September 16, 2024
2 minutes reading time
September 16, 2024. UniCredit Youth America's Cup, Press Conference. Unicredit Youth America’s Cup skippers picture at the Hivernacle, Barcelona.
Youth America's Cup: Next generation set to shine at the UniCredit Youth America's Cup
After an early-morning photocall at the Hivernacle del Parc de la Ciutadella the next generation of sailing superstars were presented at a Press Conference ahead of tomorrow's start of the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup, the ultimate shop-window and entry to the professional ranks. Now in its third iteration, the competition has a history of creating a pathway to the senior America’s Cup teams with many current stars having been a part of the Youth America’s Cup before taking centre stage.
Just 11 years ago, back in 2013, Peter Burling, Blair Tuke and Andy Maloney, key afterguard members today of the Defenders of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand, won the event and are prime examples of just what this competition can deliver. In Barcelona, twelve teams will vie for the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup and will have to excel at both fleet racing and match-racing to succeed.
The format sees the twelve teams split into two groups of six for an initial fleet race series. The sailors representing the official America’s Cup teams will race in one group whilst Invited Teams from Australia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden will race in a second fleet.
The top three teams from each side after eight races will race together in four fleet races to decide the top-two crews and from there it’s a one-race, winner-takes-all, conducted in the glare of the world’s media spotlight on Thursday September 26. That final race will take place in-between races on the first day of the Louis Vuitton Cup Final, providing the perfect showcase for the world’s best up-and-coming sailors to shine.
At the Press Conference today there was an understandable air of nervous tension, but all twelve sailors gave a superb account of themselves, many of them at their very first time in front of the media in this format. Youthful excitement abounded under the lights and cameras with none of them fazed by the limelight.
The stage is set for a thrilling UniCredit Youth America’s Cup and the glittering trophy, depicting a bowline, sat proudly centre stage amongst all twelve skippers. Whoever gets their hands on it will write their name in history and the first chapter on their road to the America’s Cup.
Text and images courtesy of The America’s Cup. Read the full release at americascup.com.