Red Bull Youth America's Cup: Praised by Outteridge: SVB Team Germany in the final!

They laid the foundations on the first day by finishing third overall, confirmed their performance on the second and even improved on it: SVB Team Germany fulfilled their dream of reaching the final off Bermuda and reached the showdown of the best eight teams in the Red Bull Youth America's Cup. Skipper Max Kohlhoff, helmsman Paul Kohlhoff and their team have thus also fulfilled the hopes of their partners and sponsors, who can now look forward to the live broadcast of the two final days on ServusTV Germany on 20 and 21 June from 18:55 German time.

"Before qualifying, we were a bit afraid of sinking again like we did four years ago in the first edition of the Red Bull Youth America's Cup. We simply didn't want a blunder like that to happen again. We let ourselves be beaten back then," said skipper Max Kohlhoff, who was the only member of the current crew to take part in the first Youth Cup in 2013. "The fact that we have now reached the final is both a great joy and a relief." With a budget of around 220,000 euros, which was raised through partners such as SVB, Flightright and boote Exclusiv, as well as many private sponsors, the German team with sailors from northern Germany and Berlin is financially at the back of the field of twelve teams from as many countries competing off Bermuda in the Youth America's Cup for sailors aged between 18 and 24. The Spaniards, for example, have a comparable budget of around 200,000 euros. They also qualified for the final. Other teams are rumoured to have budgets of up to half a million euros.

The German sailing team is made up of Max, 24, and Paul Kohlhoff, 22, and their brother Johann, 20, from the Kiel Yacht Club. They are joined by Finn helmsman Phillip Kasüske, 22, from the Seglerhaus am Wannsee club, Magnus Simon, 21, from the Mühlenberger Segel-Club in Hamburg, Moritz Burmester, 19, from Heiligenstedten from the Seglervereinigung Itzehoe and Frederick Eichhorst, 18, from the Potsdamer Yacht-Club in Berlin. The sailors will be coached by two-hull coach Mark Bulkely. The Brit said: "This Red Bull Youth America's Cup in the fairly light winds is much less about foiling than many people think. What is needed is good sailing and strong strategic decisions." His protégés did this well. Only the Swedes were even better, dominating the action in qualifying group A on both days and going into the final as group leaders.

Artemis helmsman Nathan Outteridge was the only top skipper from the America's Cup to follow the action on Friday and was delighted for the Artemis youngsters. The likeable Australian also complimented the German skipper Max Kohlhoff: "It wasn't easy out there today in the light winds. It was great that you were able to prevail. Congratulations to you!" Speaking to YACHT online in Bermuda, Outteridge also announced that his team will decide very soon after the end of the 35th America's Cup duel how Artemis Racing will continue. "But without having a clearer picture of the future, it's still too difficult." The British team Land Rover BAR reacted very differently after its semi-final exit in the Challenger Playoffs. Sir Ben Ainslie immediately announced the follow-up campaign - regardless of whether Emirates Team New Zealand or defending champion Oracle Team USA wins.

The final of the Red Bull Youth America's Cup will take place on 20 and 21 June. Artemis Youth Racing, SVB Team Germany, Team Tilt from Switzerland and Team France Jeune from Group A have qualified. In Group B, the NZL Sailing Team, Land Rover BAR Academy, Spanish Impulse Team by Iberostar and the local heroes from Bermuda had already prevailed in the battle for a place in the final. The teams from Denmark, Japan, USA and Austria were eliminated. A final full of opportunities now awaits SVB Team Germany. Skipper Kohlhoff said: "We have competed here with many teams at a similar level. Anything is possible now."