Please select your home edition
Edition
B&G Zeus SR AUS

Red Bull Youth America's Cup- A late opportunity opens for Kiwi crew

by 36 Below Racing on 12 Feb 2013
American Youth Sailing Force - Red Bull Youth America’s Cup team Erik Simonson http://www.pressure-drop.us">www.pressure-drop.us http://http://www.pressure-drop.us">www.pressure-drop.us

This week there was some fantastic news presented to a talented group of young New Zealanders, regarding a sailing opportunity to participate at a world stage event.

The Red Bull Youth America’s Cup (RBYAC), which is the under 25 restricted age group preliminary to the big show (THE Americas Cup 2013 in San Francisco this coming Northern Summer), is something most young sailors around the world have been dreaming of attending.

A pathway towards being a part of that exciting event has opened up for 36 Below Racing.

36 Below Racing is a new team of young sailors formed to pursue success on the World Match Racing circuit and other sailing competitions.

An 11th hour invitation from the Youth America’s Cup organisers was made to bring the team to the qualifying trials being held at the San Francisco venue beginning 18 February 2013. The team wanted a chance to prove they are the next generation eager, willing and capable of following the footsteps of their sailing legends - Blake, Coutts, Dickson, Dalton, Barker and others, who lit the flames in all of them and inspired them as sailors to dream.

The challenge in front of them is formidable but doable. The task of pulling together the training, logistics and organisation needed to present themselves in a position to fully take advantage of that opportunity is underway.

The team consists of Skipper Chris Steele (20), David Hazard (21), Marcus Hansen (20), Jay Prestt (21), Finn Drummond (21), Josh Porebski (21) and 19 year olds Logan Dunning Beck and Harry Hull standing by as reserves ready to step in.

All of them have represented their clubs and country successfully in many local and international sailing regattas and they all share a deep passion for sailing. Already amongst the team, they have accumulated World Championships, National titles accolades such as New Zealand Young Sailor of the Year Awards, as well as winning many Regattas. Some of the sailors are working towards the Olympics and some are all ready featuring well on the Match Yacht racing circuit as well as furthering their studies.

The trials will be held in the dramatic new class of catamarans’ that has revolutionised sailing in the preliminary regattas for aspirants challenging for the Americas Cup – the AC45. Check out the web link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJdNFxZZUj8&list=PL0A1B9D7153493BFA!by_clicking_here for some amazing footage of these cutting edge boats and a glimpse of what the Red Bull Youth Americas Cup is about and why we the 36 Below Racing team are so excited, or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB0E4CWqXnk&list=PL0A1B9D7153493BFA&index=4!click_on_this_link

With only a short time before travel, the immediate focus is to ramp up the sailing skills in catamarans that best simulate the AC45 – they have been fortunate to gain access to Americas Cup design legend Mike Drummonds Extreme 40 Cat to do some training. Mike and some handy Kiwi sailors will be providing coaching support to the team to get them prepared. They will be ready for the on water physical and mental challenges.

Of course there is the other stuff to organise – travel, accommodation and equipment so the team look the part at the big dance and arrive in good order. The short notice makes it difficult to organise sponsorship support - That is where they sought help from their family, friends and supporters. If anyone out there or their organisation think that they may be able to assist in any way which will optimise their chances of success at the selection trials – your contributions even if they are ideas and support (funds and goods accepted too!) would be most welcome and appreciated.

Hey, we know there are a lot of good causes and times are tough. 36 Below Racing consider themselves to be a good cause too, having had to grind for their success and they do appreciate even the consideration of people taking the time even reading about their quest. If you can help – that would be awesome. They will make sure everyone gets to hear about the people and organisations backing the team as they take on the rest of the countries embarking on this challenge.

They are determined that they will do their very best to score a start in the Red Bull Americas Cup event. With help and support, success there may one day lead them towards the main Americas Cup event itself.
Thanks again for reading this.

Chris Steele and team of 36 Below Racing*

Contact: rnrsteele@xtra.co.nz

* The 36 Degrees Latitude, is roughly the location of their home sailing waters of Auckland, New Zealand, Aotearoa.

Facts:
• The Red Bull Youth Americas Cup is a new event to showcase the emerging talent of future generation Americas Cup sailors.
• The event will be held between the finish of the Louis Vuitton Challenge event and the Actual Challenge for the Americas Cup in San Francisco September, 2013
• Any America’s Cup World series teams and the Defender have the right to enter teams directly into the RBYAC event, to be sailed in Americas Cup class 45 catamarans (AC45’s).
• A further four teams will participate in that event, chosen from 12 other international teams competing in trials held in San Francisco during February 2013

North Sails Loft 57 PodcastSelden 2020 - FOOTERZhik 2024 December

Related Articles

Jazz Turner Video Interview
How she Faced Everything And Rose during Project FEAR I travelled to Brighton Marina to catch up with Jazz, talking about her own sailing, the challenges she faced during the circumnavigation, how the money raised will be used, and a glimpse of her future projects!
Posted today at 5:30 pm
America's Cup: Luna Rossa to sail for Naples club.
Italian Challenger Luna Rossa will contest the next America's Cup as the team of a Naples club. Italian Challenger Luna Rossa will contest its seventh America's Cup as the team of the Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia of Naples, as club that is new to the America's Cup.
Posted today at 5:08 pm
International Moth Worlds at Lake Garda Day 3
Big breeze in the morning, calm in the afternoon The third day of racing at the 2025 Moth World Championship kicked off early, with the first warning signal for the Blue fleet scheduled for 8:30 AM. Due to strong northerly winds, however, the fleet's departure was postponed to 9:00.
Posted today at 5:04 pm
Introducing the Micro Gateway from Cyclops Marine
Live load data, simplified - smaller, smarter, even more connected At Cyclops Marine, we're driven by the pursuit of precision, performance, and progress. As the marine industry continues to embrace digital transformation, our technology is evolving rapidly.
Posted today at 4:00 pm
Everything to know about The Ocean Race Europe
One month to go to the race start in Kiel One month out from the start of the 2025 edition of The Ocean Race Europe seven mixed-gender crews made up of sailors from across 13 nations are in the throes of their final preparations for the Race start in Kiel, Germany.
Posted today at 3:53 pm
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez preview
An exceptional fleet of grand classics are preparing An exceptional fleet of grand classics led by the legendary three-masted schooner Atlantic, a strong showing from the Wally yachts among the numerous Maxis, and the arrival of the new Magic Carpet e are all signs...
Posted today at 12:44 pm
OK Dinghy Europeans at Warnemünde overall
Charlie Cumbley wins after no racing on final day Britain's Charlie Cumbley has won the 2025 OK Dinghy European Championship, in Warnemünde, Germany, after all racing was cancelled on the last day with strong winds and passing storms.
Posted today at 11:44 am
Transpac Onboard Episode 5
Zeroing in on the finish We check back in with Stan Honey, navigator of 88-foot Lucky, on the heels of a 24-hour 380-mile run.
Posted today at 11:34 am
The Acetal Pivoting Mast Step
A New Generation of Precision At Allen, we're always refining performance through engineering innovation. That's why we're excited to introduce the Acetal Pivoting Mast Step – a lightweight, cost-effective evolution of our popular Aluminium Pivoting Mast Step.
Posted today at 7:00 am
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 4
The Final Series begins in Aarhus under the Nordic evening light The first day of the Final Series at the iQFOiL World Championship brought both patience and intensity to Aarhus Bay. With the fleets now split into Gold and Silver, racing was set to resume with high pressure and limited wind.
Posted today at 5:19 am