The 'Kidzink' United Arab Emirates SB20 entry from the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC) was making waves on the Dublin Bay race track on Sunday ahead of the first race of the class World Championships at the Royal Irish Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire on Monday.
Kidzink is a new boat and one of three UAE entries in next week's Championship.
Kidzink' a United Arab Emirates SB20 entry from the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club sailing on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat.ie
The boat is sailed by Libby Greenhalgh, Charlotte Borghesi, Leonie Bonaparte and Thomas Cracknell, who certainly know a thing or two about sailing in big winds and waves, as our video below shows.
The other UAE boats are Supersonic sailed by Justin Burke, Michal Pajak, Rosemary Tyrrell, and Emily Conan and Poor Buoy, crewed by husband and wife team Rachel and Jonny Blackburn, along with Bekky Britton.
Kidzink is a new SB20 and one of two UAE entries in next week's Championship Photo: Afloat
In 20-knot southerly winds and some bright sunshine, the UAE crew were making no secret of the fact that the 2024 SB20 Worlds will be hosted by their club in 2024 by sporting a massive kite with a 'See you in Dubai' message emblazoned across it.
The DOSC has facilities enjoyed by over 700 members, a marina with 152 berths, a welcoming Clubhouse and a busy social calendar, so things are looking good for the SB20 class.
It wasn't all plain sailing for the UAE visitors, though, as a heavy air gybe posed some problems, but the crew soon recovered and hit top speed again, as the video below shows.
Read Afloat's preview of the SB20 Worlds at Dun Laoghaire here.
