Youth America's Cup: Tough Cup school for Team Germany - Swedes dominate sailing rodeo
Tatjana Pokorny
· 21.09.2024
This Saturday in Barcelona was one of the most spectacular that has been seen since the America's Cup programme began in August. The six youth teams of the invited teams in the Youth America's Cup were challenged on the late summer world stage of sailing.
Without a direct connection to one of the current America's Cup teams, these six teams had been able to prepare for the test with the AC40 foiling boats in very different ways. Thanks to partner Artemis Technologies and other sponsors, the Swedes even had their own mini-cupper for training. Other youth teams had been able to charter an AC40 for at least a short time.
This was not possible for the Dutch and German youngsters in the Cup, where the Budegts were close. They were only able to gain real AC40 experience after intensive simulator training in Barcelona. These differences are now clearly noticeable in the races. Both Jajo Team Dutchsail and AC Team Germany have had to contend with technical problems with their foilers on the two race days so far, which they are not responsible for and which - after repeated occurrences - should actually have been resolved.
Between a race to catch up and a bitchy foil
But even apart from the foil problem, AC Team Germany in particular had to learn the hard way. With the wind and wave conditions having changed significantly compared to the previous day, it was not easy for the German quartet to quickly readjust without the greater experience of other crews on Saturday.
"It took us too long to find the right settings. We had real problems in the first few races," said Paul Farien, explaining the two sixth places in the first two of the five races on Saturday. The Kiel native is one of the two helmsmen in the German boat alongside skipper Maru Scheel. Their trimmers are Tom Heinrich and Jesse Lindstädt.
After the low blows, however, it was clear to see that things were looking up for black, red and gold. Paul Farien said: "It got better and better. We had good moments, but then we also had the problem with the foil again, which we've had for three days now." The day before, the port foil of the 40-foot runabout had suddenly come up out of nowhere as the Youth AC Team Germany approached the line shortly before the start.
"It still hasn't been fixed properly and it's obviously a pain in the arse. We'll see if we can get a redress there." However, with three fourth places in a row, AC Team Germany also showed that it can make solid improvements.
Dramatic nosedives and spill-outs
With experience and without these problems, the top teams in the qualifying group fought some spectacular battles for position on their second day of racing. At times, the America's Cup course was like a rodeo: The AC40s bucked and sometimes fell off the foils very roughly, especially in the very demanding manoeuvres on this day. Or drove plugs like the Australian team, where it looked as if the foiler was about to turn into a submarine.
Dramatic crashes, spill-outs and boats taking off steeply or breaking away characterised the action in the many races on Saturday. There were many changes of position in the fleet races, exciting chases to catch up - and masterful Swedes, whose experience was evident at all times in the brisk conditions.
The young, well-trained Swedish team of the Swedish Challenge powered by Artemis Technologies was in a class of its own with co-drivers Oscar Engström and Ludvig Linquist. With four race wins in five starts, the Scandinavians celebrated their commitment and are likely to have impressed the junior teams of the Cup teams, which they should be able to counter with this level of performance in the semi-finals despite being embedded in Cup parent teams.
Australians put pressure on the Swedes
The Swedish team trained for a long time at their training centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland, before coming to Spain and setting up a training base in Badalona together with the American and British youth and women's teams. The Swedish Challenge demonstrated teamwork, communication and technique at the highest level.
Andoo Team Australia with co-drivers Cole Tapper and Jack Ferguson were able to put the Swedes under pressure. Their team also demonstrated tactical racing skills, winning Race 2 to open the day and repeatedly nibbling at the rear of the Swedes, who then went from victory to victory. It was mainly manoeuvring errors in the gybes that cost Australia's Cup youngsters an even better position than second place after six races.
"We are travelling well and fast. That's a lot of fun. But you could certainly see that we had a few problems with the gybes. We still need to improve our set-up," said Cole Tapper ahead of Sunday's showdown for Pool B in the qualifying round of the Youth America's Cup.
"Super Sunday" until the semi-final cut
The intermediate standings in qualifying group B after six of eight races up to the semi-final cut:
- Swedish Challenge Youth Team powered by Artemis Technologies (SWE), 52 points
- Andoo Team Australia Youth Team (AUS), 32 points
- Sail Team Barcelona Youth (ESP); 28 points
- Jajo Team Dutchsail Youth (NED), 23 points
- Concord Pacific Racing Youth Team (CAN), 21 points
- Youth AC Team Germany (GER), 14 points
After the initially scheduled two catch-up races in qualifying group B with AC Team Germany, the remaining four races in qualifying group A will be held on Sunday (22 September). If the programme goes well, the three best teams in each of the six qualifying groups will then be determined. They will advance to the semi-finals and form a new group of six.
The two top teams after four races will contest the final match for victory. So far, the youth team from Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli led by top rider Marco Gradoni in Group A and the Swedes in Group B have recommended themselves for this. Sunday's action before Barcelona will show whether this trend is confirmed or whether other up-and-coming youth teams can still spring surprises. The races will be broadcast via America's Cup Homepage or broadcast live on YouTube.
