29er North America

July 24, Day 1
Greetings from the 29er Worlds in the UK. There are 105 29ers here as well as a large fleet of 49ers sailing their European Championships. Today was a long day on the water for everyone. The Brits tell us that it has been so hot here for the past few weeks that their weather models don't know what to do - they aren't calibrated for such hot temperatures! The result has been some very light and unstable winds. The first two fleets went out in the morning and sailed two races each inside Portland Harbor in up to 6 knots. After they were finished with their two races the third and fourth fleets left shore to sail two races on the same courses in similar conditions. These fleets finished around 6:15pm only to see the 49ers heading out for some evening racing. We expect more light air and long days ahead. There will be two more days of qualifying races before the fleets are split up into Gold, Silver, Bronze and possibly Emerald fleets. Our San Diego teams are leading the US contingent and enjoying the So-Cal-like conditions.

July 25, Day 2
Another long day here in Weymouth, England at the 29er World Championship. The fleet was greeted with good breeze when we arrived at the boat park, however the 49ers went out for the first races inside the harbor so the 29er Yellow fleet went outside the harbor and sailed one race before the breeze completely shut off and all 8 fleets of 29ers and 49ers took turns racing inside the harbor. Shifty light winds continue to dominate the racing. Most North American teams are ready to return to San Francisco for some more exciting blasts across the Bay. The locals tell us that the hot weather should break in the next few days and the wind should return.

Cameron Biehl and Matt Noble continue to lead the US team with a 1st and 6th in today's races. Matt reports "We're hoping for more breeze but sailing consistent so doing well. But can we have another Worlds in San Francisco". Complete results aren't quite accurate as some fleets have completed 5 races while others have only completed 4 and one of which is being protested for winds under the class limit. Tomorrow all fleets will complete 5 races and hopefully a few more and then the fleets will be split into Gold, Silver, Bronze, and possibly Emerald for three more days of final series racing.

July 26, Day 3
Day 3 of the 29er World Championships brought more of the same light winds. By the end of the day all fleets have finished 8 races and the 105 entries have been split into Gold, Silver and Bronze. Fleet vetrans Silja Lehtinen (FIN) and Scott Babbage (AUS) are tied with locals Paul Brotherton and Mari Shepard for the top spot. Cameron Biehl and Matt Noble lead the North American contingent currently standing in 9th. Young San Diegans Judge Ryan and Hans Henken just snuck into gold fleet finishing 23rd in the qualifying rounds.

By the finish of the racing day the weather has turned more towards the usual British summer as clouds cover the sky, a sight that hasn't been seen now for at least 2 weeks. The rumor is that the winds will be stronger tomorrow. The 49ers are racing their European Championship at the same event. American Tim Wadlow sailing with Chris Rast currently sit in 9th while Morgan Larson / Pete Spaulding are in 12th and Canadians Gordon Cook / Ben Remocker are in 21st. There are now three days of racing remaining. Results can be found at http://www.9erchamps2006.com/

July 27, Day 4
The rumors were true! The 29er World Championship and 49er European Championship were blessed with more wind for the fourth day of racing. The 29er Gold fleet sailed outside Portland Harbor today and after waiting for the wind to pick up for the first start saw up to 20 knots by 3pm. Americans Cameron Biehl and Matt Noble continue to pick up the pace moving into 4th today and only 3 points out of the top spot. Teammates Jen Glass and Mike Kuschner had a rough start to the event but also turned it on today and are in 27th, looking to win the Silver Fleet. US 49er team Morgan Larson and Pete Spaulding ended the day on top with a bullet that will help them continue to move up in the Gold fleet. Two more days of racing remain and again the rumors point towards increasing winds for the rest of the regatta.

July 28, Day 5
Again the 29er Worlds were blessed with increased breeze today as most fleets sailed all day in 12-17 knots. Cameron Biehl and Matt Noble enjoyed the fresh breeze and have moved up to 2nd overall just 10 points out of the lead. 3rd and 4th are close behind so tomorrow's racing will be quite exciting. Judge Ryan and Hans Henken, a light team from San Diego, hung on in Gold fleet to stand in 24th overall. Top Canadians Billy Gooderham and Dan Mctavish also had a good day and stand in 39th.

In the 49er Europeans Americans Morgan Larson and Pete Spaulding moved up to 9th overall and will get to sail in tomorrow's medal race. The prediction is for even more wind tomorrow so the spectators are assured of a good show.

July 29, Day 6
Traditional English summer greeted the sailors for the final day of racing at the 29er World Championship, meaning light rain and cold strong winds. There was a lot of energy flowing through the dinghy park as only a few points separated the top teams in Gold fleet. Event leaders Silja Lehtinen and Scott Babbage started of the day's two races with a pair of bullets and went on to win the regatta by 14 points. The top English team of Dylan Fletcher and Rob Partridge battled with Americans Cameron Biehl and Matt Noble who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively, separated by only 4 points. A protest between the two teams extended the action but was disallowed.

Jen Morgan and Mike Kuschner extended their lead on Silver fleet while top Canadians Billy Gooderham and Dan Mctavish moved up to 37th. On the 49er course Morgan Larson and Pete Spaulding won the first race of the day to move up to 7th overall.