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Displaying items by tag: First 50

Quarter Tonner movements may have stolen the new boat headlines over the past month but that's not to say there haven't been some other new race boat arrivals around the Irish coast too. 

While the move certainly seems to be into the smaller boat sizes or Cape 31s, there is nevertheless some change in the 40-foot bracket too.

The  X-Treme 37 on the RIYC pontoonThe  X-Treme 37 on the RIYC pontoon

X-Treme 37

The Royal Irish Yacht Club on Dublin Bay has a new X-Treme 37 among its fleet. The X-Treme 37 (RP Design No. 142) was designed by Reichel/Pugh for G-Force Yachts. The new arrival is expected to join the DBSC racing fleet when the summer racing season starts next month. 

Howth Yacht Club J/122The J122e at Howth Yacht Club is the latest addition to the Irish race fleet

J/122

Howth Yacht Club has seen the arrival of a J122 to the North Dublin Harbour. It brings to three the number of J122s now racing in Irish waters. This latest version was trucked in from continental Europe in early February.

There are unconfirmed reports of another big boat coming to north Dublin too. A First 50 could be on its way subject to survey, Afloat understands.

For quite some time, Chris Power Smith's top ISORA contender Aurelia was the only J122 racing in Ireland but all that changed in 2021 with the arrival of Greystones sistership Kaya. 

J122 Jelly Baby 

J/122 Jelly Baby - ex Kaya - now flying the Royal Cork flag in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob BatemanJ/122 Jelly Baby - ex Kaya - now flying the Royal Cork flag in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

The performance of the Wicklow boat, which had a remarkable championship-winning season in 2021, meant it was snapped up when it went on the market last November.

It was sold to Cork Harbour and becomes the new 'Jelly Baby' of the Royal Cork's Jones family. As regular Afloat readers will know this move follows an accident last October where the original Jelly Baby (a J109) ended up on the rocks

Among improvements made by her new skipper, Brian Jones, is a revolutionary new antifouling system.

All is not lost for this J109 however with social media reports stating that the boat is now in Northern Ireland waters and undergoing repairs and hopefully a return to the race course in 2023?

It is reported that the Cork Harbour J109 Jelly Baby will be joining the Strangford Lough cruiser-racer fleet It is reported that the Cork Harbour J109 Jelly Baby will be joining the Strangford Lough cruiser-racer fleet this season or next

Sunfast 3300

As Afloat reported previously, Ireland will have a second Jeanneau Sunfast 3300 for next season's offshore yacht racing calendar.

As regular Afloat readers know, the first of the new range, Cian McCarthy's Cinnamon Girl, debuted at Kinsale Harbour in 2020 but this second one, a used and high specification one is coming into Dublin Bay. 

Due to its light, powerful hull, twin rudders and straight keel, this Sun Fast can combine speed and stability in most sea conditions.

It's not clear what Irish events the boat will compete in but as 2022 is a Round Ireland Race year and the boat is set up for double-handed sailing it might well take its place on the Wicklow start line next June.

Published in Boat Sales

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