29er World Championship at Porto, Portugal - Day 1
by International 29er Class 3 Aug 22:36 PDT
3-8 August 2025
29er World Championship at Porto Day 1 © Gonçalo Melo Reis
What a start to the 2025 29er Worlds in Porto! The day kicked off with a coaches meeting and a skippers briefing, setting the tone for an exciting first day on the water.
After a patient wait for the wind to fill in, racing finally got under way with Course A starting at 15:00 and Course B at 15:30.
Despite the late start, sailors, coaches, and the whole team showed incredible spirit, and we truly appreciate the positive energy everyone brought to the first day of competition!
The first day featured 12 qualifying races across two courses between the Port of Leixões and Salgueiros Beach, Vila Nova de Gaia. The fleets were randomized today and will remain randomized for tomorrow's racing.
Results after Day 1: (top five)
1 GER - David Plettner & Moritz Aigner
2 HUN - Soma Kis-Szölgyémi & András Juhász
3 POL - Szymon Kolka & Bartosz Zmudzinski
4 ITA - Giulia Bartolozzi & Pietro Rizzi
5 ARG - Diego Pasquarello & Marcos Pruden
Special Guest Appearance
The Secretary of State for Sport, Pedro Dias, joined us on the first day of competition, accompanied by Portuguese Sailing Federation President António José Barros and Olympic sailor Pedro Costa.
Pedro Dias praised: "The dynamic and proactive nature of Portuguese associations, capable of organizing world-class competitions that attract thousands of participants."
He also highlighted the importance of hosting a non-Olympic class like the 29er, which helps identify and prepare young sailors for Olympic pathways such as the 49er and 49erFX.
After Racing: Pasta Party!
Because of the late day on the water, the Kidzink Workshop was postponed until later in the week. But the Pasta Party was warmly welcomed by the sailors after a full day of racing and sea air!
Looking Ahead to Day 2
On Monday the 29er fleet is scheduled for a 10am start, however, wind conditions aren't looking very promising. Our race committee will be keeping a close eye to see if we can get some racing in.
We hope everyone rests up tonight and is ready for another exciting day on the water. Here's to more great racing and great memories!