49er sailboat class

International 49er & 49erFX Class Association

Class contact information.

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Class Website

One-Design Class Type: Dinghy

Was this boat built to be sailed by youth or adults? Adult

Approximately how many class members do you have? 70

Photo Credit:Ricardo Pinto

Photo Credit: Ramon Oliden

Photo Credit: Ivan Bulaja

About International 49er & 49erFX Class Association

The 49er and 49erFX are the premiere Olympic skiff. Designed by famous Australian skiff sailor / designed, Julian Bethwaite, the 49er represents the culmination of high performance sailing, remaining the gold standard for athletic competition on water and becoming a proving ground for today’s top International sailors. Using a twin trapeze, self-tacking jib, asymmetric gennaker and solid wings, the 49er and 49erFX can reach speeds of 25 knots. With the addition of the 49erFX variant, the class has opened up to younger, smaller and female sailors while still providing all the same excitement.

Boats Produced: 2200

Class boat builder(s):

Mackay Boats Ltd Ovington Boats Ltd

Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America? 140

Where is your One-Design class typically sailed in the USA? List regions of the country:

Florida, New York, California

Does this class have a spinnaker or gennaker? Yes

How many people sail as a crew including the helm?  2

Ideal combined weight of range of crew:  350

Portsmouth Yardstick Rating:   740

Boat Designed in  1995

Length (feet/inches): 16’8″

Beam: 9′

Weight of rigged boat without sails: 275

Draft: 3′

Mast Height: 27′

Coaching or Clinic Resources

Tuning guides.

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The 49er Class Drive For Progression Explained

• opalgraphem
• April 17, 2014

The 49er sailboat class has a tradition of pushing sailing forward aligning with the Olympic ideals and the Olympic business model.  The overall Olympic success is a complex tonic, but the core product is live sports.  Live coverage of sailing is difficult and expensive.  Traditionally it has also been slow paced and difficult to understand for non-sailors, the vast majority of Olympic customers.  That places sailing at direct odds with the (only) people who write checks in support of the sport, a dangerous position to be in.  The 49er class aims to counter all of these challenges and make Olympic sailing, at least part of it, align with the Olympic business model.

The 49er class introduced big national flags onto our mainsails in 2010, vastly improving the ability of sailing fans to identify the teams they are cheering for.  In 2013 we complimented this move with larger and simpler sail numbers to further help fans identify the teams.  It’s very hard to invest emotional energy watching sport when you can’t tell who is who.  The rest of sailing has replicated the country flag stickers, and may take further steps in the future.

Intense short course racing is in the DNA of the skiff looking back to our roots in the Sydney harbour 18 foot skiffs.  While most Olympic classes prefer large fleet races, the 49er has been running 25 boat gold fleets and 30 minute races for almost our entire history.  Shorter intense races have a better chance to entice the public to watch, even though it remains very difficult.  They are also fun for sailors and have proven to be a great training ground for Olympic sailors to base pro sailing careers from.

In 2008, sailing introduced the ‘medal race’ concept to the Olympics.  Fleet sizes and race duration were reduced, reinforcing the lead taken by 49er, to 10 boats and 30 minutes.  This is a positive move in many respects, as the media is able to focus on a smaller pool of contenders than in large fleet, long course racing.

The challenge is to ensure a sound marriage between the finals ‘medal racing’ and the Olympic ideals of live sport.  As it turns out, medal racing is still very difficult and expensive to cover live, as the course sizes are large.  Further, by reducing the fleet size to only 10 boats, there is little action, and cameras end up having to focus on a single boat in a frame.  Any sailing photographer will attest to the fact that a single boat in a frame makes for a boring picture, and the effect is only enhanced in video.   The 49er class has been developing and proposing an alternative format to better align Olympic sailing with the Olympic business model and we’ve been calling it theatre style racing.

An example of fantastic medal race coverage came at the  Perth2011 worlds .  If you count the cameras there is a helicopter, 2 long lens from shore, and a gyro-stabilized high speed motorboat, along with the studio cameras.  The provides great, compelling, multi-boat frames for about the first 3 minutes of the 30 minute race.  From half way up the first beat, start having to resort more often to single boat shots, and by the 2nd beat it’s almost nothing but glory shots of a single boat sailing around.  That is some serious expense, far greater than Olympic sailing can typically justify outside the games itself.  This team does a great job, but it’s not long before the commentary team has to start chatting about other business, and very little of the coverage actually focuses on the racing.  That’s because very little is happening and it’s also very difficult for the commentators to follow how teams are making progress on each other.

Making Finals Work

What separates theatre style from regular medal races is the focus can be on communicating HOW a teams wins, not just what team wins. This is the basis for sports business. When a sports fan watches highlights of a football match, they don’t just show random images of people playing football, they show the goals… the same is true in all sports. Take a look at the videos produced at the most recent World Cup Event. The start, a mark rounding, and a narrator saying what happened. At no point does anyone ever discuss  sport at all… while we may feel it is novel even to have any coverage at all, it is necessary to be able to cover the actual sport, the moments that define the races, to ever be really successful. A great example of the difference happened in Palma. In race 2 of the 49erFX, Grael/Kunze is 6 points up on Nielsen/Olsen with 2 races to go.

She comes off the line well, has a chance to tack and cross, is blocked by the Swedes and knocked back in the pack. She then gets a great lane to the windward mark, but as she’s on port has to duck the line of boats, dropping her to ninth place at the windward mark, essentially tied with Nielsen who is up in 3rd. Then on the downwind, the finds a passing lane on the outside, comes in to the leeward mark with speed and passes 6 boats, including Nielsen to move up to 3rd place and secure the regatta victory.  Here is the full day finals coverage , for those who want to watch great fleet racing.

The Process

When looking at where the class is now, with theatre style racing, 3 races, single points, 2 laps, 10 minutes, 10 boats, no drops, 600m by 325m maximum geometry, it’s important to look back at how we got here.  The 49er class and sailors have spent much time defending this version of progress to ISAF and the rest of the Olympic community.

In 2009/10, the format topic emerged in the 49er class at the executive committee level.  The original goal was to be so aligned with the Olympic business model that NBC would want to broadcast the final race of the 49er (and now 49erFX) in Rio.  We set out this goal and went through what else we thought was necessary to secure Olympic sailing’s future.  Crowning a worthy champion, the winner of the last race winning the regatta, ensuring fair sailing were all listed in some of the early publications.

