….if this doesn’t whet your appetite for the World Championships in Lake Garda, nothing will! Enjoy!

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After much hard work by local sailor Ed Russo, a new SB3 fleet has been developed in Normandy and this year secured a class start at the very popular Normandy Sailing Week in early June.  After 4 years at Deauville the event moved to Le Havre and over 100 boats took part on 3 race areas. 

With a separate start and first away every day the SB3 fleet shared a race course with the sportsboats, Open 6.5 class and the Beneteau 7.5, the FFV endorsed boat for club use around France, and on one day the J80 fleet.  From a visitor’s point of view it was interesting, and reassuring, to compare the performance of the smaller SB3 against the other classes.

The logistics suggested leaving the UK on the Thursday overnight ferry and returning to the UK by 2100hrs on Sunday evening, travelling by LD Lines ferry, one of the event sponsors.  With the promise of up to 12 races over 3 days, only one day off work, French hospitality and a forecast of sunshine the ‘Baloo et Zhik’ team found it impossible to refuse the invitation, but the unfortunate clash with Seaview meant they were the only visitors.  That did have the advantage that we were superbly hosted by Ed and his fledgling Normandy SB3 fleet, by Manfred and the team at Sirius Evenements, and the yacht club staff.

Over the 3 days we raced on each of the three race areas, with some very interesting tidal effects, in a variety of conditions from ‘waiting for wind’ to 20 plus knots, and our Race Officer managed to slot in 10 races despite wanting to finish early enough to allow ‘the visitor’ to de-rig and catch the ferry home!  We were even given priority on the crane over the Farr 30 class, assisted in no small way by our shore manager!!

This new and developing fleet in Normandy has a lot of potential to develop and grow, with the young sailors of the ‘local league’ showing excellent performance progression over the weekend, first time in the boat.  I would urge anyone, given the opportunity to go and support them at events.  Add the normal French event hospitality, moules et vin and why would you not support them.  Early discussions are taking place for an event out there early in 2011, maybe a two weekend event, one Normandy one UK, maybe including Normandy Sailing Week, so watch this space.

Once again, Ed, Manfred and everyone else, thank you for a wonderful weekend.

Amongst a total of 45 entries of which 24 were Italians competing for their National title, seven UK crews took advantage of an early test on Lake Garda over three days through 25th to 27th June. With more entries from South Africa, Russia, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria, Portugal, Ireland and the UAE the event had a true international flavour.

Our hosts in Torbole arranged three races per day with the Ora duly on hand for each day’s racing in circa 30 degree temps, blue skies and the Vista one would expect from Lake Garda (along with the multitude of windsurfers at the bottom of the course).

Day one kicked off with circa 12 knots around the course and wins to Luka Bacci (Phi) and Ian Ainslie x 2 (Team Promximo – ex Spirit of Cape Town). Many experienced mixed results through the day with most having at least one race below par and Luca led by 12 points after day one from four teams equal in 2nd.

Most of the GB teams took advantage of the local establishments on Friday evening along with the Irish and Russian crews also seen in the Pizzerias a short walk from our host club with the following day’s start not scheduled to 1PM one even decided to make the most of the balmy conditions and stay by the lake to watch the sunrise.

Saturday’s conditions were slightly fresher with leaders at various times coming from both sides of the course. Wins on day 2 went to Ian Ainslie, Dave Hudson and Pierlo Nigri with points tightening as worst races were dropped from scores and Gill Race Team now leading by three points from Luca Bacci and Ian Ainslie. At this stage no GB team had won a race despite representation at the head of the fleet being robust whilst Luka Rodda of Team Russia had gone close in race 5 just missing out to Dave Hudson.

Sunday’s racing was brought forward an hour, however the Ora didn’t quite accommodate the fleet with the breeze only just beginning to flow at the first attempt of warning signal. Racing got under way in ten knots building to 15-20 knots during the course of the day. GB teams won races 7 and 8 with Andy Oddie getting a bullet in his pocket, followed by Gill Race Team who then won the penultimate race of the series.

The final race commenced with only Gill Race Team and Team Proximo in contention for the overall while Luca Bacci already had the Italian Championship in the bag. As it turned out the result went down to the wire as Proximo sailed through the fleet to win the final heat having rolled the dice successfully on the final run of the event. The final result saw Gill Race Team win by a single point with the team of Craig Burlton, Adam Heeley and Stephen White aboard missing the presentation in order to make a flight back to the UK and resume ‘normal’ responsibilities.

