The Youth America’s Cup will see 12 teams competing in Barcelona in AC40 foiling monohulls to claim the Youth America’s Cup Trophy The 2024 Youth America\u2019s Cup is set to get underway today Tuesday 17 September 2024 in Barcelona. Sponsored by UniCredit, the event will bring together the best young sailors from around the globe to compete in a knock out series to crown the Youth America\u2019s Cup champion.
\nThe inaugural Red Bull Youth America\u2019s Cup was introduced in San Francisco and the winners of that regatta are now leading names in sailing.
\nPeter Burling, today the skipper of the Defender of the Louis Vuitton 37th America\u2019s Cup, skippered the \u2018NZL Sailing Team with Emirates Team New Zealand\u2019 that featured stellar names like Blair Tuke, Andy Maloney and Sam Meech who are all involved with Emirates Team New Zealand in 2024.
\nOther names in that regatta, which was then held in non-foiling AC45 catamarans, include Jason Saunders (now with Orient Express Racing Team), Lucien Cujean and Jason Waterhouse (both now with Alinghi Red Bull Racing).
\nThe Land Rover BAR team were crowned 2017 Red Bull Youth America\u2019s Cup Champions last time the event took place
\nFollowing the success of that inaugural regatta, the Red Bull Youth America\u2019s Cup returned in 2017 in the crystal waters of Bermuda with the upgraded AC45F foiling catamaran and this time it was the British \u2018GBR Land Rover BAR Academy\u2019 team that lifted the trophy. Onboard was Neil Hunter, the powerhouse cyclor who was quickly snapped up by the senior team and is now a key member of the INEOS Britannia squad.
\nThe Youth America\u2019s Cup did not take place during the 2021 America\u2019s Cup in Auckland, but has been reintroduced for this latest edition of the event.
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAC40: the America\u2019s Cup class\u2019 younger sister<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe 37th America\u2019s Cup may be retaining the AC75 \u2013 albeit with a tweaked rule set \u2013 for actual Cup\u2026<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBritish Women\u2019s and Youth America\u2019s Cup squads unveiled<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe British team is seeking to win the first ever Women\u2019s America\u2019s Cup. It will also be aiming to defend\u2026<\/p>\n
The Event
\nThe UniCredit Youth America\u2019s Cup, is scheduled from September 17 to 26, 2024 and is open to sailors aged 18 to 25, it promises to showcase the talents of young athletes from 12 countries, all vying for top honours in foiling yacht racing.
\nThe event will feature both fleet racing and match-racing formats, allowing teams to test their mettle in the different racing tyles. Fleet races will be the order of the day initially\u00a0 while match-races will see two boats go head-to-head in a knockout format.
\nThe Youth America\u2019s Cup Venue
\nThe races will be held at the Port Ol\u00edmpic in Barcelona, a prime waterfront location that has undergone significant renovation in recent years. Built for the 1992 Olympic Games, the port is now a hub of Barcelona\u2019s maritime culture and is the area in which the Louis Vuitton Cup and America\u2019s Cup are taking place. Fans will have an incredible opportunity to view the races close up from the waterfront and beaches, adding a unique level of engagement to the event.
\nAn AC40 in action. Photo: Ricardo Pinto \/ America\u2019s Cup
\nThe Boats: AC40
\nThe Youth America\u2019s Cup will take place in the AC40 a one-design foiling monohull that has been used by America\u2019s Cup teams for training, development and America\u2019s Cup preliminary regattas.
\nThe purchase of one AC40 was a prerequisite to entry into the 37th America\u2019s Cup with the boats being used for an America\u2019s Cup preliminary series (consisting of two events in the run up to the Cup itself), and also the reintroduced Youth America\u2019s Cup.
\nBoth the Youth AC and Preliminary Events (previously called the America\u2019s Cup World Series) concept have been a feature of past America\u2019s Cups, but both were dropped in the run-up to the 36th America\u2019s Cup in Auckland.
\nThe AC40 is designed to behave in a similar way to the America\u2019s Cup boats, the AC75. They have two large, weighted foils on either side of the boat but no traditional keel.
