Torquay’s own John Pollard has added another victory to his sailing résumé, winning the SB20 UK National Championship in dominant style last week in Weymouth.
Pollard’s win in Weymouth marked his seventh SB20 UK Nationals title, having previously secured six consecutive victories before being unseated in 2024 by team Breaking Bod. The result continues a remarkable run for Pollard, who began this year by winning the SB20 World Champion’s title in Singapore.
Representing Royal Torbay Yacht Club, Pollard and his team Xcellent led the four-day regatta from the front securing first place in five of the eight races.
“We had amazing conditions – shorts and t-shirts every day, which is very unusual in England,” – said Pollard after the event. “Although the results look convincing on paper, the racing was tight and very tactical. We weren’t always first to the windward mark; we had to fight for it.”
The UK Sprint Nationals, held just before the main championship, proved to be the perfect warm-up for Team Xcellent:
“Short, intense races with quick turnarounds are the best training you can get – especially with a new team member,” – said Pollard.
The Weymouth win is the latest in a string of high-profile successes for Pollard and his crew, which at this event included Alex Hughes, a recent addition with Olympic-class experience, and Drew Barnes, Pollard’s long-time kite trimmer. Just weeks earlier, John and Drew stood atop the podium at the SB20 Portuguese Open Nationals in Cascais, Portugal, where they sailed with Jorge Lima, the Portuguese 49er Olympian.
Team Xcellent winning the SB20 Open Portuguese Nationals 2025 © João Saraiva Mendes
A lifelong sailor and a familiar face in Torbay’s sailing scene, John Pollard has been racing for decades while running a successful sail-making business in the South West. His passion for the sport – and particularly for the SB20 class – has made him one of the most respected competitors on the international circuit.
Known for his determination and professionalism, Pollard has built a reputation as a consistent front-runner at the highest level of one-design racing. Behind the scenes, his campaign is very much a family effort with his wife, daughter and close friends all playing key roles in support and shore-side operations.