. Third overall is RUS3708 Melston Team Kirill Frolov, Egor Ignatenko and Egor from Terpigorev Yacht Club from Saint-Petersburg.

Dempsey sailing with Chris Nolan, Rory Groves and Tim Norwood is seventh overall and three places ahead of Howth Yacht Club entry Binn Eadir sailed by Cillian Dickson, Sam O'Byrne Gordon Stirling and Diana Kissane in tenth place.

SB20 RIYC 1542 Overall leaders Russia's Victoria Sailing Team of Vadim Pushev, Ivan Gromov and Aleksey Kolobanov Photo: Afloat.ie

Three races were scheduled but just two sailed under International Race Officer Jack Roy in some very variable southwesterly winds on Dublin Bay.

SB20 RIYC 1526 This race two start (above) was abandoned but the one (below) got away under the 'U flag' Photo: Afloat.ie

SB20 RIYC 1562

SB20 RIYC 1599 Race Officer Jack Roy (left) with RIYC's Peter Fleming (centre) and John 'Hammer' Veale Photo: Afloat.ie

Full results are here

Racing continues today.

SB20 RIYC 1624 SB20s raft up at the RIYC Photo: Afloat.ie

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