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Lack of Entries Cancels SB20 Sprint Series on Dublin Bay

18th June 2019
High speed sailing in an SB20 on Dublin Bay with Ger Dempsey on the tiller High speed sailing in an SB20 on Dublin Bay with Ger Dempsey on the tiller Credit: Afloat

Saturday's planned SB20 Sprint Series on Dublin Bay has been cancelled. 

The aim of the innovative sportsboat series was to run "lots of races back to back"  but Class President Colin Galavan said he had no option but to "cancel running the event" due to lack of support.

Thankfully, the class can revert to the regular two DBSC Saturday races scheduled this weekend.

In a communication to the membership, Galavan gave an insight behind the lack of take up for the event, "lots of sailors have just finished the Dun Laoghaire-Dingle race, others are off on holiday after the Leaving and Junior Certs and some are off to Sovereigns Cup".

Meanwhile, Royal Irish SB20 skipper Ger Dempsey (pictured above) finished seventh overall at the North Sea Regatta 2019 in the Hague a week ago. Dempsey sailing with Dublin Bay sailors Chris Nolan, Dion Labouret and Justin Burke were winners of race six in the 13-boat fleet. Results are here.

Published in 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