2024 29er European Championships at Gydnia, Poland - Preview
by International 29er Class 1 Jul 2024 05:59 PDT
1-8 July 2024
29er European Championship 2023 at Stockholm, Sweden © Kristian Joos /
www.sailing.pics
The 2024 European Championships for the 29er class are approaching - from July 1st to 8th, the best sailors from all over Europe and beyond will compete for the continental title in the Gulf of Gdansk.
This prestigious event will attract hundreds of competitors. The regatta will take place as part of the 25th edition of Gdynia Sailing Days, one of the largest sailing events held in Northern Europe.
The European Championships in the 29er class is one of the most important events in this year's Gdynia Sailing Days festival. The 29er class, known for its dynamism and spectacular races, gathers young and talented sailors who are preparing to one day compete in the Olympic classes.
Over 100 crews from all over Europe and further afeild will be at the starting line on Wednesday. Competitors from Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Hong Kong, and South Africa will also come to Gdynia. Last year in Stockholm, the European champions were the Irish team of Ben O'Shaughnessy and Ethan Spain. The second place was taken by the German brother team, Per Christoffer and Carl Frederik Schwall, and the third by the Dutch duo, Yanne Broers and Gustav Asholm-Bradley. This year in Gdynia, none of these teams will compete. However, we will see some title defenders among the Women's fleet. 2023 European Champions Lucia Cullen and Alana Twomey (Ireland) will defend their Gold medal against Assi Lindell and Ines Karlemo (Finland), who finished second in last year's European Championships. 2022 Women's 29er World Champions, Paula and Isabel Laiseca are also back in the fleet for 2024 will be fighting for the top spot on the podium here in Gydnia.
The European Championships in the 29er class starts today, July 1st. The first day is for boat measurements and registrations, and on Tuesday, July 2nd, a practise race and opening ceremony will take place. The sailors will start their first races on Wednesday, July 3rd, and will compete until Monday, July 8th. For the first three days, sailors will race in qualifying races, after which they will be divided into Gold, Silver, and Bronze groups. On Monday afternoon, the closing ceremony of the European Championships will take place, highlighted by the awarding of medals.
"I am very pleased that the young sailors of the 29er class will come to Gdynia, the sailing capital of Poland. This will be a true sailing festival, and I believe that our experience, famous Polish hospitality, and conditions in Gdynia will make this an unforgettable event for the participants. In previous years, we have organized many European and World Championship events in Gdynia, and 29er sailors have also competed here in the EuroCup regattas. I thank the 29er class authorities for their trust, and I am confident that everyone who comes here will have the opportunity not only to compete at the highest level but also to experience true sailing integration. I invite everyone to Gdynia.", says Tomasz Chamera, President of the Polish Yachting Association and Vice President of World Sailing.
Find out more at 29ereuropeans.org