Royal Torbay Yacht Club is celebrating team Xcellent winning the SB20 World Championship 2025
by Anna Zyk 3 Apr 14:04 BST
John Pollard, Henry Wetherell and David Chapman win the SB20 Worlds 2025 © Matteo Garrone
After 14 attempts at the SB20 World Championships, Royal Torbay Yacht Club's John Pollard has finally secured the ultimate prize.
A regular sailor in Torbay Pollard has long been a fierce competitor twice making it onto the Worlds podium. This time alongside Henry Wetherell and David Chapman he left nothing to chance. In a fleet known for its intensity Pollard's dominant performance in the tricky Singapore conditions proved he could win anywhere. His long-awaited triumph is a proud moment for his local club, his family and the SB20 Class association.
(The Royal Torbay Yacht Club will be celebrating team Xcellent's success with a social event on 4th April, for details please visit: rtyc.org/event/sailing-social-night)
A tactical masterstroke on the road to victory
After coming agonizingly close in recent years - runner-up in Ireland (2022), third in the Netherlands (2023) and sixth in Dubai (2024) - Pollard was more determined than ever. To strengthen his team he brought in the renowned Australian tactician David Chapman.
"I've known David since the 2017 Worlds in Cowes when he was calling tactics for Michael Cooper (Export Roo). Back then we missed the podium by four points," Pollard recalled. "We spoke again in Dubai about teaming up. David knows the SB20 inside out and his tactical instinct can make all the difference."
Chapman, fresh from another Sydney Hobart victory, brought a winning mindset. "It's easy to sail with John - he's so experienced in the Class. I often have to coach skippers while competing, but this time I could fully focus on the tactics."
The new team tested their partnership in Cascais in November 2024, then won the Asia Pacific Championship, spectacular four bullets in five races, before entering the Singapore Worlds with one goal - to claim the World Champion title.
Mastering the unexpected in Singapore
Team Xcellent known for excelling in strong winds faced a serious challenge in Singapore's light, shifty breeze and rain being one of the heavier teams in the fleet. Racing in the Singapore Strait also meant dealing with unpredictable gusts and strong current.
"We're typically high-wind sailors. Our best results have come in places like Cowes, Cascais, Hyères and Lake Garda," Pollard admitted. "Last time I sailed in Singapore, we lost a mast. In Dubai we won the pre-Worlds in strong breeze, but finished sixth overall when conditions turned light."
This time team Xcellent adapted well. The hour-long sail from ONE degrees15 Marina to the racecourse became a strategic advantage. "That extra time let us fine-tune the boat, sync as a team and analyse the tricky conditions," John explained.
Rising to the challenge: Xcellent's path to victory
Xcellent's Worlds campaign started with a rocky opening - 20th in the first race and seventh in the second. But they soon found their rhythm, delivering two second finishes to climb to second overall. "We knew we had the speed, we just had to execute," said Pollard.
Day 2's shifty winds and persistent rain tested the fleet. Xcellent responded to that securing a crucial win in Race 6. "A very shifty day - we had a big comeback in the last race after a bad start," recalled bowman Henry Wetherell.
By the midpoint consistency became their strength. Two third finishes on Day 3 put them in the lead. "We treated this championship like a football game executing 'set pieces' for crew positioning, maneuvers and rig controls," explained Pollard. "If we could get the set pieces right, we were doing well."
A sixth and a second on Day 4 solidified their position at the top. "We had two sailing modes - Normal and High," explained Chapman. "High mode is sailing above the tell-tales, which is very hard. You try to hold that mode for as long as possible. Sometimes if you tacked away, you'd miss a bigger shift. Being patient, when it wasn't our turn, was key!"
Champions without the final race
The final day brought light winds and uncertainty. The fleet waited on the water, nerves running high for the leaders. Finally, the AP over A was displayed! John Pollard and Team Xcellent were crowned the 2025 SB20 World Champions.
Back on the dock, the celebrations began with the traditional soaking - first in salt water, then in champagne. Wet but overjoyed, Pollard exclaimed, "We did it!" as he was embraced by his family, who travel to every Worlds event to support him.
At the awards ceremony Pollard credited his crew: "I've sailed with Henry for years and we'll continue to do so. And David did an outstanding job this week."
For Chapman, the victory was especially rewarding. "We came together for one reason - to win. It was all or nothing. And what made it more epic was winning in conditions that weren't ours. We just wanted it so badly!"
Wetherell shared the team's relief: "We'd come close a few times, but to finally get it over the line was incredible. Sailing with John is great - he keeps things simple, trusts his team and lets us do our jobs. He's done so much SB20 sailing that, when we come together, everything just clicks."
A shared triumph for the family and future goals
Winning the SB20 World Championship is a dream come true for John Pollard, a moment that brings both immense pride and the weight of future expectations. Next up, Team Xcellent will compete at the SB20 European Championship in Ostend, Belgium, before heading to Hyères, France, to defend their World title in 2026.
The ultimate goal? To bring the trophy home to Torquay in 2027 when the Royal Torbay Yacht Club will host the SB20 Worlds. The event is back to Torquay for the first time since 2011, when John and his sailing mates Rob Smith and Steve Procter sailed to the fifth overall against Glenn Burke, Rob Greenhalgh and the 2011 winner Geoff Carveth.
With years of experience, relentless dedication and unwavering family support, Pollard is determined to keep climbing. His wife, Kate, reflected on his journey: "Sailing has always been in our family. We've been married for 36 years and our daughter Emily always travels to the SB20 Worlds to support her father. Em and I were together when we got the news in Singapore. We were both so proud of everything John and Team Xcellent have achieved."
The victory isn't just personal for the Pollard family. With eight UK teams having competed at the Worlds, the British contingent also won the Nations Cup, awarded to the best-performing nation. The Royal Torbay Yacht Club now proudly displays the trophy - until it's contended again at the next SB20 event.