The cream of the UK class will battle it out for the final class championship title of 2011. Current World Champion, Geoff Carveth will be aiming to take “The Double” for the 2011 season; Jerry Hill will want to put his disappointing World Championship result behind him and regain his previous form in the class; Craig Burlton will compete with his regular crew of Stephen White and Adam Heeley who are consistently “quick”.

Andy Oddie in Underground Toys will be one to watch, along with Peter Saxton, Sarah Allan, Charlie Whelan and Tom Clay. All are capable of great results at this event. Stewart Reed and his crew on Finitor 7 will, without doubt, win the social award and any crews wishing to be in contention for the title would be well advised to give them a wide berth in the bar!

The class look forward to welcoming David Cheyne, former Class President, from Ireland and Martin Lossie from The Netherlands. All in all, the 10th Laser SB3 National Championships is going to be a great event on and off the water. Over the past decade the Laser SB3 has provided highly competitive one design racing at affordable prices. There are still owners sailing in the class who took part in the 2002 National Championships hosted by Warsash Sailing Club, where Paul Lovejoy, Mike Budd and Robert Greenhalgh were victorious.

Title sponsor Zhik will host the Laser SB3 class at the 10th Anniversary Party in the King & Queen Pub in Hamble on Monday night. All past and present Laser SB3 sailors are welcome to join the competitors for a beer or two from 7.30pm. Thanks also to supporting sponsors Hamble Yacht Services who’s launching and recovery facilities have made this event possible and thanks also to LaserPerformance who will be onsite providing an event repairs service during the Championships.

Please find the Notice of Race here:

Notice of Race Riva del Garda 25 26 June 2011

A second event will take place from Riva del Garda on 23/24 July and boat storage between events will be available.

To view the results, click here

A full report and images will follow.

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To view the full gallery and all 900 images, click here

It’s just a bit too early to tuck the boat up for Winter, so get the covers off and back on the water for some more big fleet racing, it’s what it’s all about!

Enter online

Autumn Championship Entires

Autumn Championships Notice of Race

Winter Series Entires

Winter Series Notice of Race

The combination of an excellent location, powered up sailing conditions and the well known hospitality of the Belgians is promising to become once again a top event on the calendar!

Last year has been a huge success and this year we are expecting even more boats and an even better social program.

Thanks to main sponsor Huysman Yacht Insurance & Financing and prize giving sponsors Laser Performance, Slam, Brugse Zot, Marina Yachting Center and Oogstende, teams will not leave with empty hands.

See you all in Ostend !

Full details can be found on this thread: http://chat.lasersb3.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3292 
NOR/Registering at:
http://www.rnsyc.be/ostend/en/calendar_detail.asp?id=211

Download the Notice of Race here: Tri Nations Cup Notice of Race 2010
Enter Online here: http://www.rnsyc.be/ostend/en/webentry/entryform.asp?id=211
Entry List here: http://www.rnsyc.be/ostend/en/entrylist.asp?id=211&entry=webentry

 Laser SB3 Scottish Championships Notice of Race & Entry Form

Further Details:

The event will be held during the weekend of the 18th -19th September at Rhu, Scotland. This is already a Scottish IRC/Sportsboat event called: GSS North Clyde Regatta.

NOR available here: http://www.clyde.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=189

Doug has spoken to the event organiser and he explained that if the class can get a fleet together then the Laser SB3 class would be very welcome. There will be good launching facilities available via the RNLI slipway and berthing within Rhu Marina. There is a free bar on the friday night and a good social scene.

If you are interested then please e-mail katiesb3@googlemail.com

Also, follow the feed on the chat forum at: http://chat.lasersb3.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3224

UPDATE:
Entry Fee: £25.00 (for 2 days racing!)
Craneage: Free!
Camping: Space will be available
Worth the drive: Certainly!

With the constant presence of the famous Cascais northern summer wind, well known as Nortada, over the four racing days, the competition was huge among the twenty boats that entered at the Portuguese National Championship.

In the four days, the competitors made eleven races among the two usual racing areas of Cascais. As usual the races were great, with several crews winning races and with the constant changes in leadership races.

Capital Moura Team, with Filipe Silva, Joaquim Moreira and Pedro Costa Alemão, from the Cascais fleet, began very well the races and won the first five, early leaving the remaining competitors behind. With this big advantage, Capital Moura Team managed the two last days of racing in a more conservative way, ensuring the title.

