Our 29er team’s European tour has officially wrapped up, and all the sailors performed exceptionally well!
The tour kicked off at Kiel Week in Germany which is one of the largest sailing events in the world. The team was met with classic Kiel conditions during the training days, 10–12 knots of breeze and very choppy waters, providing a valuable learning experience.
The competition was tough, but the boys held their own with some standout results: Hugo Smith & Louis Quere finished an impressive 13th overall, including two excellent 2nd place finishes. Peer Kruse & Leo Brown came in 21st. Blake Batten & Merrick Sanderson took 22nd, with a highlight 4th place finish in qualifying.
Next up was the 29er European Championships held on the stunning Lake Garda in Italy. Conditions proved to be particularly challenging, with the sailors needing to make the 6:30 a.m. D flag to get races in before afternoon storms rolled through. The early starts led to light and shifty racing, testing both patience and tactical skills.
Despite the tricky conditions, the team dug deep and produced solid performances: Hugo Smith & Louis Quere finished 4th in the Silver Fleet and 49th overall, with a standout series that included two 3rds, a 2nd, and a 1st. Leo Brown & Peer Kruse came 10th in the Silver Fleet and 55th overall, maintaining strong, consistent form throughout. Blake Batten & Merrick Sanderson secured 7th in the Bronze Fleet, finishing 94th overall, and notched three 2nds and a 1st in their series.
“Learning how to sail in a big fleet with top competition, we were able to get some big fleet starting practice,” said Leo Brown.
Hugo Smith shared his personal highlight: “Getting to sail in Garda for the first time in fresh water.”
The entire team agreed that the tour was a fantastic opportunity to learn, gain experience, and connect with other sailors from around the world.
Watch out for next year, these teams are already looking ahead to their return to Europe to take on the competition again next year!
