Friday is 'D' day for six new SB3 owners

by Rod Jones on 6 Jun 2011 The SB3 class, arguably the most active and expanding One Design keelboat in the world today, witnesses its Australian fleet continually growing.

Buidling towards the first SB3 World Championships to be held outside Europe. Growing steadily the Aussie SB3 fleet welcomes six new owners and their brand new boats with the arrival of three containers in Melbourne this week. The Australian fleet has grown to over 40 boats with this influx, quite a few more boats are expected to find homes with Australian teams as the countdown to the 2012 Worlds begins. More boats are on their way with a July arrival expected.

The six new boats will add depth to the already strong Australian Fleet. Glenn Bourke/Rod Jones/Greg McAllansmith finished a close fourth at the recent SB3 Worlds in the UK, Nathan Outteridge/Ian Brown/Tom Slinsgby 12th. Stephen Fries/Jessica Fries/Ali Blundell/Briyce Penfold also made the cut off for Gold Fleet. 103 boats raced in Torbay and Aussie results demonstrate that Aussie teams should be in play for good results in 2012.

The arriving containers will deliver two boats to Victoria ( John Savage and Callum Burns ), one to CYCA in NSW ( Shahrzad and Craig Pullar ) and increase the fleet sizes on Port Phillip and Sydney Harbour respectively. The other three new boats have found homes in Hobart and see the Tassie fleet hit 12 boats.

Hamilton Island, December 2012, an iconic venue for the first SB3 Worlds Championships to be held outside Europe, has captured the imagination of SB3 teams worldwide. SB3 Worlds and Europeans see over 100 boats as par, the Aussie Worlds look to have the goods to see similar numbers sail in the tropic paradise that is Hammo.

If you are looking to step into a true One Design , affordable , desirable , challenging and above all Fun, then the time is right to look forward to the SB3 World Championships at Hamilton Island in December 2012.