Freeing the SB3

When it comes to one design racing, you cannot get much closer than the international phenomena of the Laser SB3 class. Pushing away the traditional divides between classes of racing, the SB3 (tested in Boat Owner May) has a keelboat appeal with a sportsboat attitude and performance. "The SB3 class creates a completely level playing field. With the no-hiking rules, sailing is not too physically gruelling and you are just as likely to see a 16-year-old at the helm as a 60-year-old." said Jeremy Grogono, who as coach for the highly successful Dubai Oppies Association should know what he's talking about.

Attracting a wide spectrum of sailors to the relatively cheap campaign possibilities compared to other one-design routes, it is no surprise the SB3 class at Skandia Cowes Week in the UK produced a 95-boat registration. But that's all very well in Europe. Why will the boat work well out here and what is there to do?

The brainchild of ART Marine's passionate sailing department, Russell Burns and Chris Graham decided the best way of igniting the class out here was not to start mediocre, but to aim high and create a worthwhile competition to attract sailors old and new with a competitive campaign package.

Working on the Wayne's World "If you book them, they will come" philosophy, a bold order was placed for 18 SB3s, and the challenge was then set in determining what kind of competition would suit the potential SB3 owner.

Learning from successful SB3 regattas held the world over, a six-month series was designed, touring to a different GCC venue each month, and tying in with major events that would already be attracting key sailing attention - such as hosting the Muscat round at the projected end to the Dubai-Muscat Race, and the final round and presentation at the Dubai International Boat Show in March.

Creating a tailor-made package that would give each boat the opportunity to be individually sponsored, allowing each SB3 to become a dynamic floating billboard and offsetting the campaign costs for the boat owner, all Russell and Chris needed was an overall event sponsor to help with the logistical costs and provide a corporate face to the competition.

Into the equation stepped Greg Maruszewski from Volvo Middle East: "I had seen that ART Marine was looking for a corporate partner, and when I saw their professional and solid proposal, it all made sense," he explained. "Sailing is certainly not a foreign sport to Volvo, but we do not simply believe in sponsorship, as in simply giving over a cheque. We want to be involved with the organisation, being at the events and making sure that everything runs smoothly. It's hard to evaluate an event unless you are part of it."

Though not a sailor himself, Greg is no stranger to life on the water, having been out in a number of dinghies, PWCs and sailing of a different kind with the Blokart; a three-wheeled cross between a land sailer and a go-kart, built from steel and fibreglass with a single windsurfer-type sail. "We have eight of them in the office and use them for corporate fun days and events. They're fantastic. You don't need to know anything about sailing - there's just one rope and the steering, meaning anyone can learn within a few minutes."