Cercolo Vela Torbole treated the crews to standard, on continent, hospitality with Peroni and Volvo supporting the event all were well looked after when coming ashore. Our thanks to the club and committee for an excellent event and all the international representatives which made the racing top quality – multiple Olympic games reps, medalists, American’s Cup crew and various class world champions included. No thanks to the striking air traffic controllers and payage staff who made the event less straight forward than it ought to have been!

Video coverage courtesy of Volvo http://www.youtube.com/user/MediavipVolvoCup#g/c/10F6BFF6EE5E97F8

The Singapore SB3 fleet held an impromptu days racing on Saturday 19th June as various member of the fleet will be away over the next few weeks as school holidays start to kick in across the various international schools.

A competitive fleet of 5 boats, were marshaled by Hulaballoo (Jamie and Ella) who volunteered to be race committee for the day. With a strong tide, a pleasant 12knots of wind and clear blue skies it was all set to be a fun day. As the start gun sounded, Bandit and Vitra were over, and returned to restart, as did the rest of the fleet , causing some initial mayhem. Once the race committee had realized the debacle the race was binned, and a new sequence started. This also allowed Su Me with John P and crew to make it to the start line- as a lack of attention had caused the boat not to be launched on Friday and an anxious wait for high water in order to make the racing on Saturday.

Once more the start was close, Chris and Claire on Bandit, having slowed to make the start, were slow off the line and immediately tacked to the right, which they then hit hard, with the rest of the fleet going inshore. With the tack to the mark, it was painfully clear that inshore paid, and paid well, with Vitra rounding in first place, followed by Dutchess (Bert-Jan and co.) , Su Me, Pyxis (Robin) and Bandit. With a race now to the finish, Vitra ( the Viking raiders)  romped away, only to not receive a gun as they were over at the start. This handed victory to Dutchess, under new ownership of Bert-Jan   with Su Me second and Bandit having sailed slightly higher managing to pass Pyxis in the final race for the line.

With a very short break between the finish and the next sequence, The race officer sent the fleet away again, with the wind reducing and the tide still flowing, it was a long beat, with Dutchess, Su Me and Bandit all choosing to go up the shore, Vitra and Pyxis banged the right hand side of the course. With very little speed difference between the three boats in-shore the call was when to strike out against the tide and go for the mark, Dutchess was the first to break, and judged the layline well, rounding in first place, Bandit went next, but missed a shift allowing Su Me to fetch across the tide to round in 2nd place. The run downwind was more tide driven than wind, at the leeward mark there was some confusion where the race officer had somehow indicated that it was to be 2 x round – needless to say not all the fleet managed to get the message and as they sailed down tide through the finishing line were very surprised to not get a gun, and to see other boats sailing upwind again. This gave the chance for Pyxis and Vitra to catch up, however in the end the positions stayed the same to the finish.

Overall final positions were Dutchess, Su Me, Bandit, Pyxis and Vitra.

Thanks must go to Jamie and Ella for running the racing. The evening saw a Dark & Stormy tasting where the merits of different rums, ginger beers and limes were tasted against each other. One participant was heard to say, “More people should join in as it is so healthy to drink so much fruit juice packed with vitamin C,” coupled with a screening of England Vs Australia (Rugby) and an impromptu football match.  In other fleet news, it was great to see Dutchess out, ( Bert-Jan chuffed in the knowledge that he knows his boat is fast), being guided by Wallace (Glasgow Kiss) imparting some of his knowledge of “sweary words”.  It was sad to see that Kip could not sail due to a nasty rash and a broken nail.

An amendment has been made to the Notice of Race for the 2010 World Championships and Italian National Championships.

Download the amendment here: Amendment to the NOR…2010 Worlds and Italian Nationals

Text of the amendment here:

Amendment to the notice of race: Campionato Italiano Laser SB3 (25-27 June) and Laser SB3 World Championships (19-25 July)

A. The following notice will apply to the above two events:

8. EQUIPEMENT: CLASS RULE VARIATIONS:
As provided in class rule A.6.2 the mandatory equipment rule C.5.1 shall be altered to exclude the following items from the list of mandatory items. Members need not have these items but may sail with them as optional equipment if they wish:
Item 1: Horseshoe lifebuoy attached to stern.
Item 3: Anchor with specified chain.
Item 5. Floating Line attached to the stern
Item 9: Specified flares and watertight bag.

B. Additionally the following notice will apply to the above two events:
Due to the new 2010 SB3 Class rules and after discussion at the Technical Committee and with some World Council members and President, we have listed the following required amendments to the Notice of Race.
 
Rule C.4.2 – OPTIONAL PERSONAL EQUIPEMENT:
GPS is banned at all times in this event.

