The SB20 European Championship 2025 will be remembered as one of those rare weeks where everything seemed to fall into place: warm welcomes, tough but exciting racing and a Class spirit that shone as brightly onshore as it did on the water.
From the moment the teams arrived in Ostend they were greeted with trademark Belgian warmth. Cedric De Bleye from the Royal North Sea Yacht Club together with Bart Tytgat, the Belgian SB20 Class President, ensured that craning in, registration and all technical matters ran smoothly. The opening ceremony hosted by the principal sponsor Brugse Zot was a perfect start. With both classic and alcohol-free (Sport Zot) brews flowing the championship began in glorious Belgian sunshine.
The forecast promised plenty of wind and it delivered. A daily weather briefing by Weather4Expeditions, complete with detailed tide maps, helped sailors decode the tricky Belgian currents – though those with local knowledge certainly had an edge. The practice race was a glimpse of the battles to come.
In Race 1 John Pollard’s Xcellent edged across the line just ahead of Portugal’s Hello Next and over the opening days Pollard seemed unstoppable clocking up wins and building a commanding lead. By the end of Day 2, he sat 12 points clear with discard in hand, while Michael O’Connor’s TED from Ireland looked poised to challenge, but were hampered by a costly black flag.
Yet, the fatigue soon crept in. Three-race days in heavy breeze and steep chop tested every sailor. By Day 3, new names were emerging: France’s youth skipper Paul Loiseau took a win, Singapore’s The Incident of Daire O’Reilly scored a second, and Britain’s PBII Twenty celebrated a race victory that co-owner Paul Hine called it a proud moment for his team.
The consistent mixed crew under Singapore flag Glasgow Kiss of Nils Razmilovic, joined by Marcus Tressler on the bow, sailed steadily in top-10 with podium moments, proving that measured sailing still delivers results.
Day 4 brought the fiercest conditions of the week with only two races completed. Pollard stayed strong with another win, but Hendrik Witzmann’s Desert Eagle was closing in. Scoring a second and a third the UAE team drew level on points with Xcellent heading into the final day.
With tension mounting for the final day of the event the North Sea dealt another twist. The breeze shifted northwest, lighter and less predictable and the tide’s late turn left the course wide open. In the penultimate race, mid-fleet teams stole the limelight – Dutch team Kesbeke claimed their first victory of the week, while Pollard managed a crucial fourth to cling to his lead.
Everything came down to the final race. Both Xcellent and Desert Eagle started poorly, but Witzmann switched into match-race mode, covering Pollard closely and defending every move. A shift forced the race committee to shorten the course, and though Witzmann finished 22nd (his discard), Pollard’s 13th place was not enough.
With a black flag already on his scorecard from earlier in the week, the Brit could not afford another high score. By just a handful of points, Witzmann and his crew were crowned 2025 European Champions – fittingly, in a brand-new Devoti SB20 boat. Portugal’s Hello Next finished the week on a high, taking victory in the last race and securing ninth overall.
The championship was not just about sailing. Every day weary, but smiling crews returned to shore for free physio sessions courtesy of Mensa Praktijk, who kept sailors moving with massages and acupuncture. Healthy OAYeah pancakes lifted spirits midweek, while the social side hit its high point on Thursday night with the crew party.
Hosted by Devoti Sailing, the evening featured a seated dinner, live music and more than a little dancing. “Sweet Caroline” rang out across the tent as over 100 sailors sang in unison – a moment that perfectly captured the togetherness of the Class.
Midweek also saw the baptism of the new Devoti boats, with champagne sprayed on the dock as sailors celebrated the success of the new builder’s boats. Luca Devoti himself joined the fleet, announcing special offers for youth and female sailors and incentives to bring new teams into the class.
The closing ceremony honoured champions across all categories – youth, masters and female – while a special prize went to German newcomers Palito, who braved their first regatta in the North Sea’s tough conditions.
The Sailing Betties project, fielding five boats and backed by strong local sponsorship, also drew praise for advancing female and youth sailing. Coaches Will Sergeant and Simon de Gendt proudly noted the progress of all the Betties team.
With 12 Belgian entries, a strong international field, and racing that kept everyone guessing until the final race, the SB20 Europeans 2025 showed the best of what the class can be: fiercely competitive, endlessly social and welcoming to newcomers.
With Devoti Sailing fully engaged, strong youth initiatives and regattas offering both challenge and celebration the SB20 Class is on a high. And now all eyes turn to Hyères, France for the SB20 World Championship 2026. Presented during the crew dinner by Ed Russo, the event is expected to draw up to 90 boats.
The even was supported by: Brugse Zot, Lotto, Sport Vlaanderen, Oostende City Council and Furnibo.
Daily event reports on event website