After waiting for the 2012 Olympic cycle to conclude, we then set out to test many options knowing that a theoretical discussion only would result in painful arguing but no facts.  There were a number of casual tests, outside of formal regattas, but the first formal test was at the 2012 Europeans.  We had a full day of 3 race ’rounds’ , and the winner after each round moved forward to the next round.  Then in the final, with the top teams, the first 4 would make it to the grand final for a single race, winner takes all, race.  This was to be the NBC Race .

After the regatta, we solicited feedback from the sailors who participated, the broadcasters, and continued the discussion.  Top sailors gave feedback that they enjoyed the day, but felt that a single final race, winner takes all was unfair.  It broke from the long tradition of the sport of having the winner of a series take home the crown.  We listened to all the feedback and there were two other aspects of the winner takes all final that pushed it off our agenda.

• The observation that watching a boat in the lead of a sail boat race is often the least interesting part of the race.  It’s the battles, most often in the middle of the pack, that are the most interesting to watch.
• To ensure fairness, a paramount goal, we needed to shorten the field so much that we had a 4 boat ‘grand final.’  The thinking was that if we are going to have a winner takes all final, all the finalists must be worthy of a win.  While 4 boats is still fleet racing, having only 4 boats simplified sailing too much, and made for a boring race.

What we learned from this first test is that even if we were successful and got our NBC race , we would ultimately fail, as the product was too boring to elicit the sort of excitement sports needs to generate fans.  This is similar to the current medal race, even executed perfectly it will not result in success for sailing commercially.

After another year of testing and incremental improvements, the 49er class proposed a comprehensive proposal to the wider sailing community through the ISAF meeting process.  A three race series, with points added to the weeks totals, would be our TV product.  Maybe if we can entertain sports fans on our final day they will learn to love sailing enough to pay attention during the week prior of longer races.  There we compromises along the way like increasing our ideal fleet size of eight to ten fall in line with the rest of sailing.  We increased the size of the course to 10 minutes and made it 50% wider so teams would have more options and choices while they race.  And finally, we decreased the scoring weight of the final day, to appease those who are nervous about change.

The final product is one that does stand up to the boring test.  It is visually compelling, intense, a great test of sailing skill, and packaged into a TV and fan friendly complete day.  One hiccup is that it is likely that in many the winner will already be mathematically secured before the final race, but on the bright side, the multi-race format allows for multiple climaxes, where the winner might be decided in race 1 or 2, and then the fight for silver or bronze can become the focus for the final race.

In a world of increasing education and complexity, it’s time for a sport with as much depth as sailing to emerge.  There is purity in many of the Olympic sports, but they are also often so one dimensional that they can drift to boring.  If we can package our sport to be exciting and ensure a worthy champion, we may not end up on NBC in Rio, but on every TV we do appear, those watching will remember our sport and look out for us in the years to follow.

As the concept begins to solidify it is important to remember the true journey is only beginning.  There is a tremendous amount of work to be done to film, capture, and communicate the sport well.  This is becoming increasingly easy with the speed technology is moving and as prices for video broadcasting decrease.  Other sports are taking advantage of the same technology, however, and that is why it’s vital that sailing broadcasts and highlights be exciting.  In the first two world cups of 2014, the 49er class has had live, or almost-live broadcasts of a raw video stream.  It is only a small step forward to bring all the concepts together and clean them up so they resemble a broadcast that a sports fan can get into.  If we do capture the attention of sports fans in Rio, it does us little good if we can’t follow up in the four years to Tokyo.

At times the 49er class has had significant partnerships at events bringing vast resources to broadcast the racing.  We must find a series of events, compelling to a partner, where the investments in infrastructure and marketing can pay off.  With current race series fragmented into world cups, ISAF worlds, and class events, it is not simple at the moment to bring a consistent product to our fans, but with smart partnerships and compromises it is possible.  The lead up events to Rio will be compelling.  It’s the first journey for the 49erFX sailors, and they will grow and improve so much we will all be astounded.  On the 49er side, there are the famous pro’s, with their distractions and multiple goals out ahead of the Olympic pro’s.  By Rio, they will have only one thing on their minds, and it’s unclear who will be victorious.  These are both great stories for sailing fans and sports fans alike, and it’s time we tell them.

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Olympic Games Tokyo 2020

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Tokyo 2020 Sailing 49er Men Results

stuart bithell

Dylan fletcher-scott.

peter burling

thomas ploessel

diego botin le chever

Iago lopez marra.

jonas warrer

Jakob precht jensen.

pim van vugt

Bart lambriex.

sime fantela

Mihovil fantela.

lukasz przybytek

Pawel kolodzinski.

benjamin bildstein

David hussl.

ibuki koizumi

Leo takahashi.

william phillips

Sam phillips.

robert dickson

Sean waddilove.

lucien cujean

Sebastien schneiter.

emile amoros

gabriel borges

Marco grael.

ganapathy kelapanda

Varun thakkar.

alex burger

Benjamin daniel.

evan depaul

William jones.

49er High Performance Skiff

49ER AT A GLANCE 

A TRUE HIGH-PERFORMANCE SKIFF

The 49er one-design skiff has transformed dinghy racing offering performance, excitement and spectacle together with the unmatched ferocity of competition only generated in Olympic fleets.

The hull designed by Julian Bethwaite is lightweight and offers minimal resistance with no noticeable speed hump, unlike other boats at the time. The most noticeable feature of the 49er skiff is the solid wings which make the boat easier to sail and generate massive righting moment. The 49er adopted a new sail plan and full carbon mast in 2008 which has enabled the boat to stay in line with modern developments in rig design.

Association Link 49er.org

49er Complete Ready to Sail

•  49er Hull package (G40021)
• Complete CST mast (Inc wires, halyards & trapeze system)
• North Main and Jib
• Pryde Spinnaker
• Launching trolley

Price: £30,250.00

            £25,208.33 (ex VAT)

49er Hull package – Ex Spars & Sails

• Fully fitted hull
• Spinnaker pole
• Spinnaker sock
• Boom with vang arms
• Rudder Stock
• Twin Carbon Kevlar Tiller Extensions
• Rig Bag inc Turnbuckles for both lowers and main shrouds and adjusters
• Control line blocks
• Boat Breaker

Price:  £20,450

             £17,041.67 (ex VAT)

49er Hull inc Wings

• Spinnaker Pole
• Spinnaker Sock

Excluding :

• Rudder stock

Price:  £17,995

             £14,995.83 (ex VAT)

49er Hull and deck only 

Price: £13,500

            £11,250.00 (ex VAT)

Ovington Dock Bag

Combi Foil Bag

49er Top cover – Wings stowed

49er Padded wing bag – each

Looking for something else, we sell parts & spares.

