SB20 Class UK

18/09/2026

🖤 Last Friday family, friends and the sailing community gathered to bid a final, fond farewell to our dear Katie.

In true Katie fashion - and at her own personal request - an SB20 was brought to the wake to stand at the very centre of the room. Personal eulogies were delivered using the boat’s keel as a lectern, proudly flanked by the newly renamed Nations trophy - now Katie Jackson Nations Cup.

It was a deeply moving afternoon filled with warmth, laughter and shared stories. So many past and present SB20 sailors came together to reminisce and celebrate the incredible fun, energy and camaraderie that Katie injected into our Class from day one.

She brought us all together on and off the water for years and she did so once more for a beautifully fitting send-off.

Our love and thoughts remain with Guy, Oscar, Bella and all of Katie’s family.

Sail on, Katie! Always in our hearts ⛵️❤️

19/08/2026

Thanks to everyone involved 🙏🏻 Fantastic events on the Solent this year and we are just warming up for the 😎

SOLENT ON FIRE: SB20 CHAMPIONS SHINE AT THE NATIONALS AND COWES WEEK

19/08/2026

🙌 Just wanted to share all the fantastic photos captured at North Sails Cowes Week this anniversary year by the official photographers. Have you been there? Drop a comment or 👍 below ⬇️

📷 Copyright © Paul Wyeth and Martin Allen. Please refer to: https://bit.ly/SB20CowesWeek2026 for each photo credits and high resolution images.

13/08/2026

⛵️ What an amazing Cowes Week it has been! We are still absorbing it, but let us share the details of this fantastic week that will be remembered for a long time ⬇️ Full report on our website.
Thanks to everyone who participated 🙏 Let the vibe of last week stay with you for the rest of the season! See you on the water 🔜

SB20 Class

📷 Title photo credit - Martin Allen

If two hundred years of tradition proves anything, it’s that nobody does a regatta quite like Cowes Week. The 200th edition of North Sails Cowes Week delivered a legendary showcase of British summer sailing - complete with HRH The Princess Royal firing the starting cannons, visiting Admiral’s Cu...

08/08/2026

🖤 Dear All. Words fail me.

With huge sadness we learned this morning that our dear friend Katie Jackson nee Ashworth passed away last night after a battle with cancer this year.

It cannot be understated what a huge role Katie played in growing the class in the early years. Katie worked as Sailing Secretary at the Royal Southern Yacht Club when the SB3 was first launched, and was instrumental in getting events and socials underway, welcoming and encouraging new members always with enthusiasm, charisma, and that ever present smile. Her role at the Southern then grew into becoming UK Class Secretary, helping the class get World Sailing class status, and then if this wasn’t all enough, Katie went onto work at Laser Performance and for Tony Castro. Her dedication, hard work, friendliness and sheer ability with people to got things done were instrumental in guiding the class through a massive growth period. Very soon the SB3 was having 100 boat fleets at Cowes Week, The King of Cowes was born with winners walking away with a flash SUV, the first World Championships happened and the international growth started.

Guy joined the class in 2009, and this is where they met. They subsequently married and had 2 beautiful children, Oscar and Bella.

Life can be unbelievably cruel and our hearts are all broken today….but we will always remember her wonderful laugh and that smile….xx

Charlie Whelan, SB20 UK Chairman

08/08/2026

🖤 Dear All. Words fail me.

With huge sadness we learned this morning that our dear friend Katie Jackson nee Ashworth passed away last night after a battle with cancer this year.

It cannot be understated what a huge role Katie played in growing the class in the early years. Katie worked as Sailing Secretary at the Royal Southern Yacht Club when the SB3 was first launched, and was instrumental in getting events and socials underway, welcoming and encouraging new members always with enthusiasm, charisma, and that ever present smile. Her role at the Southern then grew into becoming the UK Class Secretary, helping the class get World Sailing class status, and then if this wasn’t all enough, Katie went onto work at Laser Performance and for Tony Castro. Her dedication, hard work, friendliness and sheer ability with people to got things done were instrumental in guiding the class through a massive growth period. Very soon the SB3 was having 100 boat fleets at Cowes Week, The King of Cowes was born with winners walking away with a flash SUV, the first World Championships happened and the international growth started.

Guy joined the class in 2009, and this is where they met. They subsequently married and had 2 beautiful children, Oscar and Bella.

Life can be unbelievably cruel and our hearts are all broken today….but we will always remember her wonderful laugh and that smile….xx

Charlie Whelan, SB20 UK Chairman

07/08/2026

🎤 Hear from team Boomerang 🪃 They sailed as a family at Grand Slam and now switch to Youth category for the Mini Slam sitting second overall behind Glasgow Kiss ⛵️

Reporting from a rather windless final day with a hope of sea breeze coming in this afternoon before the fireworks light the sky in the final celebration of regatta’s 200th anniversary 🎆

Thanks, for the intro 👍🏻 Great to have you in the !

07/08/2026

Spot the SB20 ⛵️

04/08/2026

Tuesday is Women’s Day at Cowes Week and SB20 girls get a feature 🙌🏻😍