NAPLES SET TO CONTINUE THE YOUTH AMERICA’S CUP – A COMPETITION WHERE THE FUTURE STARS OF THE AMERICA’S CUP EMERGE

A look back on the UniCredit Youth America's Cup in Barcelona in 2024.

The first event in San Francisco in 2013, the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup, saw Peter Burling, Blair Tuke, Andy Maloney, and Sam Meech all come through before beating a path to the senior team of Emirates Team New Zealand and multiple Cup successes. In 2017, on the crystal waters of Bermuda, it was the turn of the British with their GBR Land Rover BAR Academy team who aced the regatta with many of the crew, like Neil Hunter, making the transition to the senior America’s Cup team.

Members of NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ and Full Metal Jacket Racing of New Zealand celebrate with ROFF/Cascais Sailing Team of Portugal during the award ceremony of the Red Bull Youth America's Cup in San Francisco, California on September 4, 2013. Photo: © Balazs Gardi.

Sadly, due to COVID restrictions, the Youth America’s Cup was not run in 2021 in Auckland but come 2024 in Barcelona, and the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup didn’t disappoint. Talent was spread throughout the six America’s Cup representative teams, whilst the Invited Teams from around the world came well prepared and eager to impress.

The twelve skippers of the UniCredit Youth America's Cup in Barcelona, 2024. Photo: © Ian Roman / America's Cup.

The ultimate goal was not only the wonderful bowline-knot inspired UniCredit Youth America’s Cup Trophy but a marker of intent on a pathway to the pinnacle of the sailing world. Across both fleets, the next generation of world-class sailors were on display with the likes of Nick Robins from Athena Pathway (Great Britain), Cole Tapper, the match racing expert leading Team Andoo Australia, Oscar Engström, the fast-driving helmsman of the Swedish Challenge powered by Artemis and Enzo Balanger, the foiling genius in the International Moth class representing the French Orient Express Racing Team.

LEFT: Team Andoo Australia sailing in Barcelona during the UniCredit Youth America's Cup in 2024. Photo: © Ian Roman / America's Cup.   |   RIGHT: Enzo Balanger during the dock-out. Photo: © Beatrice Colombo / America's Cup.

However, two names stood out from the rest with many predicting a multi-year ongoing battle for supremacy in the America’s Cup, with foiling superstar Harry Melges representing the NYYC American Magic team and Marco Gradoni, the only man to win three Optimist World Championship titles and former World Sailor of the Year, skippering the youth team of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. In fact, it was these two that dominated the regatta from the outset showing outstanding co-ordination, foiling ability and team-work aligned with match-racing ability of the highest order.

Harry Melges (left) and Marco Gradoni (right) at the Mixed Media Zone after racing in the UniCredit Youth America's Cup. Photo: © Ricardo Pinto / America's Cup.

With the Italian and American teams securing their place in the winner-takes-all, one-on-one Final set between the opening two races of the Louis Vuitton Cup Final, attention was drawn to the other members of each team. For Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, the speed-merchants who demonstrated unbelievably consistent results and comebacks from impossible situations, Gradoni was joined by the helming brilliance of Gianluigi ‘Gigi’ Ugolini, and the trim talent of Rocco Falcone and Federico Colaninno. Melges meanwhile, for NYYC American Magic, had the fast-driving Kyle Navin in the port pod and the emerging talents of Severin Gramm and Finn Rowe on trim.

LEFT: The NYYC American Magic Youth them getting race-ready. Photo: © Beatrice Colombo / America's Cup.   |   RIGHT: The AC40s showed their potential during exciting fleet and match races. Photo: © Ian Roman / America's Cup.

It was do-or-die stuff, but the Final held in 18 knots of breeze and big seas off the beach in Barcelona was marred by an uncharacteristic error from Melges on the start line. Entering too early at the port end of the line, the umpires penalised NYYC American Magic with a 75 metre ‘get behind’ penalty and despite starting well, after the first tack the team were forced to give away the leverage to the Italians. The distance of 75 metres quickly became 100 metres as Luna Rossa covered tenaciously over by the right boundary and then offered no passing lanes over the next six legs.

