The world’s top female sailors are set to compete in the Puig Women’s America’s Cup
by Emirates Team New Zealand, Oct 3, 09:30 PDT
Preparations for the Puig Women’s America’s Cup – October 1, 2024 © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com
One of the most awaited events of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup is undoubtedly the Puig Women’s America’s Cup, which kicks off on Saturday, October 5.
This will mark the first dedicated women’s America’s Cup event in the 173-year history of the competition, creating opportunities for some of the finest female sailors worldwide, 17 of whom are Olympic medalists, including three from New Zealand.
Representing Emirates Team New Zealand are Liv Mackay and Jo Aleh at the helms, with Mollie Meech and Gemma Jones trimming the AC40, while Erica Dawson serves as backup.
As the Port Olímpic venue is alive with the presence of the best female sailors globally, the New Zealand team understands the level of skill within their competition, yet they are eager to start racing after a lengthy buildup.
“It’s going to be incredible on Saturday with six boats at the start line. It’s a monumental moment,” stated Liv Mackay.
“We’ve all trained hard and invested a lot into this. We must maintain a mindset of learning while being aggressive because we feel we are gaining a lot from every sailing experience. At the same time, we are very competitive.”
Mollie Meech, the trimmer, mentions that the team has concentrated on its own preparations, and it is just now becoming apparent how high the racing standard will be against some known competitors.
“I didn’t fully realize it until our recent briefing, recognizing how many of our competitors we actually know and have raced against in various Olympic classes before,” Meech said.
“It feels significant not only to compete against the world’s top female sailors but also to have my team here. It’s special to be embarking on this campaign and this regatta together to see what we can achieve.”
In the last few days, the Puig Women’s America’s Cup teams have been practicing on AC40s after dedicating hundreds of hours to fine-tuning their race tactics and skills using simulators, which have already proven to be thrilling and competitive as anticipated.
“The practice racing has been fantastic. It’s challenging, but I adore the AC40; it’s been my favorite boat ever,” remarked Jo Aleh.
“The speed is remarkable, and it’s straightforward to transition from the simulator to sailing the AC40. However, the race will be intriguing since we haven’t had enough time to really become accustomed to the boat.”
“Teamwork is crucial; we need to work cohesively. A significant part of our training focuses on ensuring we gel as a unit.”
Throughout the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup racing, it’s been apparent that teams engaged in continuous development and learning tend to excel at the end of a race series, exactly what is necessary to advance through the top 6 teams initially.
“I’m thrilled to get out there and compete against the other six AC teams initially,” said Molly Meech.
“It’s about minimizing mistakes while advancing and improving as a team throughout this regatta and learning rapidly.”
Regardless of the water outcomes, the inaugural America’s Cup event dedicated to highlighting the finest female sailors in the world is poised to be a global highlight for sailing fans and participants. Liv Mackay explains: “There’s definitely a sense of unity here. Everyone wants to demonstrate how extraordinary women can be at the top level of sailing through the Puig Women’s America’s Cup. If we are honest and fiercely competitive, we also aim to present the best of our team.”
The racing for the Puig Women’s America’s Cup begins on Saturday, October 5, and will be streamed live in New Zealand via Stuff, Three, ThreeNow, the America’s Cup Website, and YouTube.
