Gill, the technical sailing clothing brand, is pleased to announce its partnership with the Laser SB Class, one of the leading one-design and keelboat fleet racing classes in the world. (more…)

SB3′s in Singapore 25th April Yet another hot day with good breeze from the north, but a tad testing in direction at times. Seven boats took to the water to race over the usual short courses which demand a great start and slick handling at the marks and with a strong tide and biased committee boat starts were going to be either entertaining, if you were in the right, or extremely challenging, if you were in the wrong!

The first start led to an almighty squeeze and a lot of shouting UP UP UP at some cheeky chancers to some, brilliant tacticians to others !! Those that timed it right shot out like a cork out of a bottle and the rest stalled, crashed and burned. As the course was set mid channel, the tide with wind, split the fleet left and right, with right-siders prevailing at the windward mark. Up with the kite for some, half way up for others and then the fishing. Katana, Tara, Hullaballoo got it right and were 1, 2, 3 respectively. Glasgow Kiss coming up the rear after a keel wrap fish sandwich.

A big black evil cloud in south with serious lightening loomed and looked like enveloping the second race. Hullabaloo and Tara ran for cover, with the remaining 5 boats deciding to risk the looming storm. Second race went to form with Katana negotiating the wicked tide and reading the fluky shifts, with Su Me and Bandit not too far behind followed by Xoco starting to find her form.

A change of helm in Glasgow Kiss with father sent to the front of the boat in disgrace and son doing the needful at the back meant a change of fortune (Wallace Junior taking over from Wallace senior). With the tide strengthening and wind dropping all the fleet except for Bandit decided to reach in at speed, Bandit donned body armor and forced the ‘cowboys’ over leading to a general recall. The restart saw a clean getaway, with some flawless sailing from Katana leading to line honours, and some flawed sailing by Bandit, who managed to lead round the first mark and then got steadily slower. Xoco, getting the measure of the course and her competitors, finished second, and Glasgow Kiss with a grinning son at the helm giving dad ” that look” with a third.

With the looming black cloud not getting any nearer, Hullabaloo attempted to regain some credibility and rejoined the fleet. Last race was a single sausage dash, followed by a windward leg to the finish line at the lighthouse back at the marina again meant decisions about tide and which side to go for. The answer being a resounding right which Su Me did and was rewarded with win from Katana followed by Glasgow Kiss with the son at the back still grinning.

Ashore much discussion over the days racing was had – Wallace Junior on Glasgow Kiss, whilst jubilant by bettering his father’s results, managed to loose all good will by dropping the boom clevis pin into the jelly fish infested marina, the father and son team on Hullabaloo were seen discussing the differences between Optimist sailing and SB3 sailing, and Tara was no-where to be seen having taken the ‘Big Girls Blouse’ Award by running for cover at the slightest hint of rain.

Thanks to Prakash assisted by Sharon Chong for presiding over what must have been an amusing starting spectacle from a committee boat perspective. See you on the water next week.

Race Report By Wallace and edited by Chris.

So the winter has been hideously cold, and the recession is biting hard, and one could be forgiven for expecting a lacklustre season opener for any sailing class given the current climate. But not for the SB3 Class in Ireland! Out of the sheds and gardens they came in their droves, with great cheer and enthusiasm, and a 43 boat fleet set out for the first ding dong of the 2010 season. Clearly whatever is happening out there, it isn’t dampening the enthusiasm of Ireland’s youngest and most vibrant collection of oldies.

All the usual protaganists where there, the match racing Kiwi, Flipper Flanagan, Sean Craig, Pete Kennedy, Theo Lyttle, Colin Galavan, Killian Collins (having traded in his brother for Audrey for the weekend), Homer and Marge and Baby Brother O’Connell – plus a fair pack of talent well capable of posting a few good results on the day snapping at their rudders.

Clearly however, it was to be service resumed with Ben Duncan’s Sharkbait and Flanagan’s Gill Race Team grasping the nettle in what was a stingy breeze for most. With the breeze flicking viciously on the right shoreline, big gains were possible, with race one turning inside out and providing glory for some, and a plughole for many. Not even the Sharkbait crew could have imagined the lead they would take to the finish as they sailed around the fleet following an smart early gybe into breeze on the left. Sean Craig was one who really came a cropper in this one, and plenty were already posting their discard (or hoped they were) before the event had barely begun.

Saturday was a day for some big blasting and broaching, as the breeze topped 25 knots on occasion and left a battle weary but delighted fleet heading for a delightful buffet dinner in the George for the evening. Sunday, true to form, Dublin Bay managed to throw up some massive ladders for those getting themselves in the right spot, with Trevor Darcy in Bullet making the most spectaular intervention from wide left field on Sunday morning, extending their lead to the finish.

