I arrived in Sydney Tuesday morning.  After clearing customs, I went straight to the boat park at Woollahra Sailing Club on Rose Bay.  Within a couple hours I was on Sydney harbor sailing the 29erXX in, what was for me at the time, the most wind I had ever sailed in – around 20kts.  My crew for this event was Charlie McKee who has plenty of days spent sailing skiffs on Sydney harbor.  Day two was the windiest and we had one particularly spectacular wipe out that sent me flying.  Suffice to say the bruises are just starting to diminish…  After three days of nice sailing on Sydney we packed up the trailer.

Final Results

Read more: Australian 29erXX National Championship, report by Kristen Lane

 

Breeze in Hong Kong? Go for a sail on the 29erXX!

Read more: A Nice Day in Hong Kong

Optimist turned 29er Youth Worlds sailor, Sinem Kurtbay took to the 29erXX for the first time and nearly took the championship, leading up until the final race.  Denmark’s top 29er team, Ida Marie Baad and Marie Olsen kept it close the whole regatta clenching the win in the final race.  The Danish duo won the inaugural German 29erXX National Championship by 2 points.

Read more: Turkey 2-points out from Taking German Title

For the first time, the 29erXX completed the pathway for 29er sailors at the Danish skiff sailing 9er Nationals featuring the 29er, 29erXX and 49er at the Hellerup Sejlklub in Denmark.  The 29erXX fleet had an international spread with sailors from Denmark, Germany, USA and Finland.

The regatta tested the full spectrum of skiff sailing skills from light winds and flat waters to big breeze and rolling waves.  Denmark’s Rie Galsgaard Claudia Carlsen came out on top of the co-ed 29erXX fleet for the title of National Champions.

The all women’s team of Ida Marie Baad and Marie Thusgaard Olsen, this year’s Danish representative to the ISAF Youth Worlds in the 420, won the 29er division – an excellent farewell as they step up into the 29erXX class.  They will be competing this weekend in the 29erXX German Nationals.

Read more: 29erXX Debuts at Danish Nationals

8 teams from 3 countries (USA, NOR and AUS) have already registered for the Seiko Australian Championship at Wangi 27-30 November. There are a few rigs left so come join in the fun! Find out more here.

15 teams raced in Kingston, Ontario for the title of Seiko North American Champion August 21-25th, 2010. Hans Henken, crewing for his sister, Paris Henken, attributed their Championship victory to consistency in the variety of conditions over the five days of sailing - or was it brother-sister power? 

Racing alongside the 49ers, the 29erXX teams also experienced the drama and intensity of the ultimate Medal Race, wich was broadcast by loudspeaker to spectators by Canada's own Fiona Kidd.  

Read more: Consistency Pays Off for Team Henken at Seiko North Americans

After jumping on bus or plane, teams arrived with harnesses in hand ready for racing. 29erXX Downhill Skiff Cross, a new slalom racecourse – designed after the popular “Downhill Ski Cross” that caused a media storm at the winter Olympics.  During the “Prime Time” racing that took place in front of the Sail Amsterdam grandstands, 8 teams showed off the SEIKO spinnakers in a full knockout series with quarters, semis and finals.

Helene Næss and Ane Gundersen of Norway edging out top Netherlands team in the final proved that excellent boat-handling could land you on top.  After getting knocked out of the quarter finals, Radial star Marit Bouwmeester laughed saying she “might have to get used to having two tillers.”

Read more: Norway Takes Final at 29erXX DOWNHiLL SKiFF CROSS