The 2025 season has been a defining year for the SB20 Class, marked by fleet growth, expanding international event participation and welcoming new champions to the world stage. From the epic SB20 World Championships in Singapore that set the tone for the year, through the events across Europe to the first Italian SB20 regatta in a decade, the Class has demonstrated remarkable growth and strength. With increasing demand for new boats, strengthened cooperation with Devoti Sailing and global presence in Europe, Middle East and Asia-Pacific, the SB20 continues to cement its position as one of the world’s most accessible and competitive one-design sportsboat.
The 2025 season commenced with a spectacular show of international talent at the SB20 World Championships in Singapore. Hosted in Southeast Asia for the first time, the regatta brought together a competitive fleet of over 50 boats from around the globe and delivered a week of intriguing racing on the challenging waters of Singapore strait.
British sailor John Pollard, helming Xcellent with crew David Chapman (AUS) and Henry Wetherell (GBR), claimed the ultimate prize with a composed and powerful performance. Pollard’s journey to the World title was a masterclass in tactical precision and consistency, culminating in victory in conditions that tested even the most experienced teams. A standing applause to John and the team!
Highlights of the season extended well beyond the Worlds. Across the national circuits, John Pollard and Team Xcellent dominated the Open category, securing victories at the Portuguese Nationals and 2024/2025 Cascais Winter Series overall, the SB20 UK Nationals and Sprint Series – for the 7th time overall – and the Dutch Nationals, often sailing with rotating crews ranging from long-time teammates to Olympic-level sailors.
The pinnacle of European competition arrived in August with the SB20 European Championships in Ostend. Faced with tricky tidal waters the week’s racing was tightly contested. Youth, masters, female and mixed teams from all over the world showcased the diversity of the Class. Sailors representing Germany, Australia, the UAE (Team Desert Eagle), Great Britain (Team Xcellent) and Ireland (Team TED) shared the podium honours (full report here). The event that included 5 full racing days – with two to three races per day – was celebrated not only for the quality of racing, but for the amazing spirit that defines and unites the SB20 community. Again and again!
Further milestone was achieved with the rebirth of the Italian Class with the first Nationals in a decade, bringing nearly 20 boats to Nettuno Club. Here a season of competitive ‘Test Days in Anzio’, organised by Devoti Sailing, had been running from earlier this year. Among the people behind it is Luca Domenici, a long-time advocate of true one-design sailing and a multiple winner on different levels. After a decade in the J/70 fleet, he made the deliberate choice to return to the SB20 for various reasons. Domenici explains:
“Starting again with the SB20 has been incredibly satisfying. It’s the right boat at the right time – simpler, more affordable and impossible to ‘trick.’ That’s what a real one-design should be. he SB20 creates a family atmosphere. You can sail it at 20 or at 70, and you can sail it with your family. Keeping the class strict and unchanged means everyone can be competitive.”
One of the other highlights of 2025 has been the continued expansion of the SB20 fleet in the UAE. Now regularly attracting in excess of 25 boats, the Middle East circuit continues to deliver high-calibre events in Dubai. Among the outstanding performances this year was a commanding victory of Charlotte Borghesi and her all-female team (Pippa Kenton-Page, Lovisa Karlsson and Federica Salva) at the Wicked SB20 Middle East & UAE Championships at Dubai Offshore Sailing Club. Charlotte Borghesi said of their success:
“The Middle East Championship was, yet again, a great event. Unlike last year the conditions were super tricky… it’s such a privilege to be able to sail amongst family and friends at the highest level and be at the front of the fleet.”
Technical and fleet development has been a strong theme of the year, with Devoti Sailing successfully delivering as the Class’s new builder. The cooperation between the SB20 Class Association and Devoti has brought significant momentum to new boat production and dealer support worldwide. Luca Devoti comments:
“We have successfully built and sold new boats to happy owners and there is a demand for more. We think the future for the SB20 is very bright. It is already the most accessible One-Design sportsboat with fantastic presence around the world. Our ambition is to take it even further.”
2025 has set a new level for the Class and also paved the path for even greater things ahead with the ambition to get to at least 90 boats in Hyères for the 2026 World Championships next October. GBR Team Xcellent have delivered standout performances across five countries and two continents, reinforcing the benchmark of excellence in the Class.
As John Pollard reflected at the close of the season:
“This season has been incredible for our team, but we’re nowhere near. Every event has sharpened us and we’re already focused on the next challenge. We want to raise the bar again in 2026, defend our titles and be at the highest level to welcome visiting teams to our unrivalled sailing waters in Torquay for the 2027 Worlds as the team to beat.”
This year concludes with a strong sense of momentum and confidence across the SB20 Class. One more time the Class has delivered a truly global event circuit that continues to attract sailors of every level, age and gender. The next chapter is clear – combined efforts with Devoti Sailing can take the Class to new territories and unite more people under its flag.
Reflecting on the year, the SB20 Class President Scott Glanville commented:
“For our Class, 2025 stands out as a year of growth, new achievements and renewed global engagement, which makes us very proud. The Class World Council members have been working hard, dedicating their time and efforts to bringing the Class to where we are now. I would like to personally thank everyone involved and I’m looking forward to our continued success next year and beyond.”
Image credits: Matteo Garrone, Anna Zyk, John Pollard / Royal Torbay YC, Mike Brignall / DOSC