The Next Generation Prepares to Shine at the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup
by America’s Cup media 16 Sep 05:19 PDT
17-26 September 2024
UniCredit Youth America’s Cup Press Conference © America’s Cup
UniCredit Youth America’s Cup Press Conference © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com
During an early-morning photo opportunity at the Hivernacle del Parc de la Ciutadella, the upcoming generation of sailing stars was introduced at a press conference ahead of tomorrow’s start of the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup, the premier showcase and gateway to professional sailing. Now in its third edition, this competition has established a route to senior America’s Cup teams, with many current stars having previously participated in the Youth America’s Cup.
Just 11 years ago, in 2013, Peter Burling, Blair Tuke, and Andy Maloney, who are now vital crew members of the Defenders of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand, clinched victory in the event and serve as prime examples of the opportunities this competition provides. In Barcelona, twelve teams will compete for the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup, needing to excel in both fleet racing and match racing to achieve success.
The format involves splitting the twelve teams into two groups of six for an initial fleet race series. Sailors from the official America’s Cup teams will compete in one group, while invited teams from Australia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden will race in another fleet.
After eight races, the top three teams from each group will compete in four additional fleet races to determine the top two crews. Following that, a single race will decide the winner in a high-stakes showdown under the global media spotlight on Thursday, September 26. This final event will occur between races on the opening day of the Louis Vuitton Cup Final, creating an excellent platform for the world’s best emerging sailors.
At today’s press conference, there was a palpable sense of nervousness, yet all twelve sailors delivered impressive performances, many facing the media in this capacity for the first time. Enthusiasm thrived under the lights, with none appearing intimidated by the attention.
Among the favorites for overall victory is the Italian Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team, helmed by Marco Gradoni, who served as the port helm for the senior team during the second Preliminary Regatta in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where they finished as runners-up to Emirates Team New Zealand after an exhilarating final race. Gradoni shared his thoughts on the experience:
“Being in Jeddah with the Luna Rossa Team was truly spectacular, and now I am here with the Youth team comprising all new faces. The past is behind us, and my focus is on the present. I believe we have an incredible team with excellent sailors and great support from the women’s team. We just need to remain focused; we have learned a lot, pushed ourselves to be here, and are eager to showcase our skills on the water.”
“Racing is completely different from training; everyone will push harder, and it will be exciting because if there’s a strong breeze, the start and mark roundings will be very competitive. We are ready for this, and we just want to excel.”
Maru Scheel, the only female athlete and skipper on stage, representing AC Team Germany, expressed her enthusiasm for the challenge ahead: “Sailing has a strong presence in Germany, and it’s thrilling to be here sailing these beautiful yachts. I hope this leads us into America’s Cup sailing, potentially building a complete German team in the future. It’s fantastic to be part of this entire scenario.” When asked about a future helming role in a complete German America’s Cup campaign, Scheel smiled and replied, “Hopefully, yes—I am eager to do it.”
Leo Takahashi, a rising star in New Zealand sailing, spoke passionately about the opportunity: “It’s a real honor; Emirates Team New Zealand is a household name in my country, and being part of the operations has been very cool for the team and me. These boats are incredible, and I think everyone can agree that we’ve enjoyed our time on the yacht. The simulator has been an invaluable stepping stone, thanks to the ACE team and Emirates Team New Zealand for giving us this chance to display our talents.”
Martin Wizner, skipper of the local favorite SailTeam BCN in Barcelona, stated: “It’s an honor to compete here in Spain with these amazing boats. The primary goal is to establish ourselves as an AC team in the next Cup; this is our pathway, and I’m eager for this week ahead.”
Nick Robins, representing Great Britain’s Athena Pathway program, commented on the expected competitive series: “Watching the last Youth America’s Cup was fantastic. I wasn’t involved, but it was great that it reached Britain. That was a long time ago, and with the boats being very different now, we are essentially starting anew. We had a solid summer of training in Badalona learning this boat and type of racing, but many other teams have also invested time, and the competitors here are all strong, so it will be an exciting challenge.”
Cole Tapper, a talented young Australian match-racer and skipper of Andoo Team Australia, shared insights on the team’s training: “We’ve dedicated countless hours to the simulator, mastering how to identify issues when the boat is out of balance. These boats require careful balance, and everything must align for optimal performance. The simulator taught us where to focus—on the screens and environment—to troubleshoot problems. Being on the water is another experience entirely; flying above waves with 80-kilometer winds and spray changes everything, but our approach to finding balance issues remains consistent.”
Harry Melges IV, from the NYYC American Magic team and a notable figure in the high-performance foiling scene, discussed the enduring positive effects of the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup and the growth of foiling: “I was initially attracted to sailing because of the speed, enjoying fast, fun boats. I believe that the foiling generation will resonate with many young sailors and get them excited about sailing, which is undoubtedly a positive development.”
The stage is set for an exhilarating UniCredit Youth America’s Cup, with the prestigious trophy, featuring a bowline, prominently displayed among the twelve skippers. The victor will have their name etched in history and embark on their journey toward the America’s Cup.
The future is now, and it’s an exhilarating time for sailing at its highest level.
