29erXX Development

The 29erXX has a carbon mast, twin wires and masthead kite to get up and go fly.  Square-topped fully-battened mainsail, self-tacking jib and self-launching asymmetric spinnaker pole for more powerful and elegant manoeuvres.

When 49ers bolted onto the Olympic scene in Sydney's 2000 Games, the world was struck by their lightening speed.  And it was not just the fluorescent sails that dazzled the limelight –it was the athletic, reactive, rapid ride that raised the standards and spectacle of competitive sailing.

The 29erXX brings lighter-weight mixed crews and women’s teams the power, thrill and challenge of the twin wire experience.

When the 29erXX first hit the scene it made a big splash on the international sailing scene rippling almost to Olympic status for the 2008 Games.  Since then the continued Olympic success of the 49er and the international growth of the 29er has caused great waves in the sailing world.  From skiffs, to foiling moths to the new-style America’s Cup speed machines, the need for high-speed sailing has affirmed the prowess of high performance competition. 

Compatibility with 29er

The 29erXX is completely compatible with the international phenomenon in youth sailing, the 29er.  The simple one-design shared by the 29er and 29erXX make it easy for sailors to progress in their sailing careers, without having to invest in a whole new boat.  Likewise, the international success and popularity of the 29er has created fleets of skiff sailors all over the world who are now ready to step up to the next level of sailing offered by the 29erXX.

The 29er and 29erXX share the same:

Hull and fittings (including gennaker sock), Boom, Rudder, Daggerboard, Sheets, Rudderstock, Tiller, Trailers and Covers
 
Where the 29er has a single shroud, spreader and trapeze on a composite mast, and not fully masthead kite, the 29erXX has

·      Twin wires on a carbon mast

·      Double spreaders, triple shrouds with turnbuckles to adjust mast bend

·      Two extra long tiller extensions for steering from trapeze

·      Longer boom vang and bowsprit for the larger sails and masthead gennaker

·      Hull extensions for handling big breeze

·      Rudder pod extension to simplify the cockpit

Economics of 29er and 29erXX Sailing

The proven longevity and performance of the hull makes the 29er and 29erXX an economical choice for competitive sailors.  Five year-old hulls and older are quite competitive in the Gold Fleet at World Championships.  Most youth sailors will own 1 hull throughout their 29er career, and 2 sets of sails over 3-5 years.  At the most competitive levels, sailors tend to own 1 hull per every 4 years, and 1 set of sails per year. 

Due to their long-lasting construction, there is high demand for second-hand 29er hulls.  Sailors investing in new boats find excellent resale value in their old equipment.  In particular, old sails. Well used jibs and spinnakers replaced for racing make excellent 2nd hand purchases for first-time 29er sailors and practice sails for high-end racers.  It allows new sailors to get out and train hard without worrying about potential wear on new gear.

Top sailors do not hesitate to charter boats at events.  The one-design nature of the boats make the boats universally accessible to those traveling to events, lessening the burden of shipping logistics.