Germany's America's Cup youngsters made their first official appearance in Kiel on Saturday evening and presented their ambitious plans to around 120 guests from the worlds of politics, business and sport. They are two crews under one team roof: AC Team Germany GmbH, which was founded on 25 October.
Two crews, one team: Germany's Cup youngsters start off Barcelona
Inspired by three-time Olympic champion Jochen Schümann, Segelbundesliga founder Oliver Schwall, Kiel-based technology expert, P-Star developer, Olympic participant and successful coach Marc Pickel and other driving forces, two German crews want to take part in the Youth America's Cup and the Puig Women's America's Cup 2024 in Barcelona.
They will compete on the international Cup stage off Barcelona next year as part of the 37th America's Cup with other challengers as well as the youth and women's teams of Cup defender Emirates Team New Zealand and the current five challengers from Great Britain, America, Italy, Switzerland and France.
The entry fee has been paid and the starting places confirmed. The campaign is supported by world circumnavigator Boris Herrmann, Laser world champion Philipp Buhl and SailGP helmsman Erik Heil, as well as many other active participants. The youth team is led by initiator and foiling ace Paul Farien from Kiel. The 24-year-old had the idea for the ambitious campaign a good year ago and found strong and prominent supporters.
This is the chance for Germany to re-enter the America's Cup" (Jochen Schümann)
Paul Farien said on Saturday evening at the Cup Offensive in Kiel: "We are one hundred per cent on the starting line. Thanks to Marc Pickel, Jochen Schümann and many others, we also have a chance to be in the mix because we have so much expertise." Jochen Schümann describes the campaign as a beacon of hope: "There are two crews under one team roof. It's important to be there first. And then to work to ensure that everything we do now for 2024 is sustainable and lasts so that we can build on it for the future. This is the chance for Germany to re-enter the America's Cup."
Carolina Werner, who sailed to 13th place with Paul Kohlhoff as the youngest team at the 2016 Olympic Games, leads the German women's team for the Puig Women's America's Cup. The team members also include the two medallists from the 2021 Olympic Games in Japan: 49er FX silver helmswoman Tina Lutz and Nacra 17 bronze headsailer Alica Stuhlemmer.
Marc Pickel has brought a high-tech simulator to Kiel
The long-term goal of the young campaign is to build a foundation for a second German America's Cup participation after 2007. Germany's most successful Olympic sailor with three gold medals, Jochen Schümann, is one of the active supporters and members of the Steering Committee, which is currently being formed. The 69-year-old two-time America's Cup winner said in Kiel: "For the German sailors and Germany as a sailing nation, these two events are the entry into the world of the America's Cup."
Marc Pickel, who used his international network and his own funds to bring a high-tech simulator to Kiel for training purposes, said: "I am now over 50 years old. Many people have done me a lot of good during my time at the Olympics and beyond. Now is the time for me to give something back. Team New Zealand is the role model for all of us. They also started at some point." For these reasons, the former Olympic star boat sailor and developer of the P-Star is committed to the ambitious America's Cup youngsters.
Are AC-40 Cuppers coming to Kiel?
Marc Pickel went the extra mile as a sponsor and brought one of the expensive high-tech simulators from New Zealand to the new Foiling Academy Team Germany in Kiel for training purposes. The young German talent also trained in the simulator on the evening of the official team presentation.
Here, the young sailors can now learn at the highest level for use on the water, just like the professionals in the America's Cup or the SailGP. Another goal is to bring two AC40 mini-cuppers costing around 2.8 million to Kiel for training and regattas with new partners. Next year, the Youth America's Cup and the Women's America's Cup will be held on these foiling projectiles sailed by crews of four.
Of course we want an AC40 that shakes across the Kiel Fjord" (Paul Farien)
Paul Farien said: "Of course we want an AC40 that shakes the Kiel Fjord. Also to revitalise and really activate the Kiel Sailing City motto." According to Marc Pickel, the AC40 is the ideal training boat because the new mini-cupper class has already been confirmed for the 38th America's Cup in addition to the 37th America's Cup. Ideally, the newly founded Foiling Academy should become the heart of the German Cup campaign.
Oliver Schwall is one of the co-founders of AC Team Germany GmbH alongside Marc Pickel, Paul Farien, Carolina Werner and Managing Director Ole Satori. He says: "This campaign basically has three stages. The first stage is to go to Barcelona with both teams and sail successfully there. The second phase, which will follow on from the America's Cup, is the potential AC40 series, which aims to close the gap between the America's Cup editions. We see this as a huge opportunity. Then you have the platform to systematically prepare with your own boat on the right sports equipment. Then you have an absolutely realistic chance. And then in stage three, the Cup itself."
The AC Team Germany association is currently being founded
The team estimates the ideal budget for a successful first participation in the youth and women's regattas in Barcelona at around 600,000 euros. Part of this is already in place and the starts have been secured. "Some companies and patrons from the scene have stepped in and helped us. This is the platform on which we can start and need further support," says Oliver Schwall on the status quo of the campaign. The team is also in talks with the city of Kiel. Clubs, associations, athletes and other interested parties can come on board as members and sponsors of the campaign via AC Team Germany e. V., which is currently being founded.
