Pollard and Team Xcellent sail into the history books with global dominance

Royal Torbay Yacht Club’s John Pollard and Team Xcellent have delivered one of the most impressive seasons in the SB20 Class.

Sweeping major titles across five countries and two continents, they placed themselves firmly among the most accomplished SB20 sailors.

It has been a masterclass in consistency, teamwork and determination and is one of the greatest campaigns of all times.

The year began with a momentum, first winning the SB20 Asia Pacific and then the SB20 World Championships. The Torquay sailor claimed the ultimate prize in Singapore alongside Henry Wetherell and David Chapman.

“With John everything was aligned toward one goal,” – said David Chapman back at the time. – “That shared focus has allowed us to win the World Championship in conditions we were not meant to dominate.”

It was a composed and controlled victory in notoriously tricky conditions. For Pollard and his family, the win was deeply personal: “Sailing has always been in our family,” shared his wife Kate. “It was the dream John had chased for so long.”

Team Xcellent carried this momentum straight into Portugal winning the prestigious 2024/2025 SB20 Cascais Winter Series and lifting the Tony Castro Perpetual Trophy for the second time.

A venue known for its big waves and uncompromising breeze, Cascais has long been central to Xcellent’s development. The team also won the 2025 SB20 Portuguese Nationals. Sailing with Jorge Lima and Santiago Sampaio, Pollard overcame the talented fleet in some of the most challenging conditions the venue has delivered in recent years.

Returning to the UK, John added yet another major title to his résumé with a victory at the SB20 UK National Championship in Weymouth, securing his seventh crown.

Joined by Alex Hughes and Drew Barnes, Team Xcellent led the event from start to finish in classic summer conditions.

Team Xcellent arrived at the SB20 European Championship in Ostend with high expectations to claim the European title and led the fleet the entire week of racing with six first places. That week was a further proof of the team’s remarkable form this year, winning as the first European team and placing second overall.

The season’s third National title came soon after. Travelling to the Netherlands, winning the Open SB20 Dutch Nationals in Enkhuizen with breezy, fast pace conditions Xcellent handled the shifting conditions with trademark control and excelled in heavy air.

“2025 has shown just how far a British SB20 campaign can reach, both across Europe and on the world stage,” said Charles Whelan, the UK SB20 Class President.

“John’s exceptional consistency, precision and competitive drive have raised the bar for the entire UK fleet. As we look toward Hyères in 2026 [SB20 Worlds] and Torquay in 2027, team Xcellent continues to be the benchmark for all of us as we get better together.”

Xcellent’s strength lies in the calibre of sailors that John brings together. Olympic athletes, world-class tacticians, fearless young trimmers and long-time teammates - all slot seamlessly into the team.

“This season has been incredible for our team, but we’re nowhere near finished,” promises John. “Every event has sharpened us and we’re already focused on the next challenge. We want to raise the bar again in 2026, defend our titles and be at the highest level to welcome visiting teams to our unrivalled sailing waters in Torquay for the 2027 Worlds as the team to beat.”

The year ends on a fitting high for Pollard, as the Royal Torbay Yacht Club honoured him with the Sir Reginald Leeds Trophy for outstanding sailing achievement. It is an award he first received years ago, before joining the SB20 Class. It has now returned to him as the SB20 World Champion and one of the fleet’s defining competitors.

Team Xcellent capped their year with yet another international triumph, taking the Christmas Regatta title in John’s favourite Cascais – the waters that have long been their training ground. It was the perfect finishing touch on a remarkable season.

With 2026 on the horizon, one can’t help but wonder - is the best still yet to come?