The second place was to Bettersoft / Bicasco Team, with Luis Santos, Rui Duarte and Pedro Vilela, from CVSado fleet and the 2007 National Champions.

Regarding third place, we had Quebramar Team, with Rui Brites, Gonçalo Esteves and Pedro Andrade, from Cascais fleet, which made a very good last day, by winning the last two races of the Championship.

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The competitive fleet faced challenging conditions on both days. Mooloolaba’s infamous rolling waves did not arrive for day 1 and the competitors had to battle with predominantly light, 5-15 knot winds and a sharp chop.

Race 1 got underway at the second attempt after a general recall, when the majority of the fleet had been overly eager to get the series underway. Team Lexus Maroochydore (Owen Muyt) held a convincing lead for much of the race, but Jaffa Cakes (James Jaffa) played the shifts downwind exceptionally well to take the win, followed by Dulon Polish (Phil Gray) and Team Lexus respectively.

Race 2 was won by A-Play (Nick Bez), who sailed consistently well in the difficult conditions. Four boat lengths separated the top three boats after over an hour of hard fought racing, with Dulon Polish and Wagop (Mike McLean) sharing the combined points for second and third place.

Dart Vader (Mark Prince) put in a strong performance throughout the day, but the team was let down by their eagerness to hoist their gennaker at one windward mark – they unfortunately positioned their gennaker pole between the cockpit floor and the transom rail of the boat in front, resulting in an untimely end to their race and the demise of their pole!

Race 3 and Jaffa Cakes showed the fleet a clean pair of heals, leading for the duration and coming in several minutes ahead of Team Lexus in second and Wagop in third.

Day 2 and what a difference a day makes! 50,000+ spectators descended on Mooloolaba to watch the fleet depart and Jessica Watson arrive back in her home waters after her epic round the world trip.

The fleet set out into tough conditions, with a solid 25+ knots blowing and significantly stronger gusts, coupled with large waves.

Racing for the day was wisely abandoned after two 26 ft boats racing in another division were knocked down, one of which sank.

This left Jaffa cakes, sailed by James Jaffa, Tom Rosoman and Ben Calder, with a clear lead, to take the regatta win, followed by Dulon Polish in second and Wagop in third place overall.

Notable performances of the weekend came from the two all-female teams. The Audi Sunshine Girls, helmed by 16 year old Ali Blundell, and the OceanBuro Girls both blasted down to the starting area with their branded kites leaving the fleet in little doubt as to their intentions.

The next event on the SB3 calendar is Hamilton Island Race Week in August, where the fleet makes its debut in this tropical paradise.

For more information, contact OceanBuro (Rod Jones) at rodneyjones(at)oceanburo.com.au.

Jaffa Cakes after Day one

The course will start on Saturday 20th March with a 9am briefing at Hamble River Sailing Club with some intense race training, covering boat handling, tactics and much more, then on the Sunday enter the Spring Series to put those new found tips into practice! Video debrieds will be run on Saturday and Sunday for an improved learning experience.  Each day will aim to finish at 5pm.

Please ensure that you are ready to go afloat before the briefing on Saturday morning, to maximise the coaching time afloat. Boats should be rigged and ready and you and your crew should be dressed accordingly.

To book:
Call SailLaser on: 0845 337 3214
E-mail SailLaser on: info-weymouth@sail-laser.com
To book online:  click here
For more details, please check Advanced courses on the SailLaser Weymouth website  
Note: Entry to the Spring Series on Sunday 21st March is not included, please ensure that you have registered your entry with Warsash Sailing Club.

9 races were asked for and 9 races we got.

The first race on Friday started in 15-18 knts easterly winds from the mainland. Not much waves but tricky windshifts and gusts that gave good planning conditions. NED 3471, Belaserd lead the whole way, closely followed by NED 3441, E-Quale showing that the Dutch like these windy conditions. BEL 3502, North Sea One took advantage of local knowledge and was able to get back from 11th to a 3rd place by gybing  at the right moments.

The Richard’s and Charlie on Here comes Bod, seemed happy with the increasing wind and blasted away from the field on the down wind legs, winning the 2nd race after gybing just inside North Sea One at the last mark. Paul Gast and his E-Quale team in a steady 3rd place.
Race 3 was the most testing one of the day, and with over 20 knts blowing, saw a very mixed field and changing positions throughout the race. GBR 3057 Balloo crossed the line first, followed by Bertrand Stuyts on BEL 3512 and NED 3446 from Jorrit Beekman in 3rd place.

