Spinnaker Watches Sponsors the 49er Class

Spinnaker Watches have sponsored the 49er sailing class and are partnering for 2017 competitive sailing season to be the Official Timekeeping Partners. Combining both the need for impeccable technical and physical ability, the 49er sailing class provides well rounded entertainment to the sailing world from March through to August. The circuit in 2016 saw the […]

2017 Skiff Format and How We Got Here

In November 2016, World Sailing adopted a Theatre Style conclusion for the 49er, and 49erFX for Tokyo 2020.  As such, the 49er Class formed a Format Working Party and is happy to introduce the following format for the 2017 49er Championships. Qualifying 3 days with 10 total races scheduled, each race scheduled for 30 minutes […]

Introducing the Combined 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 European Championship

The notices of race was made public today for the combined 2017 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 European Championships from Kiel, Germany.  This regatta marks the second time these three Olympic events have gotten together for a major championship, and it also will be the first time ever the Full Foiling Nacra 17’s will race! […]

Shifty conditions make Medal Races a test of nerve

With the World Cup Series secure going into the Medal Race, 49er sailors Dylan Fletcher-Scott and Stuart Bithell (GBR) sailed a clean race and largely stayed out of the fray. They finished fifth, capping off an impressive start to the Tokyo 2020 quad for this new team. “It feels like we’ve gelled pretty well,” said […]

Grael and Kunze Show Their Mettle on Day Four

For Brazil’s Martine Soffiati Grael and Kahena Kunze, the fourth day of the 2017 World Cup Series Miami presented by Sunbrella started on a sour note, with a 14th in a 16-boat 49erFX fleet. “It was crazy,” said Kunze when asked about the wind in the first race. “It was going to the left and […]

New partnerships prove productive on opening day

The 49er class has never been a bastion of consistency. The overpowered skiff is challenging to sail, and because it accelerates so quickly in the smallest increase in wind speed, lead changes are frequent. When you toss in a shifty and puffy westerly breeze that was forced to weave through the Coconut Grove skyline before […]

Plan your Trip to Porto For Summer 2017

All eyes will look to Porto, Portugal come summer’s end as the 2017 49er and FX World Championship will run from August 28th to September 2nd. The 49er class return to Porto only 2 years following a very successful 2015 European Championship to get more of the amazing conditions and hospitality! The racing was pretty […]

Plenty of Opportunties for Male and Mixed Teams to Race the FX in 2017

After four years of back and forth about when and where transitioning male and mixed teams should be allowed to compete against the best women in the world it seems like the regatta calendar is settling into a rhythm where everyone’s requirements can be met. In 2017, there will be plenty of regattas where male […]

Skiff Summer Season Set for 2017

Rio played out just as it should have, with the most dominant 49er team ever winning by a landslide, and the most even of the Olympic fleets, the 49erFX, coming down to a 4-way shootout.  The lasting image of Brazil’s Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze being carried by their countrymen out of the water and […]

2017 Junior Worlds To Be Contested in Canada

Junior 49er Sailors, Want to race against the best in the World among your age group? Want to prove that you’re the best Under 23 49er/9erFX team out there? Then come race the 2017 49er & 49erFX Junior World Championships in Kingston, Canada! The International 49er Class will be hosting two back to back championships […]