Designed by Tony Castro, the SB20 is a British-built strict one-design 6.15m keelboat conceived as a wide appeal, affordable, competitive sportsboat for teams of three or four sailors. It is also, arguably, the most successful sportsboat in the world with 800 owners competing regularly in a programme of exciting local, national and international events.

Originally known as the Laser SB3, the SB20 continues to deliver on its pioneering promise: a boat that is fun, fast and easy to sail by anyone of any age; the best value-for-money sportsboat in the market.

The SB20 is a strict one-design keelboat that makes close racing and performance sailing accessible to everyone. The bottom-line of the Class Rule is that everyone races the same boat; fair and square. The racing is not between boats but between teams: helmsman against helmsman; crew against crew. So, winning does not depend on your budget, the latest gadgets or your physical fitness; it’s everyone’s combined ability that wins the day. Skills over frills!

Sailing an SB20 is accessible and fun for sailors of all levels and skills. It’s also highly tactical upwind, and fast and furious downwind, which appeals to dinghy and keelboat sailors alike. The class ethos means that boat speeds are virtually identical and it’s your skills on the racecourse that make the difference.

The SB20 is all about simplicity and ease of use so that you spend more time on the water and make the most of your boat. Trail it, launch it, rig it and you’re sailing in about 40 minutes.

Boats.com, boat test: ‘SB20: new builder, new look’ by Rupert Holmes; September 2013

Yachts & Yachting, boat test: ‘SB20 restyled’ by Rupert Holmes; July 2013

Sailing World, boat test: ‘Laser SB3 review’ by Chuck Allen; December 2007