Relive the Final match-race for the title of the 2024 UniCredit Youth America's Cup winner during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona.

Sailing intelligently, Luna Rossa made no mistakes, rounding the leeward gates with two-boards down in 20 knot gust and bearing away steadily at the top gates at speeds in excess of 46 knots. It was a masterclass of front-running and the clipped, concise communications onboard the Italian boat were worthy of the very best in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup.

For the NYYC America’s Cup Youth Team their dream was extinguished, and the sailors were left ruing the starting error plus some minor splashdowns that eventually resulted in a 36 second deficit to the Italian team. The talented young American sailors were magnanimous in defeat, taking it as a lesson and moving on, but disappointment was etched on their faces. So near, yet so far.

Wild scenes of celebration were seen onboard Luna Rossa after the race, as the tight-knit team who were the model of focus and quiet determination throughout the event, let off steam, spraying the Juvé & Camps cava with abandon.

Excellence in every move: The Youth team of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli formed a remarkable group of young talent that was put on display during the regatta. Photos: © Ian Roman / America's Cup (left) & © Ricardo Pinto / America's Cup (right).

A delighted Marco Gradoni, the figurehead not only of the Youth team but of Italian youth sailing spoke onboard saying: “This moment is important because we worked a lot for this and now we have achieved our goal. I really want to thank everyone, the coach, the shore team, the tech team, everyone really because it was super hard to get here at this level. But we did it and it’s an amazing feeling.”

Patrizio Bertelli, President of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, declared: “A perfect race and perfect execution. Well done, boys, congratulations to you all. Your victory shows that the New Generation program we launched at the start of the last America’s Cup campaign has paid off. I’m very proud. Now let’s move forward.”

The Italian Youth team of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli stormed to an outstanding victory in the UniCredit Youth America's Cup. Photo: © Ian Roman / America's Cup.

The team received the fabulous UniCredit Youth America’s Cup trophy in front of a packed-out Race Village downtown in Barcelona and, in claiming the title, left little doubt as to their pedigree and potential.

For Italian sailing it was the perfect crescendo that reflected the growing and emerging talent coming out of Italy across the sailing world. Now all attention is drawn to Naples and the fourth running of the Youth America’s Cup that will again feature teams from the senior America’s Cup syndicates as well as invited teams from yacht clubs around the world, all competing in the foiling AC40 yachts with an eye on future America’s Cup glory.

Exciting fleet racing left a memorable impression on fans and all participating teams. Photo: © Ian Roman / America's Cup.

It’s an exciting time for youth sailors to come together as a crew, train hard and prove themselves out on the Bay of Naples in the summer of 2027 and with further opportunity presenting itself in the planned Preliminary Regattas, where the AC teams can potentially run two AC40 yachts and have the option of one crewed by both Youth and Women sailors, the pathway to the top has never been stronger than in the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup.

Naples. Be there.

by Magnus Wheatley 

The Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup, Naples 2027

For the first time ever the Louis Vuitton Cup and Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Match will be sailed in Italy, a country with one of the most colourful and enthusiastic America’s Cup histories.

In 2027, the world will look to Italy and specifically to Naples, the capital of the Campania region in Italy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most ancient cities in Europe, as it becomes the Host City for the world’s oldest international sports trophy.

The fight for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup will take place under the watchful shadow of Mt Vesuvius and just off the waterfront of the vibrant city. With a proud heritage and rich history, Italy and Naples offer the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup an unparalleled experience that one way or another is certain to add to the myth, obsession, rivalry and innovation of the America’s Cup.

All eyes will be back on the beautiful city of Naples as they will host the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup and welcome the world. Photo: © Stefano Albamonte / Comune di Napoli / America’s Cup