Juggling with the variables of class health

by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News
The role of a one design class administration is to ensure the health of the class. But keeping members happy requires big picture thinking, particularly as trophy winners have different wants than the tail of the fleet.

Top finishers are always willing to do more to remain top finishers, such as buying sails more frequently. This can escalate when class rules don’t promote durable sails, but durable can mean less performance, and race winners like more.

The International 29er Class has grown to become a prominent youth boat and helpful step toward the Olympic skiff classes. No doubt, there are forces pushing for more – an issue the Class is juggling with.

The Class Technical Committee is investigating the design of the current 29er jib with the aim of exploring whether there is a cost-effective way of increasing the longevity of the sail, without having a detrimental effect on setup and practical handling of the 29er. A number of jibs are currently being tested by leading sailors and coaches, but the process is complicated.

If, after extensive testing, discussions and collaboration with sail makers, Class builders, dealers and designer, the Class find one or a number of considered positive solutions, they then have to make a submission to the World Council to be voted on by the National Class representatives in August 2025.

For an approved submission, a date would need to be set for the new jibs to become Class legal, but first this change would need to be approved by World Sailing (because its an international class) and the copyright holder. Thus, any change would not be before January 1, 2026 at the earliest.

So that’s over a year at best… how many dumpsters will fill with jibs that die an early death?