29er World Championship comes to Alamitos Bay Yacht Club
July 24, 2017
One-design competition draws competitors from 14 countries, including Australia, Brazil and China.
LONG BEACH — Alamitos Bay Yacht Club will host about 20 dozen competitive sailors from 14 countries in the middle of summer as the Zhik 29er World Championship Regatta comes to Long Beach, July 27 to Aug. 5.
The 17th edition of the world championship regatta will feature all-men, all-women and co-ed teams competing for trophies for top overall winner and best youth team.
About 250 sailors from 14 countries are expected to populate this year’s field of competitors. Participants will be hailing from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States.
The United States alone is expected to have 40 or more entries in the regatta, according to organizers. Most of those teams are likely participating in Alamitos Bay YC’s sailing clinic, held July 25-28.
San Francisco was the last U.S. city to host the 29er World Championship Regatta, doing so in 2005.
Australian world champion sailor Julian Bethwaite designed the 29er, a 14.5-foot long lightweight one-design, in 1998. Competitive sailors often race the 29er before moving up to higher sailing classes.
The event’s opening ceremony will be held July 30, with qualifying races taking place July 31 to Aug. 2. The regatta’s final series begins Aug. 3 and will run through Aug. 5.
All races will be held offshore unless wind conditions exceed 20 knots per hour – in which case the regatta will be held in waters within the federal breakwater.
Each series (qualifying and final) will be made up of 10 races.
Racing will be monitored and officiated by judges from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and New Zealand. Spectators can monitor the race on TracTrac (tractrac.com).
All racing can also be viewed from a spectator boat, which is $20 per person, per day; the fee includes lunch and beverages. The spectator boat has a capacity of 20 people; advance sign-ups for the spectator boat is available online at 29erworlds.org.
Event sponsor Zhik is an Australian sailing apparel manufacturer.
