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Displaying items by tag: Best Port

At the 2021 Wave Awards which celebrates excellence and innovation in the cruise industry, the UK south coast Port of Southampton has been awarded ‘Best Port’.

This latest win for Southampton (of Associated British Ports) confirms its status as the UK’s capital of cruising and Europe’s leading cruise turnround port.

The award was presented to ABP’s Head of Cruise Rebekah Keeler and her team at the black-tie ceremony in London on 15 October. The accolade follows Seatrade Cruise Global awarding the Port of Southampton ‘Port of the Year’ last month at its annual industry event in Miami.

Rebekah Keeler said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won our second cruise industry award of the season. It is fantastic recognition for our teams and the whole port community, acknowledging the level of work that has gone into providing the best experience for cruise lines and passengers.”

The Port of Southampton has been at the forefront of growth in the cruise industry, having spent the last few years investing heavily in its cruise infrastructure. Just this year, the English Channel port opened its fifth world-class cruise terminal, the Horizon Cruise Terminal, with an investment of £55 million.

The dedicated cruise facility includes Shore Power connectivity, which means zero emissions at berth for ships with the onboard capability.

As Europe’s leading cruise turnaround port, The Port of Southampton typically welcomes around 500 cruise calls and two million passengers per year.

Published in Cruise Liners

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