From sails to rigging, mast fittings and covers.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

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• Sailboat Guide

49ER is a 16 ′ 0 ″ / 4.9 m monohull sailboat designed by Bethwaite Design and built by Ovington Boats Ltd., MacKay Boats Ltd., LaserPerformance, and Nautivela starting in 1999.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Beam with wings removed: 5.58’. Olympic class since 2002.

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Meet the Sailing Team GB: Going for 2024 Olympic Gold

Exclusive Interview with 2024 Olympic Sailing Team GB: Georgie Corlett-Pitt meets team thats going for gold!

British sailors: the leading nation.

The 10 sailors so far selected to represent Great Britain at this summer’s Olympics were the first athletes of any sport to be announced by Team GB; filling the spots in seven of the ten Sailing classes. The S ailing Team GB is a mix of fresh talent and experienced Olympians. Tokyo 2020 Nacra 17 silver medallists John Gimson and Anna Burnet, and windsurfing bronze medallist Emma Wilson lead the charge, along with two-times Olympian 49erFX crew Saskia Tidey, hoping it’ll be third-time lucky with new helm Freya Black; the rest make their Olympic debuts. 

The ambition, according to Mark Robinson, RYA Performance Director, is to win three to five medals of any colour, and, above all, maintain Britain’s position – held for five of the last six Games – as top sailing nation. “That means more gold medals,” he says. “That will be our biggest challenge – can we be top nation? – particularly against the French who are throwing everything at it.” 

GB Vs France

Overcoming the home nation in Marseille will be no mean feat, given the French team’s head-start in the new board classes (several sailors were already semi-pro), the hefty funding injection they’ve received, and their exclusive access to a new state of the art facility within the Olympic Marina, out of bounds to foreign teams. 

Mark explains: “It’s always been a question of trajectory – can we catch the French for the gold medals prior to the Games? In last summer’s Test Event, France and Britain won five medals each – they took four gold, one silver; we took four silver, one bronze. It’s very similar to our position in the Tokyo Test Event; we had no gold medals in 2019 and then converted upwards to win three gold, one silver and one bronze at the Games. So all of our focus now is on converting the Test Event bronze and silvers into gold.” 

Of the sailors selected so far, Mark says all have shown medal potential based on results at key international events. “Selecting early sharpens the focus and allows us to focus resources on the one crew within each class,” he continues. 

The initial decision is made by the RYA’s Olympic Selection Committee – which includes multiple past Olympians – before being confirmed by the British Olympic Association.

For those already selected, the next few months are about carefully managing performance in order to peak at the Games in July. The challenge is both physical and mental. The board classes in particular have brought an increased physicality to the Games, adding a greater physiological dimension. There’s strong temptation to set goals around upcoming Worlds and Europeans – which Mark admits can help to boost confidence and focus, and aid equipment development – but it’s a careful balance of risk vs reward. “Ultimately,” he says, “it’s the Games that really matter”.  

James Peters, Sailing Team GB: 49er helm

Pathway: Optimist, RS Feva, 29er, RS200, 49er (training partner for 2016 Olympics)

Recent highlights: 2022 – European bronze, 2023 – Worlds 6 th

When did the Olympics become your goal?

In 2008, when I won the Youth Worlds and 29er Europeans – that gave me the belief.

What has got you this far?

My competitive instinct to beat my sister from a young age pushed me a long way!

What’s your super-power?

I love the downwind legs, especially when it’s gusty and patchy – I like to think I can find the wind before the competition. 

Other than 2024 selection, what has been your proudest moment? 

Winning the 49ers at the Princess Sofia Regatta with Fynn in 2017, finally, after so many memories of success and disappointments. 

What do you love most about your class?

The 49er requires both helm and crew to have superb feel for the boat. We often sail swapped over in training. You can see the best sailors in the class are nearly as good this way round. 

What will it take to win 49er gold?

Being a well-rounded sailor. Marseille could bring a strong Mistral wind, or a light steady onshore gradient – we must be ready for anything! 

Fynn Sterritt, Sailing Team GB: 49er crew

Pathway: Topper, 420, 49er 

Recent highlights: 2022 – European bronze, 2023 – Worlds 6th

From a very early stage of sailing Toppers in the Scottish Highlands, the Olympic dream had me hooked. 49ers were always the goal, so after a break from sailing for university, I moved to Portland to sail full-time.

What has got you this far? 

One of my very first coaches, when asked who he thought would go to the Olympics, pointed at me. This has stuck with me ever since – in many cases it’s the belief those around you instil in you which lays the foundations for success. My parents played a huge part in that too.

First thing you did when you found out you had been selected?

I rang James! We have been together as a team for so long, through so many ups and downs, it felt right to appreciate it together. 

Not letting my emotions get the better of me. It is also my kryptonite at times! Knowing when to lean into your emotions is super important, especially in a two-person boat. 

Biggest rivals?

There will be no previous 49er Olympic medallists in Marseille, which makes the field pretty open. However, the three-times world champions from the Netherlands will certainly go in as one of the favourites.

The 49er class used to be considered high speed, however the rapid development of foiling makes us look pretty slow at times these days! But no matter how good you think you are, the boat is always a handful in challenging conditions.

John Gimson, Sailing Team GB: Nacra 17 helm

Pathway: National 12, 29er, 420, 470, Tornado, various pro one-design keelboats, Star, America’s Cup AC45, Nacra 17 (silver, Tokyo Olympics)

Recent highlights: 2023 – Worlds silver, European gold, Test Event bronze

Perseverance, hard work – and Anna Burnet!  

This is your second Olympics. What’s different?   

During covid we had no access to the venue in 2020 or 2021; this time we are expecting to spend a lot more time in venue, and we have more regattas too.

What lessons will you be taking forwards?

In Tokyo we learnt to expect the unexpected, nothing ever quite goes exactly to plan so we need to be ready for anything.

