228 pre-entries for 29er Worlds 2016 in Medemblik

29er fleet start during the 2015 29er Europeans in Medemblik © Mark Meijer

With only three weeks left to the start, the organization of the 2016 29er Worlds received 228 pre-entries, representing 29 countries worldwide. The global battle for gold in the double handed high-performance youth skiff will take place on the Ijsselmeer off the coast of Medemblik, Netherlands. Racing starts on July 24 and the new champions will be crowned on Saturday July 30.

Dutchmen Pieter van Leijen and Daniel Bramervaer hope to continue their winning performance in their home country, as they just grabbed the European title on Sunday July 4th in Norway. Their fellow countrymen Richard Schuurmans and Quinten Bramervaer took silver, followed by the British duo Huw Edwards and Johs Dawson. The bronze medalists of the Europeans belong to the biggest national fleet at the Worlds, Great-Britain with 42 boats. Germany is runner-up with 27 teams.

OBR Stefan Coppers to join media team

This year's World Championships will live up its status with state-of-the-art reporting. Apart from the daily video reports, the organization asked Stefan Coppers (NED), Onboard Reporter of Team Brunel in the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race, to join the media team. 'We are proud to announce our co-operation with Stefan, who will produce a portrait of the sailor of the day during the week", says organizer Marc van Dongen (NED). In addition to this 'racing news', two vloggers will show the fun and atmosphere in Medemblik.

Olympic dreams

The 2016 Olympic Games will commence only a week after the 2016 29er Worlds. For most of the youngsters in the 29er it is a dream to represent their country at the Olympics, as it was for Klaus Lange (ARG), who prepares for his first Olympics in Rio together with his brother Yago Lange on the helm of their Olympic 49er. 'I have very good memories of 29er sailing. I enjoyed that period and the ISAF events. I competed in three Youth Worlds and got one bronze medal with Mateo Majdalani, and one bronze at the open Worlds in Travemünde. The 29er is an awesome class and really teaches you about skiff sailing. If you want to move on to the 49er, I strongly recommend you to sail the 29er as a youth. For me, that was the way to perform in a class and start to dream about being at the Olympics, because my next step would be the 49er." Throughout the 29er Worlds 2016 there will be interaction with the Lange brothers and other Olympic 49er FX and 49er teams by means of a series of videos. The short movies will be a combination of a quiz and tutorial footage.

About the 29er Worlds 2016

The 29er Worlds in this Olympic year will see a record number of participants since the first edition in 2009. Registration and measurement will take place between July 22-24, followed by the opening ceremony on July 24 with the Mayor of Medemblik. The Qualifying Series will be sailed from July 25 till 27 and the Final Races are scheduled on the last three days.

The organization will make use of SAP Sailing Analytics software. It gathers big data, which enables participants to debrief their racing in detail and it offers the public a proper look at what is happening on the water. Real time GPS tracking by Danish company TracTrac will not only make races live 'visible', it also feeds the SAP Sailing Analytics software, that enriches the data from TracTrac.

In addition to SAP Netherlands, the 2016 29er Worlds are also sponsored by two Dutch internationals in the yachting industry: DAMEN, who designs and manufacturers heavy construction equipment for the world's leading on and offshore companies, and international and family-owned shipbuilder Huisman with Dutch roots. Other sponsors are Magic Marine, the Province of Noord-Holland and the Municipality of Medemblik, well-known for its international sailing regattas and International Sailing Center Medemblik.

www.29erworlds.org