Displaying items by tag: Zane Gills

9th January 2020

Former Volvo Ocean Race Sailor Dies In Incident At Spanish Marina

File image of the marina at Port Bell in Barcelona

An Australian sailor who took part in the former Volvo Ocean Race has died in an incident in a Spanish marina before the New Year.

Metro.co.uk reports that the body of 37-year-old Zane Gills was found under the yacht he had sailed with his brother into Port Vell in Barcelona ahead of New Year’s Eve.

It’s understood that Zane’s brother left him on board to run an errand but on return there was no sign of the professional sailor, who was bowman for Team Telefonica in the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race that climaxed in Galway.

Zane was also a foiling sailor, taking part in the 2018 Moth Worlds alongside Ireland’s David Kenefick and Rory Fitzpatrick, and was part of the Desafío MAPFRE offshore team, which was among those paying tribute from the world of sailing.

Metro.co.uk has more on the story HERE.

Published in Ocean Race

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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