The MedSailing 2024 has become one of the major global references for the 29er class. It was the pioneer in the 29er EuroCup circuit and serves as the starting point for the Olympic classes 49er and FX. That’s why this year, the Club NÃ utic El BalÃs has taken a step further and has incorporated an Open Series for the 49erFX class, right after the MedSailing.
For the first time, the regatta will be held in two parts. From February 15th to 18th, the 29er class will compete, and from February 20th to 24th, the Open Series for the 49erFX with female and mixed crews will take place.
In this year’s edition of the 29er, a total of 117 crews from 17 countries are participating, including Germany, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Slovenia, Spain, Finland, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Sweden.
The commitment to young crews from the beginning has been clear, and the evolution towards skiffs is consolidated with the inclusion of the 49erFX. Previously, the MedSailing also featured the Europe and 420 fleets.
The club from Maresme already hosted the 29er World Championship two summers ago, making it undoubtedly one of the marked places on the calendar for this class.
This year, the 29er EuroCup debuted earlier than ever, at the Christmas Race in Palamós and the Comunitat Valenciana Olympic Week in Valencia. The MedSailing at El BalÃs will be the third event of the 2024 circuit season, led by the Dutch sailors Tim Wildeboer and Lars Van den Berg.
World Champions
The current world champion, Irish sailor Clementine Van Steenberge, will participate alongside Jessica Riordan, starting as top contenders. They will be joined by the Hungarian crew of Soma Kis-Szölgyémi and András Sámuel Juhász, who are defending their title as winners of the MedSailing 2023.
Also participating in the MedSailing is the reigning Optimist class world champion, Swedish sailor Henric Wingforss, alongside William Drakenberg.
The MedSailing 2024 will feature four days of competition in each of its phases. A maximum of 16 races are scheduled, four per day.
Magda Resano, the sports director of Club NÃ utic El BalÃs, explains what the MedSailing entails: “It is an international regatta with a highly consolidated class such as the 29er, and in this edition, we have found it interesting to incorporate the FX, taking it one step further.” She adds, “We continue to bet on these classes to establish MedSailing as a fixed regatta, as is already the case with the 29er, on their calendars and thus grow in the future.”
The MedSailing will be the first of the major regattas to be held at the Sant Andreu de Llavaneres club during the year 2024.
En español: La MedSailing 2024 es la gran referencia del 29er e incorpora el 49erFX