What do you love most about the Nacra 17? 

This Olympic cycle the addition of the rudder delta system has enabled foiling upwind and unlocked more modes, it takes so much coordination between Anna and I to keep the boat on the polars. It is by far the hardest boat I have ever sailed in terms of sailing it well, so it is very easy to get it wrong, but so rewarding when you get the set-up, crew work, trimming and steering in harmony.  

What will it take to win at Paris 2024?

Hard work, doing the details well, following the plan. And as always in sailing, a little bit of luck!

Anna Burnet, Sailing Team GB: Nacra 17 crew

Pathway: Optimist, 420, 470, 49erFX, Nacra 17 (silver, Tokyo Olympics)

Perseverance, my parents’ support – and teaming up with John!

How has the experience differed this time around vs the run-up to Tokyo? 

We didn’t see our competitors much in the year before Tokyo due to Covid. Also, we haven’t had such tight British selection trials this time round so we’ve had a longer time to focus solely on the end goal.  

What lessons will you be taking forwards from Tokyo?

It’s hard to control the nerves on day one, but I’ll be expecting it this time round so hopefully it’ll be easier to come out firing. 

Biggest rivals? 

The Italians, and then about five other nations are very dangerous on a good week. 

What do you love most about your class? 

It’s incredibly hard to sail the Nacra well, so it’s hugely rewarding when you get it right.

Emma Wilson, Sailing Team GB: iQFOil windsurfer

Pathway: Techno 293, RS:X (bronze, Tokyo Olympics) 

Recent highlights: 2023 – Worlds bronze, Test Event silver

When I was younger, I played every sport going. Then I went to some international windsurfing competitions and just couldn’t stop thinking about trying to win Olympic gold.

Stubborn determination! If someone says I can’t do something, I want to do it even more. 

How has the experience differed this time around vs Tokyo?

I changed classes after Tokyo [the RS:X was replaced by the iQFOil], so at the start of this cycle I was on this whirlwind of trying to learn as much as I could in a rush. Now I’m selected, it’s quite nice to have the focus of Paris. I am definitely more of a favourite this time, which is a bit different too, as I don’t think anyone expected anything from me in Tokyo.

What did you learn from the last Games?

Enjoy the experience! It was the best two weeks of my life, so to get that opportunity again, I just really want to embrace it.

About 10 girls could win it; Israel, France, Spain, Norway, Holland are all pretty high contenders.

How fast it is and how it just keeps developing every day. A year ago, no-one could foil tack and now we are doing it in races, so I just love that side of it.

Being fast, smart and having a smile!

Freya Black, Sailing Team GB: 49erFX helm

Pathway: Optimist, RS Feva, 29ers, 470, 49erFX 

Recent highlights: 2023 – Worlds 5 th , Test Event 7th 

Never settling for anything but winning. I remember winning the 29er Ladies European title [2018] – I was so happy but annoyed that we hadn’t won the overall title too!

Proudest moment in sailing so far?

Our first 49erFX Worlds in Canada in 2022, where we finished ninth. It was a pretty hard summer trying to learn the boat and how we work together [the pair teamed up in late 2021], and it felt like everything came together and you could really see the potential in our team.

What did you do when you found out you had been selected?

It was a pretty surreal feeling, I didn’t quite know what to do with myself! I had a big grin on my face and went for a champagne dinner with my parents to celebrate.

What will it take to win gold?

Consistency. The team that is well-rounded and keeps the scores on the board low will come out on top.

Saskia Tidey, Sailing Team GB: 49er FX crew

Pathway: Laser Radial, 49er FX (12th at Rio Olympics sailing for IRL; switched to GBR for Tokyo where she finished 6th with Charlotte Dobson)

What’s your super-power? 

Performing under pressure, delivering what we practice no matter what curve balls get thrown at us. 

How has the experience differed from the last Games?

This cycle can only be described as a sprint! Tokyo was a marathon of five years in the making. Covid was a very tough time for everyone and certainly affected performance expectations all over the world. Paris will be Freya’s and my first Games together. We have had to put in some serious hours to slot into the top 10 in the world within 12 months of starting together. 

What lessons will you take forwards?

Tokyo was a wild venue for weather. A lot like Marseille, you can be given all conditions in one week of racing. There are no short cuts, so every skill needs refining. 

What’s next?

Our Worlds in March is key. For our team it has always been the goal to strike late. We need all the training and racing we can get to make mistakes and learn from them. 

The 49erFX fleet has a very tight top 10, with a lot of shuffling over the last 12 months. The more experienced teams have been relatively consistent, such as Sweden and the Netherlands, but no-one is unbeatable. 

Micky Beckett, Sailing Team GB: ILCA 7

Pathway: Learnt in a boat my dad built, Topper, Laser Radial (ILCA 6) until age 17, then ILCA 7

Recent highlights: 2021 – European gold, 2023 – Worlds silver, Test Event silver 

Realistically about five years ago, when I thought there was an outside chance I could qualify for the Tokyo Games. I didn’t win the trials [finished second], but the goal remained.

Proudest sailing moment to date?

Being ranked world number one earlier this year. I still remember getting my first world ranking over 10 years ago – I was outside the top 200.

I was sat in Amsterdam airport when I got the call. I was travelling alone, so there was nothing to really say to anyone… I just looked around and smiled, it’s a cool feeling.

Take your pick. The fleet at the moment has so many previous Olympic and World medallists in it, I wouldn’t recommend placing any big bets!

Best thing about your class?

It’s tough and there’s nowhere to hide. The boats are supplied at each major event, so if your technique, decisions, fitness or any other part of your game isn’t up to it the fleet will just spit you out in no time.

Good boat speed, consistent starts, staying calm.

Sam Sills, Sailing Team GB: Men’s iQFOiL

Pathway: Techno 293, RS:X for 2016 and 2020 cycles, then iQFOil (after a break to progress his a career as a naval architect)

Recent highlights: 2023 – Worlds 5th, Test Event 7 th   

How did you feel when you found out you had been selected?

It was a big relief, it’s pretty amazing. It was probably a 20 year journey to get there.

Not being afraid of commitment and sacrifice, even when it’s difficult – like missing Christmas with family three years in a row.

Proudest moment?

Qualifying the nation for Paris 2024 at the Olympic Test event, despite being in a road traffic accident two weeks before.

