Red Bull Youth America's Cup - Overall
by Red Bull Sailing Newsroom 5 Sep 2013 08:20 BST
1-4 September 2013
New Zealand teams shine brightest on sailing's biggest stage
Frenetic aggression and elite racing was the order of the day for the youth sailors of the Red Bull Youth America's Cup on Championship Wednesday, with NZL Sailing Team with Emirates Team New Zealand prevailing over nine other teams from around the world to take the inaugural title on San Francisco Bay.
The New Zealand team was challenged early and often by its fierce rivals on Full Metal Jacket (NZL) and ROFF/Cascais Sailing Team from Portugal, who finished second and third, respectively. These 19-24 year old young guns and future stars of the America's Cup shined bright to cap off four days of intense racing as they carve out a pathway for themselves into the professional ranks.
The leaderboard was tight throughout the regatta. The 10 youth teams, representing 8 countries, pogoed up and down the points' table with each race result leading to tense moments on the final day.
In the end, just three points separated second from fifth place. When the Swiss Team won race 7, they became the sixth different crew to claim a race win.
America's Cup stars were on-hand to eyeball this next generation of talent. Nathan Outteridge of Artemis and Glenn Ashby of ETNZ were impressed by how hard and fast these youth sailors pushed the AC45 catamarans.
"It's been amazing to actually take the win," said Peter Burling, the skipper of the New Zealand Sailing Team. "We got a lot better during the racing. It's quite humbling to do it under the Emirates Team New Zealand banner."
His rival, Will Tiller, made this a Kiwi one-two on the leaderboard with a strong, consistent performance. "It's exciting. It's wet, fast and fun. There's so much work that has to happen behind the scenes to get to this point. We've had to put together everything ourselves, to be self-sufficient. So we're very proud."
Swiss skipper Lucien Cujean had an outstanding start in Wednesday's lone race and led all the way around the track to jump from sixth place to fourth overall, just one point shy of the podium.
The big winner on the day was the ROFF/Cascais Sailing Team, who scored a second place to lift themselves onto the podium ahead of the Swiss and the American Youth Sailing Force who had a disappointing eighth place finish, dropping from third to fifth overall.
Roman Hagara and Hans-Peter Steinacher, the double Olympic gold medalists who serve as Sport Directors of the Red Bull Youth America's Cup, have been a driving force behind the event and are impressed with the level of talent they've seen.
"The young guys are amazing. They are racing the boats really hard and the competition is very tough," Hagara said. "The best team won. But all of the teams have shown massive development. They learned so much here."
"The sailors are taking a lot out of this, whether they finished in first or in tenth," said Steinacher. "They've seen the way the professionals at the America's Cup operate and I think they've all learned so much about what it takes to succeed at the highest level of our sport."
One race was sailed on Wednesday with the strong winds whipping up San Francisco Bay well outside the prescribed limit and building further as the day progressed.
Red Bull Youth America's Cup Final Standings:
1. NZL Sailing Team with Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) 2-RDG-7-3-1-1-4 – 57pts
2. Full Metal Jacket Racing (NZL) 7-1-4-6-6-3-5 – 45pts
3. ROFF/Cascais Sailing Team (POR) 3-6-1-8-8-5-2 – 44pts
4. Team TILT (SUI) 8-5-2-2-9-7-1 – 43pts
5. American Youth Sailing Force (USA) 1-7-3-5-7-4-8 – 42pts
6. Swedish Youth Challenge (SWE) 6-2-9-1-4-6-10 – 39pts
7. Objective Australia (AUS) RDG-10-6-10-2-3 – 38pts
8. Next World Energy (FRA) 4-4-8-4-5-9-6 – 37pts
9. All In Racing (GER) 5-8-5-9-3-8-9 – 30pts
10. USA45 Racing (USA) 9-9-10-7-10-10-7 – 15pts
RDG = redress awarded by International Jury
Kiwis one and two as NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ are crowned Red Bull Youth America's Cup Champions (from Jodie Bakewell-White, Yachting New Zealand)
The Peter Burling led NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ has won the inaugural Red Bull Youth America's Cup while Will Tiller and FMJ Racing have placed 2nd making it a kiwi double in San Francisco.
Burling and his crew of Blair Tuke, Jono Spurdle, Guy Endean, Andy Maloney, Sam Meech and Jason Saunders placed 4th in today's opening race in San Francisco which saw them further extend their leading margin. When race eight was abandoned due to winds above the maximum limit allowed the victory was secured.
The victorious crew of young kiwis on the NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ, which includes five of New Zealand's top Olympic campaigners, were billed by many as favourites from the start yet the overall standings were tight across the opening two days. Then Burling and crew took two outright wins on day three to put themselves in a strong, yet not unassailable, position going into today.
Peter Burling explains what it means to win the title; "It's amazing for us to take the win, we haven't done that much sailing together as a crew but we all really grew into it this week and I think our results showed that as well. It was pretty humbling for me to do it under the Emirates Team New Zealand banner as well."
"It was really cool that we could get a lot of the Olympic guys together and with a few other keelboat guys to help the mix. It is really amazing for us to have taken this thing out and I think it's really good for our futures."