\nThe boats are designed to foil on one foil only with the windward foil raised out of the water to reduce drag and provide increased righting moment.
\nWith only four crew members onboard the AC40 there is a reliance on a variety of automated systems, including a battery powered system replacing the need for grinders, and automated controls to adjust foiling height and self-tacking headsails.
\nIn terms of the rig, the AC40 again mimics the AC75s and features the same D-shaped mast on which two sail skins will be hoisted to create a soft wingsail, offering plenty of control in a sail plan that can be easily raised and lowered from onboard.<\/p>\n
Youth America\u2019s Cup Format
\nThe competition kicked off with five days of training from September 10 to 16, giving the teams a chance to familiarise themselves with the AC40s. The race series begins with the Qualification Series from September 17 to 21, where the teams are split into two groups. The top three teams from each group will progress to the Final Series on September 22, followed by the Match-Race Final on September 26.
\nThe format challenges the sailors in both fleet and match-racing, testing their versatility and adaptability across multiple racing styles.
\nPhoto: Ricardo Pinto \/ America\u2019s Cup
\nYouth America\u2019s Cup teams
\nTwelve teams from around the world, will compete for the trophy. These teams represent both traditional America\u2019s Cup contenders and yacht clubs from across the globe, reflecting the growing international appeal of youth sailing. Teams will consist of four sailors each, with a mix of helmsmen and trimmers. The Teams in the Youth America\u2019s Cup are:<\/p>\n
New Zealand \u2013 Emirates Team New Zealand \u2013 representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS)
\nGreat Britain \u2013 Athena Pathway \u2013 representing the Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd (RYS)
\nSwitzerland \u2013 Alinghi Red Bull Racing \u2013 representing Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Nautique de Gen\u00e8ve (SNG)
\nItaly \u2013 Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli \u2013 representing Circolo della Vela Sicilia (CVS)
\nUSA \u2013 NYYC American Magic \u2013 representing New York Yacht Club (NYYC)
\nFrance \u2013 Orient Express \u2013 L\u2019Or\u00e9al Racing Team \u2013 representing Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Nautique Saint-Tropez (SNST)
\nSpain \u2013 Sail Team BCN Real \u2013 representing Club N\u00e1utico de Barcelona (RCNB)
\nThe Netherlands \u2013 JAJO Team DutchSail \u2013 representing Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeil- & Roeivereeniging (KNZ&RV) Royal Maas Yacht Club (KR&ZV \u2018De Maas\u2019)
\nCanada \u2013 Concord Pacific Racing \u2013 representing Royal Vancouver Yacht Club (RVYC)
\nGermany \u2013 Youth America\u2019s Cup Team Germany \u2013 representing Kieler Yacht Club, Verein Seglerhaus am Norddeutscher Regattaverein, Bayrischer Yacht-Club
\nSweden \u2013 Swedish Challenge Powered by Artemis Technologies \u2013 representing Royal Swedish Yacht Club (KSSS), Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club (GKSS)
\nAustralia \u2013 Andoo Team Australia \u2013 representing Cruising Yacht Club of Australia<\/p>\n
Youth America\u2019s Cup, Youth Presentation. Photo: Ricardo Pinto \/ America\u2019s Cup
\nHow to watch the Youth America\u2019s Cup
\nThe Louis Vuitton 37th America\u2019s Cup has partnered with broadcasters in some territories but most sailors will be able to catch it live on the America\u2019s Cup Facebook and YouTube pages, as well as www.americascup.com. If you missed the races or want to relive the action, full replays are available immediately after the racing finishes.
\nFollow all of our 2024 America\u2019s Cup coverage<\/p>\n
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The post Everything you need to know about the Youth America\u2019s Cup 2024 appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Youth America’s Cup will see 12 teams competing in Barcelona in AC40 foiling monohulls to claim the Youth America’s Cup Trophy The 2024 Youth America\u2019s Cup is set to get underway today Tuesday 17 September 2024 in Barcelona. Sponsored … <\/p>\n