Team Australia Challenge applications open for Women's and Youth America's Cup sailors
by Team Australia Challenge 15 May 2023 06:39 BST
Australian Women's Challenge Skippers Nina Curtis and Olivia Price © Salty Dingo
With the Team Australia Challenge (TAC) confirmed to race in the Youth and Women's America's Cup in Barcelona 2024, local organisers have been receiving expressions of interest from around the country online - with the application period due to close on May 31st.
Globally the 12 competing teams in both regattas have been assembling national teams and Australia's selections will take place during June to finalise a squad to include Youth (over 18 and under 25 on September 19, 2024) and Women sailors to compete on the brand new AC40 foiling mono hull yachts that have crews of four.
It will be a history making first Women's America's Cup regatta and third youth version in the world's oldest sporting trophy competition.
The line-up for the Youth & Women's America's Cup has teams from Germany, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Canada and Australia joining the established six official entrants for the America's Cup representing New Zealand, Great Britain, Italy, Switzerland, America and France.
Team Australia Challenge has announced heroic 1983 America's Cup winning skipper John Bertrand, AO and John Winning Jr, the skipper of Sydney Hobart winning Andoo Comanche, as Patrons of the campaign.
Bertrand believes Australia will be highly competitive with the selection process tapping into the high level of skilled and world winning Australian sailors in all levels of global competition and with the capacity for two squads.
The AC40 is sailed by 4 people, a driver and a trimmer on each side. The boat requires 4 skilled sailors to work together and communicate clearly in a racing environment. Australia will assemble a squad to cover reserve positions as well as the challenge teams.
An AC40 simulator is on order to be stationed in Sydney in the coming months to start craft training alongside the on water training. Athletes and supporters will have access to the simulator experience.
Applications to register are open now here.
The Australian Women's Challenge team has already announced skippers, dual Olympic medallists Olivia Price and Nina Curtis to lead the campaign.
"This campaign has the ability to transform women's sailing in Australia. We are so excited to be able to pioneer this for all Australian sailors," Olivia Price said.