Please select your home edition
Edition
Sea Sure 2025

UON SB20 World Championship - Geoff Carveth achieves the hat trick

by Lisa Ratcliff on 21 Dec 2012
WKD’s winning crew L-R Geoff Carveth Roger Hudson Lesley Dhonau Asenathi - 2012 UON SB20 World Championship Hamilton Island Photography http://photos.hamiltonisland.com.au
It was a gripping conclusion on the deciding day at the UON SB20 World Championships at Hamilton Island with Geoff Carveth sailing into the class history books, crowned SB20 world champion for the third time.

It was the closest finish at any SB20 worlds with Carveth’s British WKD team, Glenn Bourke’s Australian entry, Club Marine, and Rodion Luka’s Team Russia all wrapping up their series tied on 41 points after six days and 12 races. A countback was needed to separate the ultimate victor from second and third.

'Going into race two today we decided to take a risk. We gambled for a better ranking and took the right hand side of the course,' said Carveth this afternoon. 'It's the only time, during the whole event that the right hand side paid off. Glenn and Rodion went left and suddenly the chance came. When we finished we were in disbelief that we'd put the number of boats between us.

'The crew have worked really hard. We trained hard here just days before the event started. Lesley and Squirrel really got up to speed and Roger has been fantastic. He's broken his run of seconds at SB20 world championships!'

WKD’s South African bowman, Asenathi Jim, leapt off the boat once the result was known while the crew of Roger Hudson, Lesley Dhonau and Carveth embraced, then fell in, joining Jim for a victory swim.

'We've got to say a huge thank you to WKD and Joe Woods for making it possible for us to be here,' Carveth added.

Hamilton Island CEO Glenn Bourke almost added another world title to his belt. 'I have the utmost respect for the two guys we tied with,' said Bourke. 'It’s testament to Geoff’s talent and their crew work that they kept working their way out of deep positions, particularly in the last six races'.

Team Russia’s helmsman Rodion Luka was gracious in defeat, 'Geoff is a great mate and I am happy that he won. We'll be back for another event and we look forward to that. Hamilton Island is beautiful and a great place to sail. The competition has been so tight, it's not often you have three boats tied on points at a world championship'.

Winds were easterly and shifty for the final day of competition at 7-9 knots for the first race and up to 14 knots for the decider. Denis Thompson pulled his black flag out again in race 11 after three general recalls due to wind shifts and antsy crews. On the fourth attempt the fleet got away cleanly. Three SB20s were pinged and individually recalled in the final race 12.

A countback separated first and second, Team Russia and Club Marine, with WKD, a mere three points off the frontrunners heading into today’s final two sprints. The tension on the dock this morning was palpable with a world title riding on the final act for the three contenders, and points still to be claimed for those with their sights on the minor placings.

Competition at the UON SB20 World Championships began last Friday in light to moderate ESE breezes and after Monday’s layday, midway through the competition, fresher ENE winds made for a very different set of conditions and a change in gears for the one design fleet of 42 international entries representing nine countries.


'I’m very pleased for Hamilton Island that we’ve had a range of conditions and such depth of talent for this truly international competition,' said Bourke.

'I think the island put on a great regatta and the race management was outstanding. I feel Hamilton Island has come of age in terms of running world class sailing events.'

Bourke also took the opportunity to acknowledge a number of valuable event partners. 'I would like to acknowledge UON not only for their naming rights, but for entering two boats and being an active part of these world titles.

'Events Queensland gave us tremendous support to run a truly international event by assisting with shipping the SB20s to the island, which in turn attracted many overseas competitors and their families to the Whitsundays.'

Bourke also thanked the SB20 World Council for its decision to grant Hamilton Island the event rights, and for their ongoing cooperation and assistance.

The SB20 class will hold their 2013 World Championship in Hyeres in the south of France next SB20 Worlds website

Armstrong 728x90 - Performance Mast Range - BOTTOMC-Tech 2021 SnuffAir 728x90 BOTTOMPalm Beach Motor Yachts

Related Articles

Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta day 4
ILCA 6 & 7, Men's & Women's Formula Kite and 470 Mixed Teams Wrap Up The racing for the first 5 classes of the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta wrapped up with a twist in conditions and breeze just to mix it up for the competitors.
Posted today at 5:17 am
Strong start on LA waters for Australian Sailors
A valuable week of racing at the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta Australia's top Olympic class sailors have wrapped up a valuable week of racing at the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta in California, gaining firsthand experience at the future venue of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Posted today at 4:19 am
Last Transpac 2025 Starters are First to Celebrate
Honoring the first of three rounds of trophy winners & celebrating Transpac's bright future The Transpacific Yacht Race celebrated its first Trophy Ceremony for the 2025 edition of this biennial ocean race on Tuesday, July 15, at Waikiki Yacht Club, in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Posted today at 2:56 am
IMOCAs in the Rolex Fastnet Race
Ocean racing's state of the art One of the most historic and eternally ground-breaking oceanic racing yacht classes is the IMOCA. These 60 footers are the world's most advanced offshore racing monohulls, the class used in the Vendée Globe since its inception in 1989/90.
Posted on 16 Jul
18th Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona summary
Yachts from over 10 countries and around 400 sailors competed off the coast of Barcelona Barcelona's prestigious regatta for Classic and Vintage yachts, the Puig Vela Clàssica, celebrated its 18th edition, further strengthening its position as one of the premier international events for classic sailing in the Mediterranean.
Posted on 16 Jul
SailGP - Fresh breezes predicted
Fresh breezes are forecast the first day of racing in SailGP and the Admirals Cup. With two days remaining to the start of racing in SailGP Portsmouth, the forecast is for fresh breezes on both racedays, which should make for exciting racing.
Posted on 16 Jul
Register for the 2025 Melges 24 U.S. Nationals
Hosted by Pensacola Yacht Club (PYC) on November 14-16 Online Registration is officially open for the 2025 U.S. National Championship, hosted by Pensacola Yacht Club (PYC) on November 14-16, 2025.
Posted on 16 Jul
Nominations open for World Sailing Awards 2025
Presentation to be held at the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire on 5th November Many of the sport's biggest names will be in attendance at the World Sailing Awards 2025, held on Wednesday 5 November at a gala ceremony at the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland.
Posted on 16 Jul
Mackay Bieker BM-V3 dominates at 2025 Moth Worlds
Innovation was on display at the just concluded Moth Worlds across nearly every area of the boat. The 2025 Moth World Championships in Lake Garda delivered thrilling racing across a wide range of conditions, featuring an elite lineup of Olympic champions, America's Cup helmsmen, SailGP stars, and the next group of up-and-coming youth.
Posted on 16 Jul
A Q&A on the 2025 Corsair Nationals and the BBMHR
Peter Vakhutinsky and Andy Houlding discuss the 2025 Corsair Nationals and Buzzards Bay Multihull Re If you race, sail, or love multihulls and live in New England (or the Northeast), the Corsair Nationals and Buzzards Bay Multihull Regatta should be on your radar.
Posted on 16 Jul