29er World Champs decided

The 2026 29er World Championship took place July 2–9 at the Kiel-Schilksee Olympic Sailing Center in Germany. Held just after Kiel Week, the event attracted top youth skiff sailors from around the world for a week of competitive racing on the Baltic Sea.

It has been an intense week at the 2026 29er World Championship in Kiel, Germany, filled with activity, smiles, determination, and battles decided by the smallest margins. The joyful faces of the young sailors at the Kiel World Championship will be hard to forget. This was a record-breaking event for the class, with 276 boats from 35 countries and 552 sailors competing—ranging from the youngest at just 12 years, 11 months, and 7 days old, racing in highly variable conditions from light breeze to strong winds.

The final day was full of suspense, especially when it came to deciding the 2026 World Champions. A fierce battle unfolded between Argentina, Sweden, and France, keeping everyone on edge until the very last moment. An unfortunate first race of the day for Argentina, combined with strong performances from France and Sweden, reshuffled the standings, pushing them temporarily into second and first place. As the three scheduled races progressed, the tension kept building, eyes and minds fixed on the leading teams, separated by just a handful of points.

Race after race, calculations were constant. Meanwhile, unstable wind conditions slowed the racing and heightened the pressure even more. Finally, the breeze settled, allowing the last two races to get underway. In the end, it was France, represented by Alexandre Mostini and Raphaël Allain, who claimed victory. Sweden’s Henric Wigforss and William Drakenberg, after an outstanding season, secured second place, followed by Argentina’s Felix Llauro and Lucas Cozar, who had led the fleet for several days.

Amid tears and celebrations, one of the most beautiful aspects of the 29er class once again stood out: the strong sense of community. Sailors supported each other, celebrating not only their own achievements but also those of their competitors, with whom they had shared intense battles and unforgettable moments.

Looking at the Top 10, New Zealand secured fourth place with Nelsen Meacham and Oli Stone, who steadily climbed the rankings day by day, finishing just shy of the podium. In fifth place, Germany’s David Plettner and Moritz Aigner were among the standout performers of the week. Great Britain’s Jac Bailey and Ben Sinfield finished sixth after consistently fighting at the top of the fleet. Matteo Barker and Leo Brown placed seventh, contributing valuable points to the New Zealand team.

The American mixed team of Annie Sitzmann and Anton Schmid steadily improved throughout the week, ultimately winning the mixed category and finishing eighth overall. Great Britain secured another Top 10 spot with Ben Greenhalgh and Tom Sinfield, who closed the championship in ninth place. Completing the Top 10, and contributing to New Zealand’s victory in the Nations Cup, were Blake Batten and Hugo Smith.

It was also a thrilling day for the other categories. Despite winning the final race, Italy’s Emilia Salvatore and Pietro Rizzi finished second in the mixed category and 12th overall. The mixed title went to the USA’s Annie Sitzmann and Anton Schmid, while third place was claimed by Italy’s Victoria Demurtas and Ludovico Beretta, who overtook the Czech team of Karolína Lojková and Kristian Besuzek in the final race.

In the women’s category, the Danish team Emmeli Gramkov and Sofie Andersen, who had been leading for several days, secured the title. The silver medal went to New Zealand’s Bella Jenkins and Jessica Handley, while bronze was claimed by Poland’s Blanka Sójkowska and Julia Nagórska, winners of Kieler Woche.

In the U17 category, Germany’s Johan Mueller and Hanno Gewinn took first place, followed by their compatriots Pollux Arnold and Moritz Lichtwer, who delivered three excellent races on the final day. The Hong Kong team of Ethan Kiu and Louis Polson completed the podium.

Back ashore, category winners were welcomed by coaches, families, and teammates with celebrations before moving to the stage for the closing ceremony, attended by representatives of the club and the International Class. During the ceremony, the top 25 teams were awarded their new sail numbers, as tradition dictates that they adopt the number corresponding to their final ranking.

Before the overall awards, the top three teams in the White, Purple, Emerald, Bronze, and Silver fleets were also recognized:

Silver Fleet
1. Bianca Marchesini & Lucia Finato (ITA)
2. Justus Springer & Jasper Winter (GER)
3. Freya Hutchinson & Joanna MacAlister (GBR)

Bronze Fleet
1. Emma Bert & Achille Angelini (ITA)
2. Petronille Lescanne & Ninon Le Goff Vedrenne (FRA)
3. Bruno Iacomelli & Matteo Trotta (ITA)

Emerald Fleet
1. Monty Hampton & Zachary Windibank (GBR)
2. Marie Schwarz & Antonia Schwarz (GER)
3. Giacomo Arosio & Tito Arturo Scontrino (ITA)

Purple Fleet
1. Piotr Zurek & Sebastian Wawrzyniak (POL)
2. Natalie Gaver & Caroline Heersink (USA)
3. Pablo Reinhard & Oscar Benton (SUI)

White Fleet
1. Quintin Brouwer & Julius Pigeaud (NED)
2. Alp Külekçio?lu & Ali Acer (TUR)
3. Stanis?aw Czerwiak & Miko?aj Koberda (POL)

The Over 18 title went to Hungary’s Emilia Juhasz and Samuel Andras Juhasz, who delivered an outstanding final day in light breeze conditions, including a race win and a fourth place.

The week began with the Kidzink Workshop, organized by the class’s main sponsor. More than 50 sailors took part, divided into mixed-nationality teams of four. Using recycled materials provided by the class, they were challenged to design projects aimed at cleaning the water. The winning team, a mixed POL-RSA group, was awarded for ingenuity, teamwork, creativity, and thoughtful design. In December, Weronika Grata, Pascal Juzmicki, James Rae and Scarlet Celliers will travel to Dubai to compete in the Kidzink Pearl Cup, with hospitality and boats provided by the sponsor—an incredible opportunity thanks to Kidzink!

Several sustainability initiatives were also carried out during the event, including the Old Ropes Collection and a Beach Clean-Up in collaboration with the Surfrider Foundation. Thanks to Chloe Goodman, a young American sailor and representative of Sailors for the Sea, a Sustainability Board was created for the Kiel World Championship, where sailors could share ideas and suggestions on sustainability in sailing and event organization. Albert Kepp and Victoria Tammer were recognized with Sailors for the Sea gadgets for their contribution.

The 2026 29er World Championship in Kiel has once again showcased not only the incredible level of competition within the class, but also its unique spirit of friendship, respect, and shared passion. With record participation, high-performance racing, and a strong commitment to sustainability and youth development, the event marks another important step forward for the future of the 29er class worldwide.

Event details – Results – Facebook

Source: 29er Class Media