A huge cloud put the only shadow over the series with pouring rain entering the harbour and lightning flashing as we started the first barrel of  Brugse Zot in a very enjoyable atmosphere at  the clubhouse.

Saturday started off  in 18 knts SW winds, increasing up to 25 knts, which supplied waves up to 6 feet high. The SB3’s showed their seaworthiness upwind and everyone had stories that day of very exciting downwind legs. Race 4 was for Richard Hall closely followed by Ben Willamson’s Black Box, both displayed their boat handling skills and the will to win this event. Finitor came 3rd. Dunno if we can call that surprising or is that usual, considering the alcohol cloud that was following The Beard and crew.

The Irish boats of Dave Cheyne and Gordon Patterson sailed steady near the top the whole day, and GER 3295 Razmatazz was also more at ease in these exciting conditions. Richard, Ben and Edd on the Black Box kept their pace going with 2-1-3-3 results, it promised to be close with GBR 3021 that resulted 1-8-6-1. But NED 3441 was not counted out, having very steady and good results the whole series.

Some took the free Brugse Zot from the après-sail straight to their dining table for the crew dinner. A very pleasant evening, that had a highlight with a lottery for some great SB³ prizes offered by Sailcenter from Holland. We must thank all the sailors on behalf of the restaurant personnel, they enjoyed serving such a group of friends. Tine, Isabelle and especially Prudence, are looking forward to see more of you in the future.

Sunday was the fastest day. SW 18- 23 knts and Finitor 7 finishing the first race once again in 3rd place, just before E-Quale and following GBR 3510 and 3021. So it all came down to the last race ! Dave Cheney finished his series with a bullet followed by NED 3441 and 3471. The Black Box was doing so well, hanging on to 4th being chased hard by Here comes Bod right up to the finish line…where they broached. So GBR 3021 was able to overtake Ben Williamson and his crew, making it a tie on 19 points, after deducting their 2 worst scores.

Everyone enjoyed the sunny blast at over 15 knts going back to the harbour. Craning went smooth allowing us to have the prize giving at a convenient time.

The first Huysman 3-Nations Cup is for Richard Hall & McAdam and Charlie Whelan breaking the tie by having 4 first places, which is better according the RRS than the very steady top results of the Black Box. Paul Gast, JW Van Leeuwen and Arno Boot in 3rd are the Dutch Champions 2009.

The complete race results and more pics can be found on www.rnsyc.be . We are looking forward to repeat this event in 2010 and hope that many more will come and sail the North Sea in these exciting boats. Our sponsors and the RNSYC will provide all the good times you can take, both on and off the water !

More details will follow on each event next year.

2010 Events Programme

If you have any initial queries, please feel free to drop Katie an e-mail: katiesb3@hotmail.co.uk

The Race Committee selected race course B for the final 2 races of the Championships, perhaps to the disappointment of some the fleet following yesterdays epic day on race course A. Course B lacks course A’s rolling swell and has, in previous days provided patchy wind conditions.

The fleet lined up for the 1st start of the day but were promptly recalled with at least 20 boats over the start line with 15 seconds to the gun. The black flag was raised for the 2nd attempt and the desired effect achieved with a clear start and no disqualifications in 14 knots of breeze.

Those starting at the pin end of the line benefitted immediately as the wind flicked left just before the start. Those that were caught in the cluster at the committee boat suffered.

Pelican Racing had the best start of their Championship and remained with the leading pack at the windward mark. Mike Budd rounded the top of the course in 1st position followed by John Pollard and Marshall King. The right hand side of the downwind leg benefitted and those that gybed early lost out. By the leeward mark Budd, Pollard and King had extended their lead and set off for the re-positioned windward mark at pace. Again, Budd lead the charge and eventually won the race with a credible lead having stood on when Pollard and King gybed for the final downwind mark. Between these three pack leaders, there was a 90 second gap between the next boats arriving at the mark.

After the end of race 1, the race committee promptly called the fleet back to the line and raised the preparatory signal to start the final race of the 2009 Laser SB3 World Championships. The wind had increased to a fresh 18 knots by this point and Robert Gullan won the start at the pin end onboard Sun Microsystems.

As the fleet approached the windward mark, there was no sign of Burlton. Was this going to be Jacobs and Hudson’s and the crew on Spirit of Cape Town’s moment to attack for the Championship title?

