The second day of the 29er World Championship in Porto began with hope – and strategy. Anticipating challenging wind conditions, the organizers scheduled an early start, hoping to take advantage of the morning breeze. Unfortunately, the wind didn’t come up as expected, and the race committee took the sensible decision to postpone the races.
But the day was far from wasted.
Little wind gave way to Kidzink Floating Eco-Hub Workshop
While waiting on land, the sailors focused on another equally significant initiative: the Kidzink Floating Eco Hub Workshop. Kidzink brought an educational and engaging activity to the regatta with a workshop where sailors were divided into teams of four, with mixed nationalities, and challenged to create sustainable floating eco-hubs. These young athletes collaborated across language and cultural barriers, bringing together creativity, environmental awareness and teamwork. After building their models, the teams presented their concepts and faced various challenges before the winners were chosen.
Winners:
- Jack Solly (England)
- Alex Sydenham (England)
- Matilda Schneider (Germany)
- Mailin Hegge (Germany)
This winning team will now receive a spinnaker and a 29er pinnacle for next season – a prize that makes a difference to any young team.
Each sailor from the second-placed team will receive a €250 voucher to spend at Ovington Boats, one of the world’s leading suppliers of 29ers.
2nd place:
- Dirk Rogers (England)
- Will McEwen (England)
- BZ Coleman-Goldkrand (Germany)
- Amelia Kutz (Germany)
The workshop was a huge success. The sailors not only learned valuable lessons about sustainability and innovation, but also enjoyed the cultural and social exchange that makes the 29er class so unique.
Looking forward to tomorrow
As it became clear that the breeze wasn’t going to come in during the afternoon, the boat parks were filled with a spirit of camaraderie. Sailors, coaches and families took advantage of the free time to share stories, exchange tips and soak up the atmosphere of this international competition.
Special thanks to the Race Committee , the organization, the coaches and the parents for their patience and excellent communication throughout the day. Despite the lack of wind, the spirit of the event was high.
We hope for better conditions tomorrow and can’t wait to see everyone back on the water.
