Sailing Aarhus set to host largest ever 29er Worlds

29er Worlds © Phil Jackson / Digital Sailing

Today, August 1st, Aarhus International Sailing Centre will welcome more than 500 of the next generation's top sailors when the World championship in the 29er boat class gets under way. A total of 259 crews from more than 30 different countries have registered to compete for the world championship in Aarhus Bay.

Most participants have already arrived and are making their final preparations on land and at sea - boats and crews are officially registering and measuring their boats in the next few days ahead of the opening ceremony on Saturday. Visitors to the promenade at the far end of Aarhus Ø can therefore already sense that it is buzzing with excitement and anticipation in this world-renowned high performance sailing venue while the sound of flapping sails in the wind signals that something big is about to happen.

Strong Danish participation on home ground

With six days of sailing (from August 4 onwards) there will be plenty of opportunity for the many two-person crews to show what they can do until August 9, when this years' World champions in the Men, Women and Mixed categories will be announced.

Denmark is strongly represented, including two crews from the Danish Sailing Association's youth national team, and there is no doubt that all the Danes will do their part to enjoy the fact that they are on domestic waters.

"Competing on home ground is always very special - we are experiencing that right now at the Olympics with the French athletes enjoying their home ground. That is why it is so great that the Danish crews get this experience together with an international experience at the 29er world championship in Aarhus," says Lars Lundov, director, Sport Event Denmark, which is a partner at the world championships.

Ones to Watch

Defending 2023 Overall and Mixed World Champion Ireland's Clementine van Steenberge returns to defend her title, this time with new teammate, former European Champion Jessica Riordan in the Women's Category. 2023 Mixed Silver Medallist and 2024 Overall European and Mixed Youth World Champions Ewa Lewandowska and Krzysztof Krolik from Poland are on fire in the last few months, winning every event they have attended and looking top it off with a World Championship Gold Medal here in Denmark.

2023 World Championships Mens Silver medallists - Italians Alex Demurtas and Giovanni Santi will be ones to watch in the Men's fleet as their closest rivals from last year have moved into the 49er class and into Olympic Sailing.

A special atmosphere on the waterfront

Director of Aarhus International Sailing Centre, Jon Koch Hansen, has been looking forward to welcoming all the young sailing talents, their coaches, and families. And after a long time of preparation, he and his crew together with many volunteers from among others the five sailing clubs in the City of Smiles are now ready to set sail:

"The sun is shining, the wind is blowing, the sailors are smiling - yes, Aarhus is showing its very best side these days. It is precisely at an event like this that our fantastic sailing center with its location in the middle of the city shows its true value as a setting for large, international events. A big thank you must go to Sport Event Denmark, The City of Aarhus, the Salling Foundations and the rest of our partners for making it possible to host a big World Championship like this."

Find out more at 29erworlds.org