New Sales & Marketing Structure for the SB20(formerly known as the Laser SB3)

Southampton, UK – Tony Castro today announces that the global sales and marketing of the hugely successful sportsboat is to be carried out by a new organisation Sportsboat World. The boat which will now be known as the SB20 has over 650 boats sailing in 20 countries worldwide, and it achieved ISAF recognition in 2007.

Sportsboat World is founded by SB20 designer Tony Castro.

In partnership with Jerry Hill, Alan Hillman and Mark Richards, Sportsboat World will promote the design and manufacture of sportsboats. Jerry is a former UK Class Chairman and 2010 SB3 world champion, whilst Alan and Mark are the partners of the SB3 specialists firm Rigging Gurus.

Tony Castro has appointed White Formula in the UK, who built the first 50 boats in 2002, as the licensed SB20 builder. New boats have been ordered and are due for delivery from 1st August 2012. Parts are available with immediate effect from www.sportsboatworld.com and via a revised dealer network. Sportsboat World will work with the SB20 World Council and National Associations to provide an event circuit to appeal to sailors internationally.

President of the SB20 World Council, Edward Russo (FRA) expressed his pleasure in the announcement of the developments for the SB20 class. “This is extremely good news for the SB20 class which is currently experiencing strong growth in several countries. I am especially pleased to see the SB20 production being moved back to the UK. The promise of quality new boats, a steady supply of spares as well as technical support means the SB20 will continue to provide cost effective, international one-design competitive sailing for a long time to come.”

Glenn Bourke current Australian National Champion and 2012 Worlds host, is in full support of the new structure. “I am delighted to hear that the SB20 class is in the hands of people who have been racing in it since it’s inception. Like everyone who loves  this class, I look forward a seamless transition to the production of new high quality boats. We’re ramping up for the Worlds in Hamilton Island in December and 2012 is shaping up to be yet another great year for the SB20!”

For further information and a full Q&A please see www.sportsboatworld.com, or www.sb20class.com

The first championship of the year will be hosted by the National Yacht Club on 11 – 12 May in Dun Laoghaire.

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2012 Annual Subscriptions form

Easterns National Yacht Club        May 12/13  Confirmed

Northerns   Carrickfergus           June 09/10  confirmed

ISAF WORLDS DunLaoghaire            July 12th / 21st

Southerns Tralee Bay Yacht Club     Jun 30th/July 1st  confirmed

Westerns  Galway                    July 28/29th   Confirmed

Nationals  Bangor                   Aug 31st-Sept 1/2nd  Confirmed

Europeans  Holland                  Sept  date tba

Midlands Lough Derg                 Oct 20th – 21th    

Worlds Hamilton Island              Dec 13th – 20th

Peter Kennedy sailing Ridgefence won the 2011 SB3 Midland Championships held at Lough Ree Yacht Club on the 15th & 16th of October. This was Peters third Midlands victory in a row and his crew were Bob Espey and from RNIYC. Six races were sailed over two days with everything from light airs and blue skies to heavy rain and squalls. PRO Vincent Rafter and his team did a great job to get all races sailed in tricky conditions. Ben Duncan was on fire on Saturday scoring a 1,2,1 with Peter Kennedy scoring a very solid 2,3,2. The conditions on Saturday were mixed with the day starting with 10 to 12 knots of breeze gradually dropping during race 2 & 3. Sunday morning dawned with clear blue skies and sunshine but the breeze built all day to over twenty knots but the last race. Ridgefence started the day with a 1st but Ben was 7th so it was game on for Kennedy. Doug Smith, sailing with Killian Collins & Mary Creedon on Sacre Bleu, did very well in the breeze scoring a 2,2,4 on Sunday. The building breeze made for some great downwind action as the SB3’s took off sailing hot angles. The black flag had to be used on Sunday to put manners on the eager fleet with Ruby Blue (Aidan O’Connell) being caught OCS in race 5 thus pushing him out of the top 5.

Peter Kennedy completed the series with a 1st, and discarding a 5th place, he finished 8 points clear of Ben Duncan on Sharkbait. Ben didn’t have his regular crew onboard for the weekend instead sailing with Andrew Vaughan and Joe Turner. Daragh Sheridan, Shane Murphy & John Phelan on Dinghy Supplies had a poor first race but really got going after that with all top 5 places and a first in Race 5. Dinghy Supplies finished joint on points with Doug Smith on Sacre Bleu but Dinghy Supplies got the 3rd place on countback. Darren Martin on Soda Bread from Strangford Lough completed the top 5 positions.

The Silver fleet was decided by removing the top ten boats after the first three races. Colin Galavan on Defiant was 1st, Guy O’Leary was 2nd and Rob Howe on Milvus Milvus was 3rd.

The first lady helm was Selina Dicker on Kicker Off and the 1st Master was Justin Burk on Alert Packaging.

The organisers would like to thank Galway Maritime and English Braids for their kind sponsorship of prizes of sheet sets for the top 3 boats and the winner of the silver fleet.
Complete Results