Royal St. George 'Ted' Crew Score Impressive Win Ahead of SB20 Worlds

30th August 2022

Royal St. George's Michael O'Connor at the helm of Ted, the winner of the pre-World Championship Irish East Coast event on Dublin Bay Credit: Afloat

With under a week to go to the 2022 SB20 World Championships at the Royal Irish Yacht Club on Dublin Bay, Dun Laoghaire's Michael O'Connor has scored a significant win at a spiced-up edition of the Irish Eastern Championships populated by more than a dozen top international crews using the regional event as the defacto pre-worlds championships.

O'Connor, with his crew of Davy Taylor, and Ed Cook of the Royal St. George Yacht Club, scored four top six results in the no discard event and as well as retaining their East Coast Crown have been given a significant indicator of current form for next week's battle on home waters.

Another top Irish result was Ger Dempsey's Venuesworld entry which scored a third overall, including an impressive two second places and a fourth scored on the first day! Sailing with Dempsey was Rory Groves, MJ Geraghty and Chris Nolan.

There was a very strong French contingent competing. Ed Russo (5th overall), was sailing with America’s Cup veteran and renowned multi-hull sailor Gilles Favennec and Olympic Bronze medallist (Finn, London 2012) Jonathan Lobert crewing.

National Yacht Club's James Gorman finished seventh Photo: Afloat

Ian Garetta (19th) was 5th in this year's Youth match racing worlds – although down in 19th overall, he counted a 5th and 8th but also had a BFD and RTD to add to his score.

Corentin Goulon (2nd) was the best of the French. He is a 49er / J70 sailor that was also part of Ian Garetta’s crew for the match racing Worlds. He showed good speed in the light airs on day one, including a race win to lead overall after day one.

The UK's John Pollard (6th) has multiple top 10 overall finishes in the Worlds and has multiple race wins to his name in the World Championships. Pollard won races 2 and 4 over the weekend.

Nils Razmilovic (15th) from Singapore is sailing with former laser world Champion (and multiple Laser World Championship podium finisher) Nick Burfoot.

Other Irish crews were in the top ten, including a return to form for the National Yacht Club's James Gorman in seventh. Philip Doran (8th), Tadgh Donnelly (9th), Mel Collins (10th), Stefan Hyde (11th) and Ben Graf (13th)

The Provident CRM-sponsored SB20 Worlds at the RIYC begins on September 5th.

Race Results

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Published in SB20, RStGYC, Royal Irish Yacht Club

Published in SB20

Tagged under

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