Top boat of day two was Aidan O’Connell with a remarkable 3,4,1, contrasting with the usually consistent Duncan’s 2,19 and 18. Flanagan, as so often in the past, was either able to sniff out where the gain was coming from next, or were able to dig themselves out of midfield to keep themselves in the top 5 throughout. Consistency was always going to be the key, with the breeze going from a patchy SW with gusts, to nothing, until it was replaced with a bizarre breeze from the East for race 6. The trophy was pretty much a race off between Gill race Team and Sharkbait by then, and despite Duncan’s team getting the upper hand in the first start, the deal was pretty much done 50% of the way up the beat on the restart. Confusion reigned, as those standing on from the start hooked into a 20 degree lefty, to cross by a mile those who had tacked off to cover any right side bias that seemed likely to evolve. None moreso than the Sharkbait boys, who found themselves languishing on the outside of a truly wierd hole that ran down the middle of the right side of the course, which they kept falling into as they tried to get back into the centre of the course. They rounded the top mark pretty much DFL and despite a great effort to get back through the traffic, it was game set and opening match to the Boys from Ballyholme.

Royal St George Yacht Club excelled themselves again, setting an exceptional standard under the direction of Sean Craig, and most importantly showed how friendly and welcoming a club they are. Things are certainly alive and well in the SB3 fleet in Ireland, and all eyes will be on the Baily bowl in May, and the Northern Areas at Royal North in June.

Images can be found at: http://www.fotosail.com/pages/eventpage.php?eventID=73

Irish SB3 East Coast Championships Results

This year Cowes Week competitors have 2 berthing options, walk ashore in Shepards Wharf or on a Harbour Mooring at the entrance to Cowes and the Medina River.

This year, class bookings at Shepards Wharf must be made, and paid for before the end of May. Bookings should be made by completing the booking form below and returning to Katie Ashworth, by Friday 28th May. Katie will then collate all mooring bookings on behalf of the SB3 Class Association. Any mooring requirements after Friday 28th May should be made directly with Shepards Wharf Marina.

Cowes Week Berthing Booking Form 2010

Living on the equator so close to the sun, it gets hot. This last Sunday the sun was out a vengeance and woe be to anyone who touched a bit of metal with something tender.

After rigging up the expected Southerly shore breeze never appeared, and winds were out of the North. This meant it was coming overland and was shifting and changing pressure with each puff. The tide was ebbing all day at its usual 2-3kts going with the wind and had a gradient left to right. 4 races were had in total. The line was set for four boats, but seven showed up. As a result starts were tight, and loud, with all seven boats showing up right at the favored end right-on-time.

In race one the fleet split on the first leg; some going left in search of relief from the tide and some going right looking for pressure. Left paid off and Katana rounded first, but then for some strange reason decided to give up their lead and gybed off, allowing Glasgow Kiss and Hullabaloo to slip ahead. Hullabaloo then squeaked ahead and held it to the finish with Glasgow Kiss and Katana in second and third. Race 2 was in some respects similar to the first; pressure on the right versus favorable tide and a lifter on the left. Lots of places were traded. Glassgow Kiss and SuMe rounded the windward mark first. At the end of the run Glassgow Kiss and SuMe had a disagreement over rights at the port-end gate allowing Hullabaloo escape on the starboard-end gate. Between races 2 and 3 SuMe was also unhappy with the set of the line and decided to re-set the pin with her keel. Race 3 started badly for some; Hullabaloo was spit out the back of the fleet like watermelon seed and was forced right while most of the fleet went left. Others like Katana started well, took the lead, and this time decided to hold on to it to take the bullet. Hullabaloo recovered for a second, closely followed by Glasgow Kiss. The last race was once around and back to the lighthouse on the breakwater and the club. Glasgow Kiss grabbed the lead from Bandit and held it to the end, beating everyone back to the bar.

Thanks to everyone for showing up and making it a great day of racing. I apologize in advance for any factual discrepancies or self-serving commentary. The sun combined with an après-ski beer materially impaired my memory of this weekend.

Chris

The excitement in Dublin is reaching fever pitch as the start of the Irish SB3 season kicks off with a bang at the Royal St George’s Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, this weekend.
 
45 boats are expected on the line on Saturday, with all the main protagonists from last season taking part, and maybe a few newbies to stake their claim. It promises to be a gargantuan struggle for the crew that comes out on top.
 
