Pollard throws down the gauntlet for SB20 Worlds glory in Singapore
by Andy Rice 14 Jan 11:59 GMT
SB20 Asian Continental Championship in Sentosa Cove, Singapore © Anna Zyk / SB20 Class
A talented fleet is lining up for the SB20 World Championships in Singapore, with Olympic medallists and world champions on the entry list. So who will come out on top in this challenging sportsboat fleet?
The SB20 World Championship is about to take place in Southeast Asia for the first time, with a 45-strong international fleet getting ready to compete out of ONE degrees15 Marina Sentosa Cove in Singapore.
It's a one-design sportsboat fleet packed with well-proven talent from a variety of high-performance backgrounds. The defending champion skipper from last year's Worlds in Dubai is Charlotte Borghesi (GBR). She is again joined by 2008 Olympic Champion Pippa Kenton Page from Great Britain, and by two Swedish Olympic medallists from Paris 2024, Rebecca Netzler and Lovisa Karlsson.
There's Olympic medal winning talent elsewhere in the fleet, such as Frenchman Xavier Rohart crewing for class stalwart Ed Russo, and Ukrainian George Leonchuk crewing for Paolo Borghesi. And aside from the defending World Champion Charlotte Borghesi are other sailors who have taken the top step of the SB20 podium in past years. Two years ago in The Hague, Australian professional Will Sargent won the SB20 Worlds as a skipper but this time is working the middle of the boat for fellow Aussie Paul McCartney with another member of the 2023 winning team, Ed Reid, pulling the ropes at the front of the boat.
POLLARD'S ASIAN VICTORY BODES WELL FOR WORLDS
Three days of racing at the SB20 Asian Continental Championship offer some kind of indicator of form in the lead-up to the main event. It's hard to find anyone who has worked harder for ultimate success in this popular sportsboat than British sailor John Pollard, who has rarely finished out of the top ten of the Worlds in 14 editions of the event going back to 2009. Pollard's boat, Xcellent, is crewed by two highly accomplished sailors with fellow Briton and former Olympic Finn campaigner Henry Wetherell and Aussie sailor David Chapman.
THROWING DOWN THE GAUNTLET
Winner of four of the five races in the Asian Champs, and discarding a worst score of 2nd place, Pollard has thrown down the gauntlet to show that more than ever he means business. Having finished runner-up in Ireland 2022, third in The Netherlands 2023 and sixth in Dubai 2024, perhaps Singapore will be Pollard's time to shine.
Runners-up in the Asian Champs were Paul McCartney and that 2023 Worlds winning duo - Sargent and Reid - in the engine room of Porco Rosso, a brand new Devoti-built boat delivered from Europe for these Championships. Top-placed Singapore boat was Glasgow Kiss, skippered by Nils Razmilovic. A past European Champion in the Etchells class, Razmilovic is crewed by David Salembier and Nik Burfoot, a former Olympic campaigner and World Champion in the Laser (ILCA 7) class. In fourth place, and only winner of a race other than the Xcellent crew were Charlotte Borghesi and her team of high-achieving female Olympians.
SINGAPORE'S TIME TO SHINE
The talent stretches much further down the fleet and the pressure of a world title does strange things to sailors, both good and bad. So it will be interesting to see who rises to the challenge in Singapore. Either way, the competitors are looking forward to great racing in the water and spectacular apres-sailing in ONE degrees15 Marina Sentosa Cove. Scott Glanville, Australian skipper of Phoenix Constructions, commented: "We're looking forward to the warm conditions. It should be consistent breezes so we just want to get out there and challenge ourselves against the best in the world." He's crewed by Jamie McMahon and Paige Caldecoat, also a former member of that 2023 Worlds winning team in The Hague.
This event in Singapore has been a long time in the making. Having won the bid to host it in 2021 it was cancelled because of Covid and that year the event moved to Cascais, Portugal, instead. Singapore then won a re-bid for the 2025 Worlds, and now at last the event goes ahead in Southeast Asia, which has always been a popular part of the world for SB20 racing.
Cheryl Teo, Singapore Sailing Federation Athlete's Commission Chairman, is looking forward to racing in such a hot international fleet. "We are looking forward to the first sailing World Championships held in Singapore," she said. "It's a big milestone for sailing in Singapore and we're looking forward to racing the best in the world on our home waters."
WHAT THIS SB20 WORLDS MEANS FOR SINGAPORE AND THE FUTURE
Magnus Ekbom, President, SB20 Singapore: "It feels fantastic to finally welcome sailors and athletes from over 25 countries to Singapore and the SB20 World Championships. We have always said that we intend to host a landmark event, with fantastic sailing conditions and really show that Asia is a growth-region for our sport. This Championship wouldn't have been possible without the excellent partnership with One15 Marina Sentosa Cove Singapore, the Singapore Sailing Federation and all our fantastic sponsors. 2025 marks a new beginning for the SB20 class, with Devoti Sailing joining, and I couldn't be more excited about the future."
James Roy, Senior Marina Director, ONE degrees15 Marina Sentosa Cove Singapore: "We are absolutely thrilled to host the SB20 World Championships here at ONE degrees15 Marina Sentosa Cove Singapore, marking the first time this prestigious event has been held in Southeast Asia. This is a unique opportunity to showcase not only the world-class facilities of our marina but also the natural beauty and vibrant spirit of Sentosa Island. We warmly welcome sailors from around the globe to experience the best of Singapore's maritime hospitality, and we look forward to an unforgettable week of competition and camaraderie."
Luca Devoti, owner of Devoti boats, new builder of the SB20: "A significant milestone for Devoti Sailing is taking place these days, as our first five SB20s are being sailed at the World Championships in Singapore. This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our boatyard's history, and we are incredibly proud to support passionate sailors. I would like to thank everyone involved, especially designer Tony Castro, the SB20 Class, and Chris Caldecoat (of Devoti boats) for making this achievement possible."
After the registration and equipment inspection this weekend, racing for the SB20 World Championship take place across five days, with the opening races on Monday 20 January and the final races and closing ceremony concluding the regatta on Friday 24 January.
Event website: Worlds2025.sb20class.org