2024 29er World Championships - Day 4 of racing

No room for error as competitors vie for top spots in first day of finals

Lucas Patrick and Luke Rogers from RQYS are top Aussie boat currently sitting 12th.

Another day of sunshine and beautiful weather with 7-11 knots of wind for the first day of finals racing in Aarhus Bay where the best sailors in the World gave spectators a spectacular show. Racing was scheduled on time at 11am and all fleets completed the planned three races, making it back to shore before the rain set in for the afternoon. Sailors described the conditions on the race course as light winds with a tricky wave pattern upwind creating some fun surfing opportunities downwind. With starting and finding some space key to performing well today, the tight racing has certainly moved to a new level as the podiums are nearly in reach.

Alex Demurtas and Giovanni Santi from Italy retained their overall lead by four points ahead of mixed team Ewa Lewandowska and Krzysztof Królik from Poland. The French men’s teams of Jocelyn Le Goff/Jules Vidor and Nolann Huet Des Aunay/Titouan Gresset are proving a force to be reckoned with in the Danish conditions as they take up the third and fourth spots overall (second and third Men).

Emily Polson and Tiffany Mak from Hong Kong, China retain their lead in the Women’s fleet and sit in 7th overall – ahead of Boróka Fehér and Szonja Fehér from Hungary who have moved into second Women’s team and 10th overall after a consistent day of racing. Alicja Tutkowska and Alicja Dampc from Poland are third Women and just four points behind in 13th overall being chased hard by Spanish 2022 European Champions Sara and Isabel Momplet Baixauli.

With up to four races scheduled on the penultimate day of the championships and everything still to play for there is no room for error amongst this high performance fleet.

When asked ‘why sail 29er?’ the resounding response from all of the sailors is ‘the speed and the smiles!’ and it is evident when walking around the boat park that whilst the competition on the water is intense and world class, the levels of respect between competitors and friendships and fun behind the scenes is what sets this youth class apart. Whatever happens on the race course is soon forgotten on the shore as close rivals become good friends enjoying every moment of this record breaking regatta hosted by Sailing Aarhus, Denmark.