Red Bull Youth America's Cup - Two days to go

by Agence Mer et Media on 30 Aug 2013 The official training is now over in San Francisco for the sixty young sailors competing in the Red Bull Youth America's Cup. The winged AC45s have been taken out of the water for final checks and measurement procedures.

In the sunshine in California, everything is going well for the French on Next World Energy, as they were able to test the big gennaker displaying the colours of the partner for this America’s Cup for the under 24s and were also able to practice their manoeuvres and work on their starts, trimming and onboard communication during this final week of training.

Tomorrow (Saturday), the ten winged catamarans will be back in the water in San Francisco Bay on the eve of battle. Speed runs will be set up as a prologue to the main event, in order to offer some excitement to the public and get the crews get warmed up before racing begins on Sunday. For the boys recruited and trained by the French Energy Team set up by the Peyron brothers, the big day is drawing near…

Quotes
Antoine Mermod, Team Manager for Next World Energy: 'During the last training sessions, we did much better in the start phase… but were ten centimetres over the line in one of them. It is bound to be difficult, as the standard of the fleet here is very high with everyone around the same level… but we’re ready. I think we have come up with some good adjustments, particularly when sailing downwind. The various checks and measurements went without hitch and we’ll be getting the boat back in the water to get out there sailing again on Saturday. This time it will be a sort of prologue for the big one, before the start of the competition and the serious stuff on Sunday.'

Arthur Ponroy, Skipper Next World Energy (FRA): 'France has been strong in multihull sailing but there is a lot of talent in this fleet. It won’t be easy to win. We have had good advice from Loick Peyron and the Energy Team from the AC World Series. His most important tip was, ‘have fun!’': Amusez-vous bien !'.

The Next World Energy crew:
Arthur Ponroy – Skipper
Antoine Lauriot-Prévost – Helmsman
Hubert Savatier – Tactician
Romain Bellet – Bowman / wing trimmer
Valentin Bellet – Trimmer
Paul Dagault – Main bowman
Edouard-Marie Alikiagaléléi – Bowman / trimmer

Reminder of the programme for the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup:
From Sunday first to Wednesday 4th September, there will be two fleet races each day, as in the AC45 World Series. Reserved for under 24 year olds. Ten teams representing eight countries are competing, including the French on Next World Energy. There will be six youngsters aboard each boat.