UNICREDIT YOUTH AMERICA’S CUP UPDATE
The build-up to the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup is really starting to gather pace and the word back from the teams is that on a daily basis there are informal digital match ups occurring – most noticeably between the Australians, Kiwis, Dutch and Canadian teams. They are keeping tight-lipped on the league tables but it’s tight for sure, just look at the results of the recent ACE organised virtual session that was played at the beginning of June.
Emirates Team New Zealand:
Definitely the highest profile as the Kiwis have allowed recon to follow their progress, the Emirates Team New Zealand Youth team has been receiving gold-dust on-water tuition from the senior team with Peter Burling, Sam Meech, Josh Junior, Marcus Hansen and Ray Davies all seen on the water both in the chase boats and the AC40s accelerating their progress.
Line-ups or just watching the full AC team in training has been invaluable and we’ve seen Leo Takahashi, Oscar Gunn and Sam Menzies taking their training up a level throughout May. The team will split soon with Josh Armit, Veerle ten Have and Oscar Gunn all travelling to Marseille to represent New Zealand at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Athena Pathway (GBR):
The British UniCredit Youth America’s Cup team have not only been lighting up Barcelona on a daily basis but they have kept their fans in the loop throughout May with outstanding social media and website posts. The team are now based at the shared facility in Badalona and have put in a big May with tons of time on the water.
Olympic Bronze medallist and International Moth ace Chris Draper has been leading the coaching on the water and getting outstanding results. Matt Beck and Freya Black, both members of the Athena Pathway Youth team will be travelling to Marseille to represent Britain at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games A number of the squad will compete at the Paris Olympic Games and then return (hopefully with medals) but the grind goes on. New sponsor SunGod, announced in May, is providing some eye-catching eyewear whilst the support of Cobham Ultra has really kick-started this exciting pathway team.
Alinghi Red Bull Racing:
The Swiss team announced in May the innovative ‘Alinghi Red Bull Racing Shore & Tech Pathway’ that has given a number of young sailors who attended and interviewed at their Youth & Women’s summer selection trials last year, a fantastic taste of life in the heart of an America’s Cup team.
The internship programme sees the lucky candidates Alex de Weck (data analysis), Morgan Lauber (boat builder), Matthieu Sistek (designer), Jann Schüpbach (electronics) shadowing key roles within the team and is a great initiative to encourage the next generation through. In terms of sailing, the Swiss updated that the Alinghi Red Bull Racing Youth team members were onsite at the end of May for a joint sailing camp in the team’s two equalised AC40s that have arrived back from their Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, winter base.
NYYC American Magic:
NYYC American Magic's women and youth sailors have been busy preparing for the upcoming 2-month summer training block on the team's AC40. The sailors are now beginning to arrive in Barcelona and move into their apartments around the city and the team are completing the final preparations at the new training base in Badalona, where they will be sharing a shed with the Athena Pathway Project and the Artemis Swedish Challenge Women and Youth teams. NYYC American Magic's youth sailors have been busy supporting the first few weeks of sailing with the team's new AC75, and all of the members of the women's team had the opportunity to spend a few days in the AC40 simulator together this month. It was a first to have all of the women on site at the same time, and they were able to complete a first round of safety training in preparation for sailing next month as well. Everyone is excited to translate time in the simulator to time on the water and make the most of AC40 training days before the Youth America's Cup kicks off in September.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli:
As the senior team called time on their AC75 training in Cagliari, and the boat began to be packed up for transportation to Barcelona, Luna Rossa’s shore team switched into gear and gave the Youth team a week of training on the team’s one AC40. Led by Marco Gradoni, who has been switching into a helming role on the AC75 alongside his commitment to the Youth team the Italians are expected to field first-class teams in both events. No direct update from the team but plenty happening with the Italians.
Orient Express Racing Team:
Orient Express Racing Team issued an update at the time of their AC75 reveal that the Youth team returned to Barcelona for a fresh round of training on the AC40 in May. During their last AC40 session the Youth team took a few tumbles but were all smiles and adrenalin after a day of 40 knot boatspeed! They are securing as much racing time together as possible, posting a 2nd place overall at the Youth Foiling Gold Cup at Lake Garda in their foiling 69F. Enzo Balanger, skipper of the Orient Express Racing Youth Team, was on the podium at the launch of the AC75 with team skipper Quentin Delapierre.
SailTeam BCN:
Having announced their sailing team for both Youth & Women in April, the Spanish team have been getting as much time on the water as possible in May and even had the use of an AC40 for a while from one of the main America’s Cup teams who shall remain nameless, but the team were immensely grateful. Plenty of simulator time for the sailors has ensued but no formal update on progress from the team in May.
Concord Pacific Racing (Canada):
The big news on the 23rd May was the announcement of the Concord Pacific 2024 Team Canada Youth team: Concord Green Energy, along with lead sponsors RBC and TELUS, has unveiled the Concord Pacific Racing squad for Canada’s first-ever campaign for the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup and supported by official sponsor Dilawri Group and the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, the Concord Pacific Racing squad features top talent from across Canada, with a dynamic blend of seasoned veterans and emerging stars, including decorated Olympians and SailGP athletes.
The Concord Pacific Racing Youth team is:
- Andrew Wood (Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, Captain)
- Andre Van Dam (Royal Vancouver Yacht Club)
- Jack Gogan (Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron / Northern Yacht Club)
- Galen Richardson (Royal Canadian Yacht Club)
- Georgia Lewin-LaFrance (Chester Yacht Club / Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron)
JAJO DutchSail Team:
In late May, JAJO DutchSail Team confirmed their selections for the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup with Bart Lambrieux leading the sailing team, joined by Paul Hameeteman, Eliott Savelon, Aleksandr Moliakov, Bjarne Bouwer and Wiebrand de Vos who have all been hard at work on the team’s simulator. The team released an update video on YouTube, and with Bart, Bjarne and Eliott all going to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the focus will be on increased simulator time before getting on the water in the late summer in the AC40 for real. Cas van Dongen is the Youth coach for JAJO DutchSail Team.
Team Germany:
The great news coming out of the German America’s Cup team is the news that the Youth & Women’s teams have received vital sponsorship from HypoVereinsbank who will add sponsorship of the German Foiling Academy to UniCredit's overall sponsorship of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup. The Foiling Academy supports the German Youth and Women's Team. The further news is the stated ambition for Germany to compete at the 38th America’s Cup with a full team in the AC75 - German sailors are back at the apex of the sport.
Swedish Challenge powered by Artemis Technology:
Having completed their final training on the team’s dedicated AC40 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the Swedish Challenge are now en route to the shared facility (with Athena Pathway and NYYC American Magic) at Badalona just along the coast from Barcelona. The final selections have been made for both the Youth & Women’s teams and they are eyeing the beginning of June to start an intensive period of at-venue training. This is looking like a very impressive campaign being formed and the Swedish are many people’s picks to do very well in both competitions.
Team Australia Challenge:
Having confirmed their full teams at the end of April, Team Australia have been hard at work on their simulator, busy challenging the likes of Emirates Team New Zealand, Concord Pacific Racing and JAJO DutchSail to daily virtual sessions. No immediate update from the team with regards plans but a number of team members will be heading to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the team will re-group thereafter.