Ellie Aldridge, Sailing Team GB: Women’s Formula Kite

Pathway: Dinghies including 49erFX until 2018, then switched to kite-foiling

Recent highlights: 2023 – Worlds silver, European gold, Test Event silver 

I wouldn’t be going to the Olympics without the rest of the girls pushing me [Lily Young and Katie Dabson finished immediately behind her at the world championship qualifying event]. The key to our success has been our drive as a group. All of the girls started kite foiling at the same time, we all learned together and went through everything together. 

How did it feel to be selected?

Incredible! It has given me a lot of confidence.

Visit the official Team GB website for more info on the most successful team .

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Adrenaline pumping speed. The skiff that flies.

It's one of the most powerful experiences in high performance, double handed skiff sailing. Using a twin trapeze, self-tacking jib, asymmetric gennaker and solid wings, the Mackay built 49er reaches speeds of 25 knots. It's also the boat used by Olympic winning and World Champion teams.

Find out more in the Features section below

Specifications

No of crew:             2

Opt. crew weight:   145 – 165 kg’s

No. Trapeze:           Twin

Hull material:          GRP

Hull length:             4.995m

Beam length:          2.9m

Hull weight:            94kg

Mainsail area:         16.1m2

Headsail area:         5.1m2

Spinnaker area:       21.2 m2

The 49er is the men's Olympic Skiff Class.

49er Class association website  http://49er.org/

The 49er is 16ft long and made of fiberglass and carbon fibre for optimum strength and lightweight. Weighing 125 kgs when fully rigged, its optimal length to weight ratio and very fine hull lines, help produce excellent lift in waves and maneuverability.

 The Wings

The boat features distinctive wings 9ft wide to allow the crew to achieve maximum leverage and to support the rig. The wings are designed to blend into the hull and cockpit area which optimises aerodynamics and makes it easy to move around. The wings are fastened to the hull and can be easily detached. 

CST became the carbon fibre tube suppliers in 2021. All tubes are QA checked plus bend and weigh tested by CST to ensure consistency.

The mast is assembled by the class builders. All mast fittings are the same on the 49er and FX so spare parts can be used for either boat.

The spreaders are built from recycled carbon. The mast join system and spreader base was recently redesigned for added strength around the trapeze area.

The huge sail area for such a small boat means that the 49er can sail faster than the speed of the wind.

The Class is moving to a new range of sails in 2022. The main and jib sails will be built by North Sails using the 3Di technology which is a 3D full sized molding construction process that uses composite materials. The technology enables sails to be built to the desired shape and retain shape over time. This change to the “black sails” will improve the longevity and consistency while also decreasing the overall cost of sails.

The spinnaker has also undergone design changes and will be built by McDiarmid Sails.

The new sails are currently under development and due to be available in early 2022.

Congratulations to the 2023 49er/49erFX European Championship winners

Developing the 49er Class

49er Recent Successes

What is included in the full 49er package.

The boat package comes complete with all ropes and sheets from Robline, rudderstock, 2 x tiller extensions, gennaker pole, boom and turnbuckle set.

The Rig package comes complete with mast, wires, halyards, halyard adjusters, trapeze lines and trapeze adjusters.

***Boatbreaker and footstraps are not included and need to be ordered as extra items.

What can be customized on the 49er?

The concept of the 49er is that all boats are the same. We offer the option to upgrade to EVA foam for non-skid on the wings and also offer a service to custom pack and align the centrecase.

Where do I get class numbers and country flag for sails from?

Sail numbers and flag details can be found on the class website:  49er Class Association

Can I retrofit the 49er?

The class rules clearly state what can be added and changed on the boat as part of maintenance. Blocks and ropes can be replaced with similar products by other manufacturers. Please read the rules carefully and remember, you cannot change anything unless the rule specifically allow it.

How should the wings be safely transported?

Wings must be transported with the foam blocks under each wing to stop the underside denting on the wing plinths on the deck. Make sure they are tied down well so they don’t fly away!

Place padding under the ties in the non-skid areas to protect your non-skid and stop it wearing.

How to do a gelcoat repair?

Small gel coat repairs are relatively easy to do. 

What is Gelcoat made up of?

Gelcoat is a polyester product that is cured by using a catalyst called MEKP. (Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide)

MEKP is a dangerous substance and should be treated as such when using, being very careful not to get any on your skin or in your eyes.

How can I get the catalyst - MERK?

We cannot ship MEKP so you will always need to buy it separately from your local marine store or fibreglass manufacturer.

How much MERK do I need?

The amount of Catalyst varies depending on the conditions you are using it in, but around 2%-3% will always work.

It is best to use a small syringe or dropper to get the required catalyst rate.

If you have mixed 100gm of gelcoat, then you are aiming for 2ml of catalyst.

Generally, polyester doesn’t stick well to Epoxy, so if you are repairing an epoxy boat, then you should source a special epoxy compatible gelcoat.

What are the Gelcoat colours?

Gelcoats colours are not always a 100% perfect match.

Colour will vary depending on the depth of the repair and the batch.

49er, VX One & Zephyr are built from Epoxy resin.

For the epoxy boats we use a product made by Scot Bader.

Grey is Crystic 253 RAL= 7035

White is Crystic 253 PA   - White 337

Does Mackay Boats supply gelcoat?

We supply a small tin (of each relevant colour) with each new boat.

Order additional gelcoat from our store, although it cannot be shipped by courier.

How do I do gelcoat repairs?

Doing gelcoat repairs is an art that improves with experience.

Making sure the surface is prepared well and keyed up is critical.

Overfill and then sanding back is a slow and time-consuming process.

Be very careful not to scratch the boat around the repair.

You shouldn’t sand the original surface around the repair with any paper coarser than 600grit.

Mask around the repair to protect the boat.

You can initially use a file or 150g to take the high parts off the filling, but don't use the coarse paper for too long or you will end up with scratches in the finished repair.

Once you have it fair with 600g, you can work your way through the sandpaper grades until you finish with 1500grit before cutting and polishing.

We would typically use 600g, then 800g or 1000g, then 1200g, then finally 1500g.

49er Tuning Tips

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San Francisco 49ers | 10 takeaways from 49ers rookie minicamp:…

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San Francisco 49ers

San francisco 49ers | 10 takeaways from 49ers rookie minicamp: mustapha’s versatility, pearsall’s routes, the 49ers’ rookie draft class showed plenty of promise in this week’s minicamp, including safety malik mustpha and wide receiver ricky pearsall.

