America's Cup: "Taking part is everything this time" - Interview with Jochen Schümann
Tatjana Pokorny
· 14.09.2024
YACHT: What is your role in AC Team Germany?
Jochen Schümann: We are a super small start-up. I'm a mentor, I try to encourage, give structure and convey principles. Then you can also steer a Cup boat as a laser sailor. The top people in the America's Cup still come from the particularly high-performing Olympic classes such as the Laser or skiff. What I'm also trying to say is that foiling hasn't changed the Cup world. The same good Olympic sailors get their chances. Foiling doesn't need other sailors, only the best, as always. And we have to get them there.
The first step has been taken with participation in the Youth and Women's America's Cup...
This is the start of something new for the long term. For a better future in the Youth and Women's America's Cup. And also for a real Cup team as a real home for performance. For this, we also need a versatile, talented and experienced team behind the sailors. A lot of expertise is needed for the America's Cup. This must be built up.
Six teams with affiliation to the racing teams in the 37th America's Cup and six independent invited teams will compete in the Youth Cup and the new Women's America's Cup. The latter include the crews of AC Team Germany. Do you even stand a chance in the Cup without being part of a "parent team"?
That will be very difficult. The invited teams are already at an extreme disadvantage. We will also be at a disadvantage as AC Team Germany. All the teams that were able to train on the AC40 boats will be much better. You have to adjust your performance expectations accordingly. You can't see it like the Olympic Games or a World Championship. It must be seen as an opportunity for our young sailors to take part in the America's Cup and gain important experience at the highest level. Otherwise the gap will be even bigger for all the nations not involved in the current America's Cup. It really is a case of being there is everything. It's about learning, preserving and moving on.
Why is this important for German sailing?
The America's Cup is the leading event in sailing. We are lucky to be able to take part. Then it's up to us to prepare and position ourselves better for the future. The current campaign only started in the winter of 2023/2024 and the athletes were "only" able to train on the simulator and not on AC40 foils. The Youth and Women's America's Cup will continue to exist in the future. If you take part now, you can ensure that a sustainable infrastructure is created at home, such as the Foiling Academy in Kiel, where you can really gain foiling expertise. For the future, you should also have an AC40 foiler.
Because they will also be at the next edition of the America's Cup will be represented?
Exactly. The idea is so great! These are state-of-the-art boats, close to Formula 1 in motor racing and gender-neutral. Women can sail these boats with two helmsmen and two trimmers just as successfully as men. You have to have a good head and be able to sail well.
The German team will probably compete in the Youth America's Cup as a mixed team: With two men and two women or three men and one woman
I said right from the start that mixed teams would be an important principle here, because mixed sailing also makes women stronger faster.
Who decides which four members of the six men's and six women's German teams will compete in the Youth and Women's America's Cup?
There is a committee with the coaches, Marc Pickel and myself. However, we have also given the crews themselves the task of making the decision. We don't need any nomination criteria. I told the sailors: 'You have to look each other in the eye and decide who is the best and who harmonises best with whom. To do this, you have to be honest with the others - and with yourselves.
Do the Youth and Women's America's Cups have what it takes to inspire a large audience?
It will certainly be spectacular for spectators and sailors. Even if you come last. You do something that nobody else is allowed to do. At the same time, I also have respect for many others: hopefully everyone will be patient enough for the events to run smoothly and without any major crashes.
The fast AC40s stand for a lot of sailing fun. A new international regatta series is to be created with them...
There are several ideas. The best is the concentrated, organised regatta series with charter operations. We do something similar with the Bundesliga and the Champions League. It would make a big difference for many people interested in the Cup if they didn't have to buy the boats but could lease them.
The German teams will sail the AC40 from Alinghi Red Bull Racing in the Youth and Women's Cups. You won the America's Cup twice with Alinghi in 2003 and 2007. Does your good relationship with the Swiss still help?
(Laughs). The wire still exists. I would have known Alinghi Red Bull Racing's boat captain for the AC40. But the boats were handed over to the America's Cup organisers by the Cup teams at the end of August. They will be looked after by 'neutral' boat captains during the events. Let's see who they will be...
