Encouraging Environmental Stewardship among Youth Sailors
Photo by Mauro Melandri, courtesy of the International 29er Class Association.
“The International 29er Class is fully committed to working towards a more sustainable future, alongside World Sailing’s Agenda 2023. We are incredibly excited to partner with Sailors for the Sea as a ‘Clean Class’ – helping to support, educate and guide the class, our sailors, coaches and parents and of course our event host venues to achieve a more sustainable future in all areas.”
Pippa Kenton-Page, 29er Class Executive Director and Clean Class liaison
In 2022, the 29er Class earned a Platinum Level Clean Regattas certification for the European Championships in Rungsted, Denmark, demonstrating the progress and commitment made at a regatta of this size. In 2023, both the European and World Championships worked with the Clean Regattas program and the events were able to go paperless and plastic free. For 2024 and beyond, all of their EuroCup events, Europeans, and World Championships will be Clean Regattas and we will support the event hosts and the Class to take the most effective steps to improve environmental sustainability locally.
History
The 29er was designed and brought to life in 1998 by Australian skiff legend Julian Bethwaite. By the year 2000, the 29er had become a recognised World Sailing class, and the class has now grown from its original 200 boats to over 3000 today. With over 200 boats competing at the World and European Championships, including Men, Women and Mixed categories, the Class has a growing global footprint and is committed to continuing to grow in the most sustainable way possible.
