Youth Foiling Gold Cup Act 3 at Cagliari - Preview
by 69F Sailing 21 Oct 2021 14:23 BST
21-31 October 2021
Racing in the third act of the Youth Foiling Gold Cup kicks off today, with two weeks of high intensity sailing scheduled. Season finale to follow from 1 to 3 November to elect the best under-25 crew.
Racing in the third and final stage of the Youth Foiling Gold Cup, the international circuit reserved for under-25 sailors, starts today in the Gulf of Cagliari and is set to run through 31 October.
After its debut with ACT 1 in the Gulf of Gaeta in February, followed by ACT 2 in Limone del Garda at the end of August, the class has chosen Cagliari and its gulf for the third and final act of the series. The capital city of Sardinia also served as the base and training area for the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team, finalists in the 36th edition of the America's Cup.
The race village will be hosted at the Windsurfing Club of Marina Piccola, at Poetto beach, where spectators can see the fleet dock out and race each day.
The nine competing crews will do battle aboard Persico 69F boats, flying monohulls measuring 6.9 metres and equipped with foils. The boats are supplied by the organisation in order to ensure maximum uniformity across the fleet. Following the warm-up races held over the past three days, five days of qualifying races will take place before the teams move on to a direct knockout phase. Only the top six teams will gain access to the finals, scheduled from 28 to 31 October. The spectacular and high-intensity races last around 12 minutes, and take place on a quadrangle course, designed to put the crews' manoeuvring and handling skills on the foilers to the test, at speeds that can reach up to 30 knots at times.
The teams, which must be mixed and are composed of 3 to 4 athletes, already boast top results in international sailing circuits and are trained by professional sailors and Olympians.
At the conclusion of this last event, the top two teams from each leg (Gaeta, Limone del Garda and Cagliari), will compete in the Grand Finals of the Youth Foiling Gold Cup, scheduled to take place from 1 to 3 November.
The 69F class aims to promote foiling among the next generation of sailors through these events, and the winners of the circuit will be awarded a prize worth €50,000, in the form of a voucher for the entire 2022 season. The teams finishing in second and third place will receive vouchers worth €30,000 and €15,000 - which will cover participation in the Grand Prix circuit for two weeks and one week respectively.
Cagliari is set to experience two weeks of competition at the highest level, with the most promising young talents of international sailing.