No hitting was allowed, so there’s only so much a player can do for a first impression.

Seeing Mustapha patrol the field and communicate loudly made imaginations run wild, such as: maybe this guy’s versatility and violence will pan out as advertised.

“With safeties today and defensive backs today, you have to be versatile, even linebackers. It’s such a fast game and offenses look to expose you,” defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen said Friday. “We like when guys have versatility. We also just loved his playing style.”

Mustapha is 5-foot-10, 209 pounds. He’s drawn high-end comparisons to safeties of similar stature, such as the Arizona Cardinals’ Budda Baker (5-10, 195), ex-49ers star Donte Whitner (5-10, 204) and ex-Colts mainstay Bob Sanders (5-8, 206).

“When I see the ball, I’m just going to go attack it and disrupt it any way I can,” Mustapha said. “It’s not about how tall and big I am, but about having the heart and desire. The fuel and love I have for this game drives me to be that way.”

At Wake Forest, Mustapha returned in 2022 from an anterior cruciate ligament tear and thrived as “The Panther” who roamed in a newly installed defensive package.

“There were a lot of hats I had to wear,” Mustapha recalled. “It was fire-zone (blitz) calls, to pressure the quarterback and use my athleticism to disrupt him, or to spy on the quarterback, as well.”

More simply, Mustapha proved adept at blending into the defensive front, or with linebackers, or as a third safety. That later role is most likely in the 49ers’ scheme, amid incumbent starters Talanoa Hufanga and Ji’Ayir Brown.

Mustapha spoke eloquently at 49ers’ rookie minicamp, just as he did at the NFL scouting combine to general manager John Lynch.

“He was lighting up when I was breaking down the Wake Forest play calls they had pulled up,” Mustapha said. “As a safety you have to know moving pieces, who’s doing what on defense. He saw I know what I’m talking about.”

Lynch, after the draft, said of Mustapha: “We talk a lot about running to the football and getting there with bad intentions and Malik kind of embodies that. One of our favorite interviews, one of my favorite interviews at the Combine. He really handles himself well, but on the field plays the right way.”

PEARSALL LOOKS THE PART

Ricky Pearsall fit the profile of a pro-ready receiver and potential punt returner. He broke open on a go-route, only to get slightly overthrown by undrafted rookie Tanner Mordecai. Later, when Pearsall came out of his break near the right sideline, tryout-QB Mitch Davidson’s pass already was sailing past him out of bounds – and Davidson promptly signaled to himself accepting blame.

Soon enough, Pearsall will be catching passes from Brock Purdy (and Josh Dobbs and Brandon Allen). The rest of the 49ers are in Phase 2 of their offseason program. Organized team activities begin May 20, then training camp about two months later. Then a plentiful career in the NFL.

GREEN INSIDE/OUT

Second-round pick Renardo Green will intensify the cornerback competition heading into this season. Initially, he’ll be trained on the inside to cover slot receivers, though he lined up at left cornerback in Friday’s early drills.

“We’ll start him out inside and see what he can do in there. If you can retain it, you want to learn it earlier,” Sorensen said. “We know what Demo (Lenoir) can do. Sammy Womack’s done a good job the last couple weeks, and so has Kemon Hall. (Green) will get some work outside, too.”

PUNI CAN PROTECT PURDY

Offensive lineman Dominick Puni, a third-round pick, has the strength and versatility to potentially play anywhere, though right guard might be his most immediate shot. Regardless of where he might be, he knows the assignment on who to protect. “I love Brock Purdy. The fact he was the last pick, that’s storybook,” Puni said. “When the other two quarterbacks went down, he came in the (2022) Miami game and won that game. I said, ‘Watch him, he’s going to cook.’ Then he started cooking.”

PUNT RETURN PROSPECTS

Pearsall and fourth-rounder Jacob Cowing fielded punts, and although Cowing muffed two early opportunities, he envisions big things for himself in that role. “It’s about getting better at that aspect of catching, getting comfortable, trying to get the ball down the field and trying to go score a touchdown,” Cowing said. “I heard it’s been over a decade it hasn’t been accomplished. That’s definitely one of my goals this year.” Indeed, the 49ers’ last touchdown on a punt return came in the 2011 opener by Ted Ginn Jr.

MOST GRACIOUS PLAYER

Linebacker Tatum Bethune, a seventh-round pick and the last member of the 49ers’ eight-man draft class, called the rookie minicamp “a life-changing experience. … This is something I always dreamed of, and now I just have to make the most of it. I feel if I go out there and be myself, once I do that, whatever results come with that, I’ll be satisfied I gave everything I have.”

BEST UNDRAFTED SIGNEE

Center Drake Nugent’s 6-foot-1, 298-pound frame and power will be worth watching in the upcoming months. The 49ers need a backup center to Jake Brendel, and Nugent is coming off a national championship with Michigan, after he transferred from Stanford. Honorable mention in this category: tight end Mason Pline.

BEST AUDITION

FAMILY TIES, PART I

It was a sentimental scene watching a wide receiver in an “Owens” jersy run routes on the practice field. Twenty years after Terrell Owens left the franchise, his son, Terique, wore No. 84. Wide receivers coach Leonard Hankerson tutored the younger Owens’ footwork on a three-cone drill, and such advice is what the undrafted rookie anticipates and needs.

FAMILY TIES, PART II

Puni takes great pride in the fact he didn’t allow a sack last season upon replacing his brother as Kansas’ left tackle. His pride in his entire family runs deep.

Said Puni: “They’re the reason I’m genetically the way I am, so I thank them for that. My dad playing football and him teaching me the game – my whole time growing up, until high school, he coached me. He really taught me hard work and how to do everything the right way; don’t take short cuts. My mom, she played sports, too, but outside of sports – I can’t cuss, can I? – she worked her butt off and had three jobs at one point. Just the fact she was able to do that for us, and for my dad to coach me growing up, our family aspect is a huge thing. It’s cool.”

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Ranking all 32 NFL schedule release videos: Eagles shine while Chargers impress again

On what is one of the most unique days on the league calendar, the NFL schedule release is the chance for social media staffs to flex their creative muscles.

