No Racing on Opening Day of SB20 World Championship in Hyères

19th October 2026

Afloat.ie Team

SB20 World Championship fleet in Hyères, France, where no racing took place on the opening day

Flags Flying, Racing Waiting – The opening day of the 2026 SB20 World Championship in Hyères, France, passed without racing on Monday, 19 October, with 66 boats entered, including two Irish crews Credit: João Saraiva Mendes

Two Irish crews are among 66 entries at the championship in southern France, where Monday’s programme ended without a race.

No racing took place on the opening day of the 2026 SB20 World Championship in Hyères, France, on Monday, 19 October.

The championship has attracted 66 boats, including two Irish entries. Ger Dempsey’s Venuesworld.com and Ben Graf’s Bango GF were named on the entry list ahead of the event.

The opening-day bulletin confirmed that no races were sailed but did not specify the reason.

Among the international competitors are UAE world champion Charlotte Borghesi and Britain’s Jerry Hill, who is reunited with Joe Llewellyn and Grant Rollerson, his winning crew from the 2010 Worlds on Lake Garda.

The event follows Sunday’s preparations, when teams from 17 countries took to the water for the pre-championship session. The class has also confirmed future World Championship venues through 2030.

Racing can be followed via the event’s GPS tracking service. Further coverage is available in Afloat’s SB20 news section.

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