Warning: the author suffers from an acute SB20 sailing addiction. Fortunately, this condition is curable with one to two weekly sailing sessions or regattas. Side effects are stress reduction and overall satisfaction.
Well here I am in Anzio, Italy, late March of 2025 to meet the Devoti team and try out the newly built in Poland SB20’s.
Flash back 23 years ago to Cascais, Portugal and what a deja vue…..
At that time in 2002 a group of club members were looking for a fast, fun and affordable boat. The star was too athletic and costly. The dragon were too slow and costly.
Having sailed lasers and 420’s this particular group of club members wanted a planning boat, easy to use, that could race but also be used as a family daysailer.
In about 20 years the fleet in Cascais grew from 2 boats to about 50, largely thanks to SailCascais a startup led by Vasco Serpa a Portuguese Laser Olympic sailor.
Before Brexit and Covid, things were going fine but with supply chain issues and travel restrictions the fleet started to diminish. The price of sails practically doubled and there were no spares.
As we all know, Brexit was a huge historical mistake and to manufacture anything in the UK at a competitive price is mission impossible.
In 2012 the boats designer, Tony Castro, a renowned Portuguese Yacht Designer took over the production back to the UK. More recently TC commissioned LUCA DEVOTI to build and distribute the boat. Luca Devoti needs no introduction in the sailing community. A Finn Olympic silver medallist, a real Italian charmer and currently building the best Lasers (now called ILCA’s) and Finns in Poland.
Fast forward to Anzio again 2025, and I believe the SB20 history will repeat itself. The Anzio Lega Navale Italiana is an old Italian pre WW2 typical club.
Crowded with lots of dinghies and all sorts of small sailing boats full of avid sailors old and new.
Luca Dominici is the typical Italian top sailor. Charismatic, determined and charming he has raced the Notaro team to victory in many classes such as the J70, Melges, etc. He is a fast sailor with great crew members.
Luca Devoti and Luca Dominici know each other well and this open SB20 weekend introduced the SB20 to many Anzio, Ostia and Roman sailors. And what a hit it was!
You cannot believe how happy an event it was. Perhaps a bit surprised for having a Portuguese aboard, they soon grabbed the tiller and it was smiles all over.
You could tell by the way they handled the boat their individual skill level. I just kept telling them to keep the jib telltales horizontal, “Filetti orizzontali! “ going upwind.
When I hoisted the kite and we started planning at about 15 knots they were ecstatic, with the usual Italian expressions, bellissimo, bravissimo, etc.
The jibes, “strambate”, got better each time and they were very excited and happy. Obviously some of them had sailed together in J’s or other boats and could not get over the fact that the SB20 was so easy to sail and so fast.
We had such a good time. Some of them asked me if I was a professional from the America’s Cup. That made my day!
Going back to the technical aspects of the boat:
The boats are very well built. Bulkheads are composite and main bulkhead is V shaped, all fittings have interior backplates, the hatch is a simple black screw on plastic cover top. The new Selden masts are great.
Helping Luca in this endeavour is his wife Dina and daughter Viola with media coverage.
Chris Caldecoat, renowned Aussie sailor and swimmer, (he went for a dip in Anzio), added to the builder experience and many years of dinghy marketing.
The rest of the team, Mike from Czech Republic and Marius from Poland made sure all went well and gave great shore support.
Those 2 brand new SB20 sold in Anzio, will give the Dominic family much joy. I wish I could have taken one to Cascais….
And yes, just have fun, with friends and family. FUN , FAST and AFFORDABLE!
People don’t stop sailing because they get old. They get old because they stop sailing!
Long live the SB20! Forza Italia ! Grazie famiglia Devoti ! Grazie Tony Castro!!