Discovering the 69F Cup teams: Bayerischer YC and Team Manager Fabian Duttler
by 69F Sailing 24 Jan 10:02 GMT
27-30 May, 2026
The 69F Cup © 69F| ZGN - Stefano Bacchiani
With 120 days to go until the first event of the 69F Cup, planned at Fraglia Vela Malcesine between 27 to 30 of May, some have already begun preparing for the new season. This is the case with the Bayerischer Yacht Club, which will be in its third consecutive participation in 2026, which was among the first to take advantage of the Formula 69F and guaranteed its presence at all the 69F Cup regattas.
We had a chat with Team Manager Fabian Duttler to find out about their plans and expectations for their participation and to understand the reasons that push them to focus on 69F for the maturation of their young sailors.
Q: Why is BYC returning to the 69F Cup?
"For BYC, the 69F is the perfect extension of our Foiling Academy and an ideal complement to SWITCH and WASZP sailing. It allows our top athletes to broaden their horizon, learn in a bigger team setup, and transfer foiling skills into a highly professional racing environment. The circuit gives us exactly the platform we need to develop the next level of sailors".
Q: What are the advantages of 69F from a team manager's perspective?
"The 69F combines performance, structure, and safety at the highest level. With a standardized platform and clear processes, we can focus fully on training quality, team development, and long-term planning. Safety always comes first, and the class ensures that every session can be run in a controlled and professional way".
Q: What did you learn from sailing the 69F?
"Foiling in a boat like the 69F requires absolute clarity in communication, roles, and decision-making. Last season showed us how important stable structures are when performance is the goal. It's a demanding but extremely valuable learning environment — technically, tactically, and mentally".
Q: Will there be any changes in the team compared to last year?
"Yes, and very consciously so. Last year we rotated many sailors to give as many athletes as possible the chance to gain experience and to understand individual strengths. This season, for the first time, we are forming fixed teams with defined positions that sail together consistently — a crucial step to attack the top of the fleet on performance".
Q: What are your goals for the season?
"Our goal is to move from development to performance. We want to sail consistently at a high level across the entire season, reduce variability, and compete at the front. At the same time, we continue to see the 69F as a key educational platform for our top talents".
Q: Why should other teams join the full 69F circuit?
"Because it's one of the best platforms worldwide for young top talents to develop further. You learn high-performance foiling, teamwork, and professional racing in a safe and structured environment. And who knows — for some sailors, this could be a stepping stone toward SailGP or even the America's Cup".