Last year, the Los Angeles Chargers’ anime-inspired trailer and Tennessee Titans’ quizzing of Broadway passersby stole headlines.

Staffs didn’t disappoint this year on Wednesday. Philadelphia Eagles fans showed how unhinged they really are, the Dallas Cowboys were in a pranking mood, the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs both used hydraulic presses and the Chargers and Titans impressed again. There were plenty of other elaborate skits, celebrity cameos, funny references, friendly and not-so-friendly banter and more.

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It’s only right The Athletic ranks the best schedule releases once again , this time with the help of writers Joe Rexrode and Josh Kendall.

Which team took the No. 1 spot for 2024? Let’s get to the list.

1. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles punched all the right buttons — swatting at opponents throughout and acknowledging their own warts. Comparing the Commanders logo to a taco holder and two L’s was a nice touch, but the (possibly drunk?) Santa put this one over the top. Bonus points for presenting the schedule clearly and chronologically. — Kendall

Eagles fans: slightly unhinged @Ticketmaster | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/RxEDJ8xlQX — Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) May 16, 2024

2. Los Angeles Chargers

An absolute masterpiece. There are so many good jokes packed into three minutes, you need to watch this several times to absorb them all. And you’ll actually want to watch it several times! It’s like a Quentin Tarantino movie, but in “The Sims” animation. The quick work to insert Harrison Butker , homemaker? Brilliant. — Rexrode

should we REALLY make our schedule release video in the sims? yes          yes          yesyes yesyes    yes      yes         yes yes  yes  yes     yes           yes yes    yesyes     yes           yes yes      yesye      yes        yes yes          yes           yesyes pic.twitter.com/MXzfAPyhe8 — Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) May 16, 2024

3. Indianapolis Colts

These don’t all have to be snarky, right? The Colts lean into cute kids and good, wholesome fun when Shane Steichen and three players show up to help Mrs. Cook’s class solve the tough defense that is helping Mrs. Tamborini’s class dominate at recess. The glazed look when Steichen starts talking about reading the safety is precious. Anthony Richardson called out for copying? Good stuff. But where’s the payoff? Did they get their deep shot in on Suzy, the cornerback who squats on short routes? Wait until next year, I guess. — Rexrode

Drawn up to perfection. 🖍️ 📺 2024 Schedule Release on NFLN pic.twitter.com/iajAkYCJCZ — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) May 16, 2024

4. Tennessee Titans

Last year’s undisputed champ, with folks on Nashville’s Broadway incorrectly identifying team logos in comical ways, goes back to the well with one of those folks as this year’s interviewer. It’s not a great sequel, it’s not “Godfather II.” But it’s not “Caddyshack II,” either. It’s good, especially the continued confusion over the Jaguars logo. Let’s call it “Shrek 2.” — Rexrode

Back on Broadway with some help from a friend 🤣 2024 Titans Schedule Release presented by @shift4 📺: 2024 NFL Schedule release on @nflnetwork & ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/n4EN6DmC6t — Tennessee Titans (@Titans) May 16, 2024

5. New England Patriots

You’re forgiven if you’ve got Gronk/Julian Edelman fatigue at this point, but they’ve cleaned up the language from the Tom Brady roast and — surprise! — they’re actually funnier this way. Movie parodies can fall flat, but this take on “Good Will Hunting” induces some chuckles. Also, Gronk may actually be a better actor than Ben Affleck. — Rexrode

Do you like schedules? pic.twitter.com/xxNTeCxFvv — New England Patriots (@Patriots) May 16, 2024

6. Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta took it to the streets in a couple of senses. The Falcons modeled their video after the early 2000s video game NFL Street and also went bare knuckles with a few jabs. Top shots ranked: 1. The David Tepper water cup. 2. The Aints/ Kirk Cousins “You Like Dat” sign. 3. Suggesting Deion Sanders is the best football coach in the state of Colorado. (Hello, old friend Sean Payton.) — Kendall

ATL Streets Vol. ’24 @NFL Schedule Release @NFLNetwork | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/Co46Sbhec8 — Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) May 16, 2024

7. Chicago Bears

The new-look Bears got Jake Johnson to narrate a Chicago-centric storyline, and Chicago got lots of player participation. If there is a quibble, it was a bit TLDR. Caleb Williams stepping off the school bus at the end saved it, though. — Kendall

The season moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. pic.twitter.com/MpXMPEcTD6 — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 16, 2024

8. Pittsburgh Steelers

This was a great idea, conveying each opponent in the form of a Dad joke and trying to get stone-faced, intimidating James “Deebo” Harrison to laugh. Simple, creative and funny. Also, it turns out to be a PR master class — Russell Wilson actually comes off as likable! — Rexrode

No joke. Our 2024 schedule is here. @laurelhighlands | @jharrison9292 | 📺: Schedule release coverage on NFLN pic.twitter.com/okiDg2L4XR — Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 16, 2024

9. Detroit Lions

This was good but just missed something special. Sort of like the Lions’ 2023 season, if we’re being honest. Detroit gets points for understanding that just putting likable people on the camera is half the battle. It loses points for not making a fourth-down joke. It was right there, guys. — Kendall

We hired a couple Detroiters to help us unveil this year’s schedule @ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/5DpHhcqp7X — Detroit Lions (@Lions) May 16, 2024

10. Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen may have a future in acting. Perhaps he’s getting some help from girlfriend Hailee Steinfeld, but whatever it is, he’s got some nice subtle moments of humor in this take on Chris Pratt’s character in the vastly underrated show “Parks and Recreation.” For those who don’t know that show, this might just seem weird. — Rexrode

It’s a simple life for @JoshAllenQB across the street. @Ticketmaster | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/PEgQEzzOL3 — Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) May 16, 2024

11. Dallas Cowboys

An original idea that just didn’t quite hit. Cowboys legends prank-called people affiliated with their opponents. Some were funny, some were confused and some just sort of sat there. National championship basketball coach and devoted Philly fan Dawn Staley’s “Yuck” was the highlight of this one. — Kendall

🎶 The Cowboys called, seen you on Facetime 🎶 We prank called our opponents' fans for our 2024 schedule release 📲 Get @SeatGeek 🎟️s now: https://t.co/BAuSp2okCF pic.twitter.com/ZhSvFVXp39 — Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) May 16, 2024