Weather looks good with 15-20 knots from the south and sunshine on Saturday, before a gloomier, but still moderate breeze from the SW follows on for Sunday.
 
Results are available on line at http://www.rsgyc.ie/sailing/event/sb3_eastern_championships_2010/ and a full write up will follow early next week.

After the outstanding success of the 2009 event which was universally enjoyed, especially by the large travelling contingent of British sailors, a return to Crozan Morgat for the Ecole Navale organised Laser SB3 Eurocup is already attracting a strong entry, including more boats from mainland Europe. 

As much as the quality of the competition on the waters of the north side of the famous Bay of Douarnenez, it was the superb organisation, the beautiful surroundings and the warmth of the welcome which has inspired the fast growing SB3 class to return consistently to the area.

Since last year, when South Africa’s Roger Hudson and UK SB3 Class Chairman Jerry Hill and their respective crews duelled for the overall honours in a 27 boat fleet, the class has continued to grow in France as well as other European countries. More recently the strength of the Euro as well as the geographic availability of good boats in the UK has seen fleets multiply, especially in the north of France. Already 27 entries have been received from 6 countries among them South Africa, Holland, Belgium, France and Germany – with an expectation of between 35 and 40 boats racing in the class over this week end.

The popularity of the Crozan Morgat event is almost unrivalled among the British based SB3 teams, building over the three years that the event has been on the SB3 EuroCup circuit, 2003, 2004 and 2009. The Bank Holiday weekend exodus to France for four days of racing has become a regatta not to be missed. Competitors pay tribute to the high level of organisation which ensure good racing on the water, but also there is free dormitory accommodation on a first come first served basis, and a great shoreside social scene which not surprisingly majors on the excellent local restaurants, food and wine.

Last year’s winners have already entered. Roger and David Hudson, the South African father and son pairing who finished second and third at last year’s SB3 World Championships in Cascais, Portugal, are coming back with their City of Cape Town boat.
Hill is most likely to form a potent team with Mark Richards on Rigging Gurus.
 
The event is a key part of the massive annual Grand Prix Ecole Navale (GPEN) that starts the week before (May 13th – 16th) and includes racing for around 140 different boats in seven different classes from Open 5.7m sportsboats to offshore one designs the Beneteau Figaro 2’s, Class 40’s including a large fleet of J80’s. Amongst the sportsboat classes many top French offshore racers take part to keep themselves race sharp including Mini/Figarist Erwan Tabarly who won the Longzte class and, individually, Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier who together won November’s Transat Jacques Vabre transatlantic race from Le Havre, France to Costa Rica. Guillemot finished third in the Open 7.50 class last year and Caudrelier finished third in the 41 boat J80 class.
 
QUOTES

From Jerry Hill, UK Class Chairman, “2010 will be the fourth year that the Laser SB3 fleet have chosen to come to the Ecole Navale Championship for our Eurocup event. While this was initially an enthusiastic band of UK sailors, now there are many other nationalities who travel to this beautiful part of France to sail. We come for many reasons, but we enjoy sailing in Brittany, we enjoy the food and the wine, the organisation is first class and the organisers are always happy to help and assist the sailors. If I had to choose just one event to sail in each year, this event would be top of my list.”

Alain Daoulas, Grand Prix Ecole Navale Chief Commissaire, “The Grand Prix Ecole Navale, which was launched in 2002 has been built since the beginning around sportsboats, one design and technology. And so it is natural that in 2003 we proposed to the Laser SB3 class that they join the event. After last year we reviewed all aspects of the events with the competitors of the Eurocup so we could integrate the sport and logistics solutions that answer the specific needs of this class. The competitors are racing in a specific area, in the beautiful Bay of Douarnenez and we have also developed hospitality for the crews and also for their families.”

From Roger Hudson (2009 Eurocup Winner, South Africa), “Of the many fantastic sailing events that Team RaceAhead has competed in over the past few years, including Cork Week, Cowes Week and various National and World Championships, the Ecole Navale Championship in Brest, France has without doubt most exceeded our expectations. Beyond the high quality of racing and excellent conditions, the event’s fine organisation and the unique social programme create a rare sense of camaraderie that defines great sailing events. This event offers precisely the sort of racing experience and invaluable exposure to the wider world that the RaceAhead project aims to provide for young African sailors.”
 
GPEN LASER SB3 EUROCUP LOCATION:
Sailing will take place in Crozon Morgat, Bay of Douarnenez (Brittany, France).

Jono Shelley, an English sailor living in New Zealand, but spending a lot of time in Australia, has carted off the SB3 Australian Championship at Sail Port Stephens today.