David Cummins onboard Rumbleflurg lead to the windward mark with David Hudson hot on his heels. Sarah Allan rounded in 3rd position and Guy Jackson in 4th. Burlton rounded way down the fleet in at least 25th position and had his work cut out to pick off the fleet and ensure the Jacobs/Hudson duo didn’t extend their lead any further and put an end to Gill Race Team’s World Championship dream.

At the final windward mark, Jacobs and Hudson were the only boat to gybe to the left hand side of the course and set off for the leeward gate alone. A brave decision as Burlton was in hot pursuit. From the middle of the race course, it was had to judge if Burlton had recovered enough. An anxious time for all.

David Hudson took the final bullet of the Championship, with David Cummins in 2nd and Sarah Allan in 3rd. Where would Spirit of Cape Town finish? Had Gill Race Team recovered enough?

Gill Race Team crossed the line in 13th position, unlucky for some, but they were well aware that they had just won the World Championships! Clenched fists were punched into the air. A clearly emotional, and utterly exhausted Burlton staggered onto the dock this evening as the new World Champion of the Laser SB3 Class. Gill Race Team gave a consistently excellent performance and are worthy winners. Congratulations Craig, AB and Adam.

Full Results can be found at:
http://www.cncascais.com/regatas_resultados.php?idEvento=302

LaserPerformance, the company behind the extremely popular Laser SB3 keelboat, the largest class at Cowes Week for the past four years, has teamed up with Pelican Racing to offer members of the public and Cowes Week competitors an opportunity to ‘Come Racing’ when the 1,000 boat fleet has finished racing for the day. The cost of this taster is just £10.00 per person.

Come Racing will take place from 4pm – 6pm on between Friday 31 July and Tuesday 4 August 2009 and additional days will be added to meet demand if required.  Each SB3 will be helmed by a qualified skipper, who will teach up to three crew members how to sail, which will be followed by a race against nine other SB3s.  All that sailors need to bring with them for their allocated session is a pair of soft soled shoes; all other essentials including spray tops and buoyancy aids will be provided.

“Cowes Week is an integral part of the British sporting calendar and, as such, it attracts over 100,000 visitors to Cowes,” says Stuart Quarrie, CEO of Cowes Week Limited.  “The Come Racing programme by LaserPerformance and Pelican Racing is fantastic and means that anyone can get a taste of racing, whether or not they have previous sailing experience.”

Those wanting to discover their sea legs can book places before or during Cowes Week by calling: 01983 201581 or e-mailing: comeracing@pelican-racing.co.uk or visit www.pelican-racing.co.uk for more information.

There are still a few GBR boats that I notice have not entered the World Championships that I would expect to be on the entry list according to prior e-mail correspondance. Please get your entries to Club Naval de Cascais as soon as possible

www.sb3worlds2009.com

After a highly competitive regatta, Burlton wins with a race to spare.

Full Results can be found at: http://www.royalcornwallyachtclub.org/Events/2009SB3Results/SB3Series.html

A full report and images will follow.

Adrian Peach and his crew on Uber 3 claimed they had their “best day’s SB3 sailing ever”. With good boat speed and improving team work they finished the day as boat of the day, with a score sheet of three, one, two. Peach added “his three RYA qualified coaches are doing a fine job of getting me around the course!” IRL 3500 Ridgefence.com skippered by ex Irish Olympian Peter Kennedy appeared to be back in form today producing their best set of results of the Championships. Crew member, Paul Ellis explained how they worked the right hand side of the race course and enjoyed today’s the flat water conditions.

Team Baloo have unfortunately pulled their boat out of the water this afternoon following a disappointing event. They claim the lack of Gail Outhwaite, wife of John and mother of Carl, has affected the team’s performance. “The crew miss her and her dockside catering, and it also appears that the boat misses her too, we’ve had a disastrous time and after some breakages today, we decided enough was enough!” commented John in the bar as he enjoyed a couple of pints with his crew.

In honour of Michael Jackson’s passing, the fleet each sailed with only one glove each today. Racing continues tomorrow; will Burlton hold his nerve or will Budd manage to creep past him? I suppose it depends how much Craig enjoys his fortieth birthday celebrations this evening. Knowing him, it will be half a larger shandy and early to bed.

Results are subject to protest and can be found at:

http://www.royalcornwallyachtclub.org/Events/SB32009Results.html