29er Porto World Championship
Day 2 – Light Winds, Strong Spirits, and Sustainable Innovation
Day two of the Porto World Championships began with hope—and strategy. Anticipating challenging wind conditions, race organizers scheduled an early start, hoping to catch a brief sea breeze. Unfortunately, the wind didn’t materialize as expected, and the race committee made the wise call to postpone racing.
Light wind gave the opportunity for the Kidzink Floating Eco-Hub Workshop
Instead, sailors and supporters turned their focus to something just as meaningful: the continuation of the Kidzink Floating Eco Hub Workshop, an initiative that had started the previous evening but was cut short due to the late finish of racing.
Kidzink, a proud sponsor of both the European and World Championships, brought an engaging and educational activity to the regatta. In the workshop, sailors were split into mixed-nationality teams of four and challenged to design sustainable floating eco hubs. These young athletes collaborated across languages and cultures, combining creativity, environmental awareness, and teamwork. After building their models, teams presented their concepts and tackled several challenges before winners were selected.
Two standout teams emerged from the activity, earning incredible prizes that raised the bar for youth sailing events.
Winners
Jack Solly (England)
Alex Sydenham (England)
Matilda Schneider (Germany)
Mailin Hegge (Germany)
This winning team now stands to receive a custom Kidzink-branded 29er spinnaker and jib for next season — a game-changing prize for any young team.
Each sailor on the runner-up team will receive a €250 voucher to Ovington Boats, one of the leading charter providers of 29ers worldwide.
Runners-up
Dirk Rogers (England)
Will McEwen (England)
BZ Coleman-Goldkrand (Germany)
Amelia Kutz (Germany)
The workshop was a huge success. Sailors not only learned valuable lessons about sustainability and innovation, but also enjoyed the social and cultural exchange that makes the 29er class so unique.
Looking to tomorrow
As the breeze failed to build throughout the afternoon, the boat park came alive with camaraderie. Sailors, coaches, and families made the most of the downtime, sharing stories, trading tips, and soaking up the atmosphere of international competition.
A special thank you goes out to the Race Committee, the coaches, and the parents for their patience and communication throughout the day. While the wind didn’t cooperate, the spirit of the event soared.
We’re hoping for better weather tomorrow and can’t wait to see everyone back out on the water.
Stay tuned!
