SB20

The original strict one-design 6-metre keelboat

Designed by Tony Castro, the SB20 is a strict one-design 6.15m keelboat conceived as a wide appeal, affordable, competitive sportsboat for teams of three or four sailors male or female. It is also, arguably, the most successful long lasting modern sportsboat in the world with 850+ 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; and the best value-for-money sportsboat in the market. A Classic in the making…

Fast, fun and affordable

The SB20 is a strict one-design high-performance sportsboat conceived to maximise the joy of racing. Experience the pleasure of owning a boat that is exciting to sail, easy to maintain, and simple to launch and trail behind a car. Safe, stiff and stable, the SB20 is the original easy, affordable 6.15m racing keelboat.

LOA 6.15m
Beam 2.15m
Draft 1.5m
Hull weight 685kg inc. 327kg keel
Mast height 9.05m
Mainsail area 18m2
Jib / Genoa area 9.3m2
Spinnaker area 46m2
Max crew weight 270kg

If you’re looking for a boat that guarantees a great experience both on the water and ashore, to enjoy with seasoned and rookie sailors alike, get in touch with us.

This strict one-design ethos coupled with a top class builder and a very enthusiastic community provide you with a level playing field where you and your team have a real chance of reaching your full potential and stepping on the podium. That works as a motivating force that can be felt on the water, in every single race, which makes for very exciting sailing.

The SB20 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.

TESTIMONIALS

I’ve been racing the SB20 since 2009, after transitioning to this boat from the Melges 24. Over the years, I’ve found the SB20 to be a more forgiving and less physically demanding, making it accessible to sailors of all levels. Read more

John Pollard
SB20 World Champion 2025

Great boat to sail! Simple, fast, powerful and fun! Great class to join in on a budget, easy to kick start a competitive program! Read more

Mario Trindade
Professional Sailor, J70 World Champion

The SB20 is an excellent all-round boat that can be sailed by both families and Olympic sailors on a level playing field. Good for yachting, great for racing! Very strong and well built, extremely safe, well behaved and easy to handle, even in a strong breeze. A pure One Design. Read more

Diogo Cayolla
Multi Class Winner and Olympic Sailor

The thing that impressed me with this boat was, it was a pure one design racing boat easy to sail, anybody could sail this boat, it didn’t discriminate against anyone. It was a perfect boat for Hobart. You could even put an outboard motor on the back and have some fun with family and friends or you can store the motor away inside a separate pod in the hull.

Nick Rogers
Tasmania

In my opinion the Laser SB20 is simply the best small keelboat money can buy. They are good in light airs or a howling blow, they are tactical upwind and down, which makes for good racing and once you launch the masthead spinny then get ready for some blasting downwind action.

Glenn Bourke
Australia

Sailing an SB20 is accessible and fun for sailors of all levels and skills. It’s also highly tactical upwind, and fast and exciting downwind, which appeals to dinghy and keelboat sailors alike, male or female. The build quality control on this one-design means that boats are identical and speeds are virtually the same and it’s your skills on the racecourse that make the difference.

Close racing, real competition

One of the most distinctive features of the SB20 is that it’s designed to be sailed legs-in: the comfortable inboard seating makes for enjoyable racing: better communication between the team and no advantage for professional sailors on top physical form.

Hone your skills and enjoy club regattas, regional and national championships, European grand slams and world championships in some of the best sailing venues in the world.

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 30 minutes.

Get out more!

Simplicity is also embedded in every feature of the SB20, from the design of the cockpit, with all the controls at the crew’s fingertips, to the comfortable inboard seating that makes it easy for the team to talk to each other and discuss tactics. This arrangement also makes it easier for beginners to watch and learn from more experienced sailors and encourages less confident family members and reluctant friends to take part and feel welcome.

Join a community of over 850 owners and many more SB20 enthusiasts from more than 20 countries competing regularly throughout the year at local, national and international events at the best sailing venues in the world.

Check events and regattas coming up, form or join a crew.

SB20 Class Events