Reflecting on the year Burling says, "It has been an amazing twelve months of sailing for us, winning the silver medal in London was a high point for us," says Burling. "And then we heard that there was a youth America's Cup going on."
New Zealand's Will Tiller and his Full Metal Jacket Racing took the silver podium position after a 5th in today's race giving them a narrow one point edge over ROFF/Cascais of Portugal who finished 3rd.
Tiller explains what it has taken for him and his crew to get to the podium; "It's been an incredible journey for us switching from the match racing and then jumping into these multihulls as soon as the Red Bull Youth America's Cup was announced."
"I think the team has adapted really well, I think there is still a way to go to catch the other kiwi boys, I think they were an amazingly string team and they showed it out there by being quite dominant but hopefully in the years to come everyone can close in on these top youth sailors."
Burling and his crew are now set to celebrate their victory and are staying on in San Francisco to watch Emirates Team New Zealand take on Oracle Team USA for the 34th America's Cup starting Saturday.
Switzerland's Team Tilt finishes fourth at Red Bull Youth America's Cup just one point off the podium (from Team Tilt)
Team Tilt did Switzerland proud at the Red Bull Youth America's Cup battling against strong competition to post a magnificent win today before racing was cancelled and the winner declared. The team was visibly frustrated to have missed out on competing in the final race of the event, which counted for double points, but the jury was firm in its decision that the wind exceeded the 18-knot limit.
"We were disappointed not to race the final race of the event for double points," said skipper Lucien Cujean. "But we are delighted nonetheless with our overall result and to have won the last race caps off what has been an excellent event. The nine other teams had some highly decorated sailors onboard, we are very proud to have been able to raise our game to their level and to compete," he added.
The young Swiss team finished just one point off the podium. "We have a slight feeling of unfinished business," said bowman Jonas Schagen. "We were in the zone, we were handling the boat well and above all we were keeping it simple and it paid off!"
Lucien Cujean is very much aware of the opportunity that he and his crew have been handed and that the experience gained will give them a real advantage. "The last four days with this amazing team have been the most incredible of my sailing career," he said. "We have all evolved throughout the event, and grown. We are taking away a unique experience that will really help with our future careers."
Today's result is all the more positive given that Team Tilt and the international campaign that has ensued started from a blank sheet of paper. "The result of this adventure is really positive," said a delighted Alex Schneiter, team leader. "We have battled against stars of our sport such as Peter Burling on an even footing. This fabulous adventure doesn't stop here – next up is the Vulcain Trophy on the Decision 35 in Switzerland and then at the end of the season, we will discuss future plans."
After four days of competition and seven races on San Francisco Bay, the New Zealand youth team supported by Emirates Team New Zealand, the challenger for the 34th America's Cup, won the Red Bull Youth America's Cup. The ten youth teams have given fans a superb spectacle, a taste of what is to come on the 7 September when the America's Cup match begins.
The Force - Last Race (from the American Youth Sailing Force)
The American Youth Sailing Force would like to thank all of our friends and family who helped make competing in the Red Bull Youth America's Cup a reality. From the first inkling we had to compete in this event, through the last race on September 4, the past 19 months have been an incredible journey. Mikey Radziejowski summed it up saying "This has been the best time in my life."
We'd also like to thank our Elite sponsors LessEventAdmin.com, Accelerate Sports Performance, Zhik and our yacht club supporters Richmond Yacht Club Foundation & Richmond Yacht Club, St. Francis Sailing Foundation, Golden Gate Yacht Club, Oakland Yacht Club, Berkeley Yacht Club, Tiburon Yacht Club, San Francisco Yacht Club and Newport Harbor Yacht Club.
The RBYAC proved to be everything we thought it would be and more. Sailing these amazing AC45 catamarans on our home turf is something we will remember for years to come. It will be a long time before any of us have the opportunity to run a program of this magnitude again and even then it will not be as much fun as we've had sailing together in this event.
As frustrating as it was not to be able to compete in a final, double-points race, we are pleased that our team raced against the very best youth sailors in the world and after winning the first race we remained in the top three boats till race seven.
Congratulations to Team New Zealand for their championship. They sailed a remarkable series of races on San Francisco Bay.
We look forward to future sailing opportunities and hope that all our paths cross again soon.
Regards, The Force
Objective Australia intensely proud of Youth America's Cup Performance (from Objective Australia)
After four days of intense competition, the Red Bull Youth America's Cup has been run and won on San Francisco Bay.
On Wednesday September 4, the New Zealand Sailing Team won the inaugural title from Full Metal Jacket (NZL) and the ROFF/Cascais Sailing (POR).
Objective Australia's team of eight sailors aged 21-24 finished seventh overall after repeated failures with regatta supplied equipment. The team's average finishing position for the races that were sailed without failure was 3.25 (2nd, 2nd, 3rd and 6th) and the Australian Team believe that those results are a truer refection of their potential than their final position on the leader board.
Last night, Objective Australia's request for redress was denied, however two promising seconds, in races five and six had kept the Australians in with a chance of a podium finish.
