Rie and Claudia leading into the windward mark.

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.

There is no shortage of female sailors in the 29er fleet as the top Danish girls teams step up to the 29erXX.  Three female skippers packed the top ten.  (One quarter of 29er skippers were female at the ISAF Youth Worlds in Istanbul)  Many of the skippers towards the back of the fleet have just graduated from the Optimist – the youngest skipper was 11 years old, sailing with his father.

One of the 29erXX sailors, tired after a full day on the wire in the tough conditions asked the young Optimist sailor, “Did you sail the 29er today?  And you sailed the whole day?”  When he nodded, she continued, “I’d like to shake your hand!”

The Optimist-29er pathway seems to go hand-in-hand.  Before 29ers, current 29er and 29erXX European Champion Annemiek Bekkering of the Netherlands was a winning Optimist skipper.  In May of this year, the Italian Sailing Federation hosted a 29er trial weekend for about-to-graduate Optimist sailors – and for Italian Federation coaches to learn about skiff coaching basics.

Italy is not alone – the upcoming India International Regatta is featuring the Optimist and 29er as the premier pathway of youth sailing.  Already registered are are 81 Optimists and 22 29ers.

A full boatpark with 29ers, 49ers and the 29erXX.

Lin Ea Cenholt Christiansen skippering for Taus Holtug was first female skipper and fourth over-all.

11-year old Optimist sailor sitting with his father, proud after a full day of skippering the 29er!