12. Cleveland Browns

Here’s another nod to another great ’90s movie, “The Big Lebowski” — Gen X, this is your year for NFL schedule releases! — though it’s not as faithful to the original as the Pats were to “Good Will Hunting.” Still, you’ve got to like “The Big Stefanski” poster and the Terrible Towels used to clean bowling balls. All capped with an amusingly awkward cameo from bowling legend Pete Weber. — Rexrode

hate us or love us, you'll watch 🎳 2024 schedule release. pic.twitter.com/TN3mCo5LGr — Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 16, 2024

13. Baltimore Ravens

Comedian Stavros Halkias has some funny moments in this coast-to-coast adventure, and some that may be a bit graphic for young viewers — do we really need the back tattoo shot or the excessive talking with food in the mouth? Still, “Rock You Like a Hurricane” slaps. And we learn that John Harbaugh is better and less awkward than Jim Harbaugh as an actor. As in most things. — Rexrode

There was only one man Harbs trusted for the job… @stavvybaby @SeatGeek | 📺: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/3a9OfunYK0 — Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 16, 2024

14. Minnesota Vikings

Short and sweet at 1:41, but the Steve Job-sy iPhone reveal copycat is a little played out. The Vikings do get credit for presenting the schedule in a readable and understandable form. — Kendall

The next generation of #Vikings schedules is here! https://t.co/UeiFxRs60a pic.twitter.com/RTpkaEmlLF — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 16, 2024

15. Washington Commanders

Why is the Cake or Not Cake thing so fascinating? It feels like they left a cupcake joke on the table somewhere, but the premise still worked. The cat joke worked, but let’s call it a day on the Will Levis -mayo jokes, huh? A nice tight 2:22 was a bonus. — Kendall

Whipped up something sweet for schedule release 🎂 🎟️ https://t.co/1MtIrnqvuP | @SeatGeek | 📺 @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/KaDZZkSeBz — Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 16, 2024

16. Miami Dolphins

Work smarter, not harder. Amid productions of more than 5 minutes that were 3 minutes too long, the brevity here is refreshing . — Rexrode

17. Green Bay Packers

So much of these videos is about the target audience. The television being moved into the room on a pushcart and the actual VCR cassette really speaks to the (upper) middle-age NFL fans out there. The Packers get points for keeping that theme throughout with a lot of things old(er) folks could recognize. Also, “I believed in Jordan Love the whole time” is a good line. — Kendall

18. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals went the Colts route , getting the kids involved, but did we need to shrink one and kick him through a goal post? Did we need to hit one in the face with a guitar and one with a metal bar? Also, do kids actually spell this poorly? Egals? Raydurs? “No kids were harmed in the making of this schedule release,” said the disclaimer at the end, which is true if we’re not trying to teach them to be funny. — Rexrode

NFL's best and worst prime-time matchups, top revenge games and more from 2024 schedule

19. Carolina Panthers

This one could have been just rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette monologuing the phone book, but it was a clear and funny theme and the players genuinely seemed to get a kick out of it, which is a big plus. — Kendall

20. New York Jets

This is one of those videos that seemed to have great potential. The talent was there, the guys from AreYouKiddingTV setting up a park scenario to get passersby in hilarious situations. And then it just kind of fell flat. It just sort of happened. Not unlike the Jets’ 2023 season. — Rexrode

21. Houston Texans

You’ve got to feel for the social media teams of the Texans and Chiefs when they found out they weren’t the only ones using a hydraulic press to smash things that represent the opponents on the schedule. The Texans get the nod because they switched to a bulldozer to destroy a table representing Bills Mafia. That’s much better than Kansas City’s gross chicken wings annihilation. — Rexrode

22. Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks get most of their credit for a lot of cool art they released in conjunction with the video , but the release itself was pretty standard. Devon Witherspoon has some potential in front of the camera but needs some seasoning. — Kendall

23. New Orleans Saints

How did we get only one real AI reference ? You would have made a lot betting the under on that. This one, though, would have been better if they actually had let the computer do all the work. — Kendall

24. Los Angeles Rams

The graphics department put in a lot of work on this one and the final product looked cool, but the zero participation from anyone in the organization suggests all the Rams were still in the draft house sleeping off draft season. — Kendall

25. Denver Broncos

The concept is fun: Formula One star Lewis Hamilton trying various foods that represent Broncos opponents and reacting to them. But an English guy grossed out by gumbo and peach cobbler? And calling grits “prison food” and “dog puke”? You people eat baked beans with breakfast! You have a dish called “bangers and mash!” Join us now, lovers of Southern food: “U-S-A! U-S-A!” — Rexrode

26. San Francisco 49ers

Rita Oak’s drawings are always a nice touch. But what happened here? Did they just want to ride on Nick Bosa ’s boat?  — Kendall

27. Jacksonville Jaguars

Some cool animation and graphics here , but it’s time the Jags’ social media team started noticing how often the Jags are the butt of jokes — the Titans’ social media team is making a living off you — and responded. The high road has its limitations. Let’s put some snark into this next year, eh? — Rexrode

28. Kansas City Chiefs

Was anyone else bothered by the mangling of the cute little pony figurine representing the Denver Broncos? Also, please tell me that was a pile of Tootsie Rolls representing the Cleveland Browns. — Rexrode

29. New York Giants

The gag, apparently, was that the Giants were making fun of the whole concept and just didn’t even try to make a schedule video. The end result was about as successful as those uniforms they unveiled online Thursday . — Kendall

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Did the Bucs read the assignment? We’re here to make fun of other people and have cool graphics. Tampa Bay put together a really pretty 5:28 video that highlighted some really talented local artists. It would have done well at the Greater Tampa Short Film awards, but it missed this target. — Kendall

NFL schedule 2024 winners and losers: Caleb Williams has chance to thrive; Jets face treacherous slate

31. Las Vegas Raiders

Hey. Raiders? We don’t need dramatic hype videos . “No gimmicks” is what you tweeted with this thing, but it’s not gimmicky to be creative. You’ve got one playoff appearance in the past six seasons. Maybe try something different. Like having some fun. — Rexrode

32. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals fall in the same category as the Bucs , but they didn’t do it as well. This one wouldn’t have played at the Greater Phoenix Short Film festival. — Kendall

(Illustration: Sean Reilly / The Athletic ; Photos: Skip Bolen / Getty Images for PBA; Cooper Neill / Getty Images; Lionel Hahn / Getty Images for Stagwell)

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