After a solid third place in the seventh race, the sea breeze pushed over the 20 knot wind limit and the eighth and final race for double points was cancelled.
Jason Waterhouse, the 22 year-old skipper who led the charge from Down Under was upbeat despite the team's apparent misfortune.
"The experience and respect we gained at the Red Bull Youth America's Cup has stirred the whole team to strive to reach the highest levels of our sport. Be it to represent our country at the 2016 Olympics, the World Championships or the next America's Cup.
"It has been an absolute privilege to represent Australia sailing these incredible yachts and to bring the Australian flag back to the America's Cup arena almost 30 years to the day since the historic win by Australia II. These are days we will never forget" added Waterhouse.
Team Principal, Tony Walls, who backed the Australian campaign for the inaugural Red Bull Youth America's Cup, said "As an Australian, you have to be very proud of the effort and professionalism shown by the entire Objective Australia team on the world stage."
"The team's performance under the leadership of their coach Traks Gordon to achieve the results that they did with the obvious ongoing challenges, showed great tenacity and maturity beyond their years. They are outstanding role models for all young Australians and great ambassadors for our nation."
Close of the Red Bull Youth America's Cup (from Energy Team)
The Red Bull Youth America's Cup finished sooner than expected today (Wednesday) in San Francisco: the eighth and final race, which was supposed to count double – and so was crucial for the final outcome – was cancelled as the wind went above the maximum of 18.6 knots stipulated in the rules. In the end, only seven races counted for this America's Cup for the 19 to 24 year olds. Congratulations to the two New Zealand teams, who grabbed the top two places and to the Portuguese, who made it to the podium, which is something that was not widely expected. The French youngsters on Next World Energy have every right to feel disappointed: their eight place is not really representative of their level. Today, they raced three quarters of the only race up amongst the top three before finishing sixth.
Fleet Race 7: Next World Energy (6th) deserved to do better
A twelve knot SW'ly wind and brilliant sunshine around the Golden Gate with a moderate tidal current. The conditions were perfect in San Francisco for the penultimate fleet race in the Red Bull Youth America's Cup. The start with the wind on the beam was as spectacular as ever, but three boats were too high and crossed the starting line too soon, while the French on Next World Energy, clear in the middle of the line got a perfect start: the speed was there and they soon found themselves in third place, then second behind the Swiss by gate number two. On the third leg, Next World Energy found itself doing battle against the Portuguese AC45 for second place. The French youngsters moved off to find clean air and avoid the current close to shore alongside the docks in San Francisco. It was very tight between the first six boats at the front, who regularly changed positions on the upwind leg. The choice of which gate to head for was very important. There was a close fight between the Portuguese, French and Australians at Gate 3, thirty seconds after the Swiss. They found it tough hoisting the code 0, but Next World Energy was still up with the frontrunners. At a downwind speed of twenty knots, Arthur Ponroy and Antoine Lauriot-Prévost crew proved once again that they know how to sail an AC45 quickly. At the fourth gate, Next World Energy, then in third place behind the Swiss and Portuguese, went for the opposite buoy from their two close rivals. Unfortunately, this gamble did not pay off and Next World Energy lost ground on the fifth leg. At Gate 5, the Swiss were still well and truly in charge ahead of the Portuguese and Australians. Next World Energy rounded in sixth position. At high speeds on the final leg, the Swiss did not make any mistakes. They won the race after leading from start to finish after 26 minutes and 35 seconds of racing. The Portuguese came in second 20 seconds later with the Australians third. Next World Energy took sixth! place 56 seconds after the winner. A great pity, as after a good start to the race, they deserved better than that.
Fleet Race 8 did not take place: the wind quickly got up to above 19 knots after the end of Race 7 and it never came back down again. The Race Committee therefore decided to cancel Race 8. Now we can look forward to the America's Cup and the AC72s with the competition between the American Defender Oracle and the challenger Emirates Team New Zealand. It all begins on Saturday evening from 2000hrs UTC.
Antoine Mermod, team manager for Next World Energy: "It's a great pity that the final race had to be cancelled, as we were once again going well. The NZL boat was that much better than the others and fully deserves this victory. But behind them, there was a huge battle from second to tenth place. We have nothing to be ashamed of and can be proud of what we have achieved... We sailed well and did lots of good things. It's true that sometimes we simply weren't lucky or not clear, but on the other hand, we sometimes got out of tricky situations. Of course, we're frustrated with the result, but we have enjoyed a fantastic experience. We worked hard while enjoying ourselves, and I mean the coaches as well as the youngsters. We look forward to competing again on the AC45."
Arthur Ponroy, skipper of Next World Energy: "We got off to a great start. For more than half of the race we were in the top three and in the end, we stupidly got caught out by choosing the wrong buoy. We lost three points like that, which brought us down in the rankings. It's a great pity... Immediately after the race, it's hard to come to terms with the result on paper, as we were capable of doing so much better. On the other hand, sailing here surrounded by a team like Energy Team and with the support of people at Next World Energy, it was of course fantastic..."