SB20 Grand Slam Week opens one year countdown to the Worlds in Singapore

by Sunniva Stenmark 1 Feb 2020 02:16 NZDT 5-9 February 2020

SB20s racing on day 3 of the Singapore Straits Regatta © Icarus Sailing Media

The SB20 Asian Grand Slam Week will be on 5-9 February 2020 at ONE degrees15 Marina Sentosa Cove. The event will combine two regattas: the Singapore National Championship and the Asia Pacific Championship (APAC). This is the first time these two regattas are run back to back, and this combination will function as the practice regatta for the SB20 World Championship in February 2021.

25 teams from all over the world will be competing for the APAC trophy. 14 nationalities will be represented, including Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, France, Belgium, Hungary, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, United Kingdom and USA. The international sailors will meet up with the local fleet, which includes nine Singaporean university teams.

The luxurious ONE degrees15 Marina Sentosa Cove, located on the island of Sentosa, will host the event and will have the boats berthed between races in its fashionable superyachts marina. Here, the sailors will enjoy the marina's scenic atmosphere and hospitality.

"Having successfully hosted the SB20 Asian Grand Slam for 5 years and demonstrated the feasibility of bringing sailing competitions to another level of distinction through its prime facilities and first-class hospitality, ONE degrees15 Marina is excited to bring on the Worlds Championships in 2021, which will see world champions and high profile international sailors come together to compete in Singapore," said Teo Joo Leng, Group General Manager of ONE degrees15 Marina.

The Singapore Sailing Federation and race officer Jonathan Kwek will, together with a group of volunteers from the sailing community, set the race course right off the palm fringed beaches of the Singapore's East Coast. Spectators will have a good view of the race from the beach as the competitors round the top mark near the iconic Amber Beacon Tower on the western side of East Coast Park.

Last year's APAC champion, team Glasgow Kiss with Nils Razmilovic at the helm has this year teamed up with former laser world champion, Nik Burfoot. They are once again one of the favourites for the trophy, but will be challenged by former SB20 World Council Chairman, Ed Russo and his team Skin in the Game from France.

In addition, winner of the Western Circuit Regatta, Xtra Mile 2 with Singapore Sailing Federation's Chung Pei Ming at the helm, and Dù Mei Dài with national sailor Jevyn Ong are also eager to challenge the title. Team Tara, with Agoston Sipos on the helm will try to defend their current National Champion title.

The SB20 Grand Slam Week 2020 is part of a two-year campaign run by the Singapore Sailing Federation, ONE degrees15 Marina and the SB20 Association of Singapore which leads to the SB20 World Championship hosted in Singapore 1-6 February 2021.

For more information, please visit: www.sb20worlds21.com