In the wake of the outstanding 29er European Championship, the brand new 29erXX fleet made a big splash with sailors, parents and Race officers alike.  Throughout the week sailors from all over Europe (parents too!) begged to go for a blast on the twin trapeze rig with pink sails.  The racers, exhausted after the long sea-breeze afternoons, seemed to have an endless amount of energy for a post-race cruise on the 29erXX.  With expert level racing in the 112-boat championship, the fleet proved itself ready and eager for the next big thing in sailing.

Six countries from two continents participated in the first 29erXX European Championship sponsored by Seiko.  The fleet finished 10 races with a day each of medium, light and HOLD-ON! big breeze.  Zipping around by zodiac was ISAF Vice President Teresa Lara who loved watching the brilliant Seiko kites pop around the windward mark.  Catching the contagious enthusiasm of the sailors, Lara gave a warm congratulations at the closing ceremony and a best of luck to the future of the fleet before handing out the awards.

Not immune to the festive energy was CEO of Club Vela La Ballena Alegre who in full flouro neoprene and helmet

hit the twin wires with 29er President Jen Morgan Glass for a tight reach.  At 63, the retired Flying Dutchman Olympic campaigner proved the 29erXX is not just for kids.  He repeatedly asked the fleet, “When are you coming back?”  Impressed by the “out-of-the-box” one-design of 29erXX he told the fleet he would provide the boats, “If you come and provide the racing!”

Upon winning the 29er European Championship the week before, Annemiek Bekkering and Kaj Bocker admitted, “We only came to sail the 29erXX championship.  But since we’re here, we thought we might as well sail both regattas.”  

Their definitive win in both 29er and 29erXX European Championships is a testament to the benefit of training with the double-trapeze rig.  For most of the 29er sailors, the ride is a lot more reactive: "It's less forgiving, I never capsized during a tack on a 29er, but today I capsized twice!" laughed Taco Dommerholt of the Netherlands.

Norwegian team Helene Naess and Ane Gundersen were new to the X-rig, but they said, “We’ve been looking forward to this the whole week!  We couldn’t wait for the 29erXX racing to start!”  The ladies put on an excellent show of both expert speed and wild wipeouts, but never without a smile on their face.  On their epic journey to shore on the final day in big breeze, Gundersen boasted, “We never gave up... and we were FLYING!”

A growing trend in 29erXX racing is the devotion of the Race Committee.  On the training day preceding the event many of the Race Committee volunteered extra hours in exchange for a chance to taste the fun.  At the conclusion of the event the PRO said he enjoyed running the races and “would be honoured” to run future events.  In Miami the Race Committee said having the 29erXX was like “having our own Nascar”.  In Cavalaire-sur-Mer the RC volunteers who all took a turn on board said, “We can’t wait for next year!”  

Neither can the sailors.  And with all the charter rigs sold with orders for more on the way, they won’t have to.  Upcoming events include the 29erXX Downhill Skiff Cross featured at the Sail Amsterdam festival, a nautical celebration attracting thousands of tourists held once every 5 years, and the Open German Championship at the end of September.

29erXX European Championship Final Results
Event Photos by Yann Audic