Shelley also won the SB3 title at Geelong in January and said this afternoon, “It’s great to win two in a row. I have to thank my crew James Walker and Jonnie Harrison. I’ve never sailed with them, but I sailed against them a lot in England – they were great.”

The likable blonde, sailing Club Marine White beat the Australian SB3 distributor Rod Jones (Qld), sailing Club Marine Blue, by two points and Jan ‘Clogs’ Scholten (Selden For Sailing) from NSW by five points.

“There were more boats here than in Geelong and the competition was definitely harder – there were four of us who could have won today. I’m now looking forward to sailing at the SB3 Worlds in Geelong next January,” he said.

Shelley enjoyed sailing at Port Stephens. “It’s an absolutely magic venue – I’d come back and sail here anytime. We had a great race committee – they made sure it was fair for everyone. I love this venue, although a bit more wind would have been nice,” he enthused. 
 
Jones, who won the SB3 event at the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta in March, was thrilled with his second place at Sail Port Stephens. He was wearing an ear-to-ear grin tonight. “We had a great time,” said the competitive Jones who has won two IRC Australian championships with two yachts by the name of Alegria.

The strict one-design SB3 is fast becoming one of the most popular small keelboats on the Australian sailing scene – and little wonder. The high-performance lift-keel 6.15m boat with spinnaker is sailed by some of the best sailors around and sailors of all levels. All say the SB3 fun factor is limitless.

Seventeen boats from around Australia contested the SB3 Australian Championship over three days of light conditions at Sail Port Stephens on windward/leeward courses and helped to make up the record 83 entries here in Port Stephens at Australia’s fastest growing regatta.

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For further information, please visit: www.sailportstephens.com.au

Tom Rosoman got it right when he said of Day 1 of the SB3 Australian Championship at Sail Port Stephens: ‘Racing here today reminded me of being in Qingdao (sailing venue for the 2008 Olympics) it was all over the shop and light – it was one of those days where you didn’t need to take risks and you could still win.’

Rosoman, living in Victoria, is the business development manager of LaserPerformance, manufacturers of the SB3 Dart and is currently a good fourth overall in competition, surprising even himself.

What is not a surprise is that the current Australian champion, Jono Shelley, a British sailor who lives in Queensland, is leading the series on Day 1 following three races. ‘It’s just like sailing at home, except it’s sunny,’ said Shelley who sailed Club Marine White to a win in Race 2 and a third in Race 3. Shelley is already five points ahead of second placed Dennis Winstanley, a gun windsurfer representing Queensland, whose second and a win in Races 2 and 3 lifted him up the board.

Rod Jones, the SB3 distributor from Queensland and winner at the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta in March is in third place, just two points behind Winstanley. Jones said: ‘it was a day when one side of the course or the other was heavily favoured all day. Problem was, picking the right side- it was very unpredictable.

Apart from Jono (Shelley) nobody was consistent. ‘My tactician Sean (O’Rourke) needs to drink more – he wasn’t fluid enough today! Tom Rosoman is only one point behind Jones. ‘We were dolphin spotting – that’s my excuse anyway for moving around the course in the third race. We didn’t see one, but we had fun anyway. I only met my two crew two days ago – Ben (Calder) while I was out drinking and Ollie was introduced to by a mate.’ Calder is the husband of pilot Lauren who did not have the best of days and is currently at the bottom of the leaderboard.

Elsewhere on the course, the skipper of 3387 (we won’t name him, just shame him) had a massive dummy spit and dropped the tiller at one stage to give full vent to his anger. Aboard the start boat, while the mark boats were kept busy moving marks in the light and shifty breeze, a few fish were caught – some reward for a tough day out! Seventeen boats took to the start line for the first four of their windward/leeward races sailed on Salamander Bay. Racing continues from 11.30am tomorrow.

SB3 Australian Championships Results Day 1

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The Techical Committee of the SB3 World Council have worked extremely hard over the past 6 months to produce the 2010 Laser SB3 Class Rules. Please download the new class rules and familiarise yourself with them.

Laser SB3 Class Rules 2010

Highlighted Changes to the Laser SB3 Class Rules 2010

Following the success of the SB3 in Germany, the German SB3 Class Association has been founded.

 The German Class Association Committee will consist of:

Reinhard Schroeder - Chairman and North
Herbert Haß - Executive South
Gralf Popken – Executive East and Webmaster
Ferdinand Ziegelmayer – Executive Administration
Timo Haß – Racing
Marc-Dominique Tidow - Class Rules
Sven Gauter – Auditor
Benedikt Spiegel – Auditor

For further information, please visit www.lasersb3.de