Red Bull Youth America’s Cup - Challenging third day for Team Tilt

by MaxComm Communication on 4 Sep 2013 Success eluded the Team Tilt sailors, despite excellent starts and good crew work on day three of the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup.

A tactical error in the first race and several penalties saw them finish ninth and seventh putting them in sixth place overall going into the final day of racing.

'We were lacking anticipation that is for sure,' said wing trimmer Jeremy Bachelin. 'We had two good starts, but then made costly mistakes.'

Race one saw Team Tilt gybe first at the first mark, a decision that put them at the back of the fleet. Race two started off better, but the team received another penalty before becoming caught up in the Next World Energy code zero halyard which went under the Swiss boat – Team Tilt called for redress.

'Today we really saw the level of the teams,' said coach Laurent Voiron. 'Our Swiss sailors are racing against some of the best young sailors of their generation and they are holding their own!'

'We are not far behind and the podium is still within our sights' added Jeremy Bachelin. 'We need to anticipate situations much more tomorrow and limit mistakes during the race.' Skipper Lucien Cujean is cool-headed going into the final day: 'We were perhaps a bit too aggressive today. The team seems to operate better under pressure – there is everything to play for tomorrow.'

At the close of day three, just nine points stand between Team Tilt and second placed Full Metal Jacket Racing. NZL Sailing Team with Emirates Team New Zealand won two races today which sets them 17 points ahead of second place.

The final race tomorrow, race eight of the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup, counts for double points. Team Tilt will be aiming to neutralise any errors and achieve its goal of stepping onto the podium.

Provisional ranking after six races
1. NZL Sailing Team with Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), Peter Burling : 2-RDG-7-3-1-1 – 50 points?
2. Full Metal Jacket Racing (NZL), William Tiller : 7-1-4-6-6-3 – 39 points?
3. American Youth Sailing Force (USA), Mike Menninger : 1-7-3-5-7-4 – 39 points
?4. Swedish Youth Challenge (SWE), Charlie Eckberg : 6-2-9-1-4-6 – 38 points?
5. ROFF/Cascais Sailing Team (POR), Bernardo Freitas : 3-6-1-8-8-5 – 35 points
?6. Team TILT (SUI), Lucien Cujean : 8-5-2-2-9-7 – 33 points
?7. Next World Energy (FRA), Arthur Ponroy : 4-4-8-4-5-9 – 32 points
?8. Objective Australia (AUS), Jason Waterhouse : RDG-10-6-10-2-2 – 30 points?
9. All In Racing (GER), Philipp Buhl : 5-8-5-9-3-8 – 28 points?
10. USA45 Racing (USA), Charlie Buckingham : 9-9-10-7-10-10 – 11 points
?(RDG = redress awarded by International Jury)

Team Tilt sailing team :
Lucien Cujean, skipper
Bryan Mettraux, tactician
Thomas Mermod, headsail trimmer
Jonas Schagen, bowman
Lionel Vaucher, floater
Jérémy Bachelin, wing trimmer
Mikis Psarofaghis, bowman
Jocelyn Keller, Team Tilt Website Facebook page