Rallies, rescues and rewards on final day of the 29er Worlds

It was last ditch efforts and comebacks on the race course this final day of racing at the 2017 Zhik 29er World Championship regatta at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club.

For a pair of Aussie ladies, a bullet in the second race of the day said ‘don’t count us out yet.’ For the team of Benji Daniel and Alex Burger (RSA) it was a comeback race that sealed the deal. And for a young man from Ireland, it was the prognosis of a full comeback after a near tragedy on the racecourse.

Daniel and Burger were crowned the 29er World Champions after an uncharacteristic bottom-half-of-the-fleet finish in the day’s second race, threatened their success.

Only the day prior had the two South Africans realized they had a shot at winning the prestigious World Championship title. Coming into the final day of racing, Daniel said the pair felt confident in their overall ranking; particularly after the day’s first race – a third place. So confident, they chose to take a flyer at the start of race two.

But their risky maneuver didn’t pay off and they finished 33rd. So they didn’t take any chances on the final race, instead, doing what they did best. Sail fast.  

At the start, they grabbed the lead and never let go; until Daniel dropped the tiller and slid backward into the water 20 yards beyond the finish line. The two waved in the other competitors and raised the South African flag over their boat, later hoisting it atop the mast, before sailing into the harbor.

“We’ve had worse days,” said Daniel back on the beach. Asked about the last race and he smiled and said, “We wanted to end it in style.” Their nearest competitors were more than double the points behind.

Although the duo has only been sailing together for six months, Burger said other experience helped secure the win. Burger has sailed in other World Championships, and in other boats. He described the 29er as fun and exciting, and said his fellow racers are extremely competitive for a junior fleet. “This is not a kid’s race; it’s physical and it’s competitive.”

Finishing with 56 points, the second place team, Benjamin Jaffrezic and Leo Chauvel (FRA) were also recognized as the reigning Youth World Champions, 18 and under. Only two points behind were fellow Frenchmen, Theo Revil and Gautier Guevel, to fill the podium.

Six days of spirited competition took place under varied weather conditions and unfamiliar conditions that tested their strengths and exposed weaknesses. From the light and fluky air of early week, to yesterday’s brisk breeze, to the pleasant 8-knot zephyrs that graced the fleet during today’s final races: capricious conditions kept the racers on their toes – and on their wires.

One-hundred-twenty-nine teams from 17 nations have been competing in the six day event: three days of Qualifiers followed by Finals, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Results