29erXX Downhill Skiff Cross at Amsterdam, Netherlands

29erxx Downhill Skiff Cross at Amsterdam © Urban Bocker

29erxx Downhill Skiff Cross at Amsterdam © Urban Bocker

29erxx Downhill Skiff Cross at Amsterdam © Urban Bocker

XXperience pays off in new slalom-style race course

Helene Næss and Ane Gundersen of Norway win 29erXX Downhill Skiff Cross, a new slalom racecourse – designed after the popular “Downhill Ski Cross” that caused a media storm at the winter Olympics. During the “Prime Time” racing that took place in front of the Sail Amsterdam grandstands, 8 teams completed a full knockout series with quarters, semis and finals.

After jumping on a bus or plane, teams arrived with harnesses in hand ready for racing. The one-design nature of the 29erXX means no team would be disadvantaged sailing the provided boats because every sail, block placement and spar have the same “out of the box and onto the water” construction.

Norway, edging out top Netherlands team in the final proved that excellent boat-handling could land you on top. After getting knocked out of the quarter finals, Radial star Marit Bouwmeester laughed saying she “might have to get used to having two tillers.”

The course consisted of a “push-start” off the starting pontoon, upwind 3 mark slalom, rounding the top for a downwind slalom back to the finish. Each boat marked either green or red stayed to the respective starboard or port course. “I really enjoyed it,” said runner-up skipper Carolien Duetz. “You lose a lot of the tactics, but you gain a lot of fun, excitement and STRESS!”

“The Downhill Skiff Cross is just another way to experience competitive sailing. There are many ways to organize a regatta,” says Kaj Bocker, event director. Difficulties such as setting the two tracks so they shared similar conditions and variable city winds challenged the Race Committee, but overall the sailors enjoyed the fanfare.

And so did the fans. “It looks like dancing,” said Brigitte Volkers, seated in the grandstands with her son and husband, “The women are so good at moving through the boat together.” Beijing Silver medallist Merel Witteveen sailing with Annemiek Bekkering referred to the cheers they earned from the crowd, “We think they liked the capsizes even more than the racing!”

Sailing is fast gaining ground as an “extreme sport” – and sailors know it. Growing popularity for the 29erXX’s big brother the 49er is rampant on YouTube. A new 49er promo video has accrued 90,000 views since its release only 3 weeks ago.

“Many of the big names in sailing are really into spectator friendly events right now” says Bocker. He refers to the recent 49er Theatre Style Racing test event that took place earlier this month in Weymouth. 7 of the top 8 49er teams in the ISAF world rankings – the Sibello Brothers (ITA) and Nathan Outteridge (AUS) to name a few – took part in the new condensed laylines race course aimed to maximize action for spectators.

“Maybe this is a signal that there should be some new ideas at the large scale events.” The one-design 29erXX has a carbon rig, twin wires and masthead kite to get up and go fly. Complete compatibility with the internationally reknown 29er hull makes it easier for sailors to step up to the next level.