100 boats for Audi SB20 Worlds

Racing gets under next week

With under a week to go until the first race of the 2013 Audi SB20 World Championships hosted by COYCH in Hyères, France, the entry list is shaping up with 100 boats expected on the start line on Monday, 9 September. Audi’s title sponsorship of the Championship ensures that not only will the competitors have a great event on the water, but they will also be well entertained ashore. A good social scene is a “must have” component of any successful SB20 event.

2013 will see the sixth edition of the SB20 World Championships. The SB20 World Championship trophy has never before been lifted by a team from outside of the UK. The pressure from the home grown French talent and ever increasing Russian class quality will put the top seeds from the UK under immense pressure if they wish to retain the trophy for a sixth year running.

7th ranked ISAF Women’s Match Race sailor Claire Leroy (FRA) will race with three times 420 class World Champion Magali Pallanca’s (FRA) in an all female entry. Along with Sophie de Turchkheim’s (FRA) part female team Leroy/Pallanca’s teams will both fly the livery of luxury French cosmetics company Clarins who have sponsored these two French teams. The SB20 is a boat highly suited to female helms and crews; there will be a total of six female helms looking to give the gents a run for their money in Hyères.

The five day race series in Hyères is likely to be one of the most hotly contested Championships the SB20 class has ever witnessed. Entries come from 15 countries with the largest fleets fielded by native France, neighbouring Italy and the UK. Each country will be represented by approximately 20 boats on the start line. COYCH has a wealth of experience running excellent national and international regattas and has provided a phenomenal draw for crews from as far away as Australia; four crews from the past World Championship host country will be welcomed in Hyères next week.

“We are really excited to be hosting the 2013 World Championships in France, but to be able to have the event in Hyeres, it’s really special. COYCH will do us proud as host nation,” explained Ed Russo (FRA), President, SB20 World Council. The SB20 fleet has experienced strong growth in France recently due to the efforts of Ed Russo and Marçon Yachting. Marçon Yachting, SB20 dealers in France, will be on site supporting the fleet with a spares and repairs service.

Previous 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, Lesely Dhonau, Roger Hudson & Asenathi Jim
Host Hamilton Island Yacht Club, Hamilton Island, Australia