Rule C.5. MANDATORY EQUIPEMENT
Each competitor shall wear a personal flotation device (life jacket) at all times while afloat.
Each boat shall carry its anchor rope to be used as a towing line when necessary.
                                               
NOTICE OF RACE SUPPORT BOATS
-The class would also point out that support boats are seen as a possible advantage to those who have the additional funding available for such support.  The class requires that the Notice of race states that support boats use will be limited in their contact with competitors to before the first Starting sequence for the first race until after the last race has finished.  The Class also requires that all such boats agree as part of accreditation to be available for boat or personal rescue or towing work at any time on request from the race committee or any official rescue or support boat, and should without delay offer to assist any boat that is dismasted or sinking

The 2010 World Championship for the Laser SB3 will be hosted by Circolo Vela Torbole, Lake Garda, Italy from 19 – 23 July 2010. The entry list has topped 100 boats, and is still growing. No surprises there then! Entries flooded into Circolo Vela Torbole as soon as the entry list opened in February, a clear demonstration of the popularity of Lake Garda as a venue for major events.

Representatives from sixteen nations will compete in the World Championships, the largest spread of that the Laser SB3 class has ever enjoyed. Forty boats will attend from the UK, still the largest national entry and the host nation field a twenty boat entry, their largest turn out to a World Championships yet. Entries come from as far afield as Australia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and South Africa. Ireland, France, The Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, Germany, Ukraine and Russia will all be represented in Torbole in July.

The two Laser SB3 World Champions, Geoff Carveth (2008 Champion, Dun Laoghaire) and Craig Burlton (2009 Champion, Cascais) will both compete again for the Championship title and the honour of lifting the Waterford Crystal Trophy on Friday 23 July. Both Carveth and Burlton are British and so far the Laser SB3 World Championship has not been won by another nation. John Pollard, another British sailor recently won the Laser SB3 Volvo Cup on Lake Garda by a good margin and will be gunning hard for the top of the fleet.

However, this event is far from a walk over for the Brits! Tough competition will be provided by the Russian entry helmed by Ukrainian Rodion Luka who recently won the Laser SB3 Eurocup in Morgat, France. Luka, who took silver at the 2004 Olympics in Athens in the 49er class has already demonstrated good boat speed and hot tactics on the race course. Father and son, David and Roger Hudson, the founders of the South African sailing foundation “Race Ahead”, will field two entries, crewed by sailors from the foundation. Race Ahead has achieved second at the World Championships in 2008 and 2009. Will it be third time lucky for them?

For a number of the crews taking part in the 2010 Laser SB3 World Championships, this will be their first trip to Lake Garda, but for many, a trip down memory lane. Laser SB3 World Class President Dave Cheyne (IRL) can barely contain his excitement! “We have some mouth watering racing ahead of us! There are forty seven entries already for the Italian Nationals, we have an absolutely incredible few weeks of sailing coming up!”

Entrants will be split into two qualifying fleets for the first six races of the World Championships. Gold and silver fleet finals will begin on Wednesday 21st July. For anybody still wanting to enter, there is still time. Please contact Katie Ashworth via the website for further details.

The Laser SB3 Italian National Championships will take place in Torbole, from 25th – 27th June. A number of keen teams from across Europe will travel to Italy early for a pre-match warm up and to eye up the local competition.

LaserPerformance through Italian dealer Negri Nautica (www.negrinautica.com) will provide event support to the Italian Nationals and the World Championships ensuring every boat is able to race each day. Negri Nautica will also be making special offers to the fleet on spares and sails.

The Laser SB3 Class proudly claims to be one of the most tightly restricted one design keelboat classes in the world with little variation from the builder’s final product permitted. With minimal maintenance, easy to trail and low campaign cost, the class thrives on its philosophy of providing inclusive, high intensity, great fun and easily attainable, quality racing for it’s members.

Further news and developments, stay tuned.

Two days racing. Three races on Saturday and one on the Sunday as we had time limit at 4.00 p.m unfortunately as the breeze came in a little late because of the cloudy weather.

After the long stay in Numana the Italian Laser SB3 fleet moved to Torbole on Lake Garda to prepare the Italian Nationals and the Worlds.

John Pollard won the regatta being very consistent performance and never posted a score lower than 3rd! Second place for Stenghele of Pietro Negri, Luigi Ravioli and Roberto Caresani and third place of PHi Number of Luca Bacci, Duccio Colombi and Tiziano Nava as tactitian. Tiziano is one of the best Italian sailors always on top of the Melges 24 class with Blue Moon. With an OCS and two 1st places and one 2nd they are for ready for the Italina Nationals on 25-26-27 of June where 43 boat have pre-entered.

View images at: http://www.lasersb3.it/immagini_album.asp?page=1&album=29&ppg=1
Check out the event video at: http://www.youtube.com/lasersb3italia