The Red Bull Youth America’s Cup has been designed as a vehicle for youth sailors to gain the experience necessary to join an America’s Cup syndicate. Previously, such opportunities didn’t exist. Ten teams are entered in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup Final, scheduled Sept. 1-4, and will race the AC45 wing sail catamarans that are featured on the America’s Cup World Series. The teams must be comprised of nationals aged 19-24.
Earlier this week USA45 Racing held a fundraiser at San Diego Yacht Club, which included ORACLE TEAM USA skipper Jimmy Spithill as a special guest.
“It’s opening a lot of new doors to professional sailing,” said Jake Reynolds of USA45 Racing from San Diego. “I think the RBYAC will be one wild event.”
USA45 Racing and the second US team, American Youth Sailing Force, are both in San Francisco this weekend for training aboard ORACLE TEAM USA’s two AC45s and the watchful eye of coach Darren Bundock.
In addition to the time on the AC45, American Youth Sailing Force practices three days a week on an SL33, essentially a scaled down version of the AC45 that Emirates Team New Zealand has practiced aboard.
“This really helps round out our team’s training regimen,” said sailing team manager Ian Andrewes. “As much as we are a part of ORACLE Team USA, we are also our own team and having access to the SL33 allows us to work and train on our own terms.”
On March 23 Objective Australia will officially launch its campaign with a celebration at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in New South Wales, Australia.
“Objective Australia’s selection as the National team for Youth America’s Cup confirms that Australia has some of the most talented young sailing athletes in the world. We are thrilled to be able to provide them with the opportunity to pursue their dreams and compete for the inaugural Red Bull Youth America’s Cup,” said Tony Walls, Team Principal, Objective Australia.
Other teams, such as France’s Energy Youth Team, has been hard at work for more than two and a half years organizing and raising money for the event.
“Everything started mid-September 2010,” said Vincent Gueho, CEO and Founder of the French team. “We were the first team working on the Youth America’s Cup project and we’re now very proud to represent France next September for what is going to be sailing’s premier racing event for youth sailors.”
Also in Europe, Team Tilt from Switzerland has recapped its victory in the second selection series with a dramatic video published today.
“What we can improve, working with the team during maneuvers training on the boat, but also on shore, is the process of knowing each other,” said Matt Cooper, Team Tilt’s positioning development coordinator. “The better we know each other in a team, the easier it becomes to help one another.”
The New Zealand crew has been getting valuable training from its association with Emirates Team New Zealand.
“I’m really confident that we have a great group of guys together,” said skipper Peter Burling, the 49er Olympic silver medalist who skippered Team Korea in the second San Francisco America’s Cup World Series regatta last October.
“We’ve had great input from some of the Emirates Team New Zealand guys including Joey Allen and Glen Ashby, which has been awesome. Plus we’ve had the bonus of some training time on an ETNZ AC45 already, which is invaluable,” Burling said.
The teams all feel a sense of urgency. Practice racing is scheduled Aug. 22-31, one week ahead of the big show.
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