"WOW", "I've never gone this fast", and "This is so awesome" could be heard from every one of the over 20 female collegiate sailors who took their first ride on a skiff during the Women's Collegiate National Championship the last week of May, 2011. The Championship was hosted by the Columbia Gorge Racing Association, well known for hosting skiff events on the Columbia River (aka The Gorge), a mecca for high-speed wind and water sports.

29er / 29erXX International Class President Jen Morgan Glass and 4 other experienced skiff sailors took the collegiate women sailing on 5 borrowed 29erXXs. Over the course of the 2 day clinic wind speeds varied from drifting to upper-teens. Most of the new skiff sailors had the opportunity to try both crewing and driving, and all were given a great introduction to skiff sailing including tacking, jibing, and even some capsizing! After each sail the women were smiling from ear to ear. The 29erXX class welcomes these new sailors and hopes to see more of them at upcoming regattas.