America's Cup Endeavour Junior Hobie Wave Regatta - Preview
by David Brookes 5 Dec 2016 13:27 AEDT
20-26 June 2017
Youth sailors to compete aboard Hobie Waves at the 2017 America's Cup
The America's Cup is the pinnacle of competitive sailing. Teams from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand and Sweden will race the 2017 America's Cup in Bermuda, aboard amazing wing sail foiling catamarans that literally fly across the water. The Hobie Wave is a catamaran just right for the young sailors of the America's Cup Endeavour Programme. Hobie has provided Waves for the use of school-aged kids in Bermuda, New York, Chicago, and Toulon. The kids see the America's Cup boats and then the Hobie Wave and instantly get the connection.
"The Waves are just like the Americas Cup boats but smaller, so you can experience how the America's Cup catamarans feel," says Rose, a Bermuda High School student. "It takes a crew to go fast so you can build team work." Just like on the America's Cup boats.
In an exciting development, teams of two youth sailors from around the world are invited to race aboard Hobie Wave catamarans on the big stage of the America's Cup next summer. Just like the America's Cup, teams will hail from France, the United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden and the United States. The host country Bermuda will have a team, as will as many other countries as possible – up to 16 total.
Qualifying races will be contested leading up to the main event: the Hobie Wave halftime race in front of the America's Cup TV cameras and thousands and thousands of spectators on June 24, 2017.
All sailors need to be at least 15 years old or younger by December 31, 2017 and they need to be members of the Hobie Class Association. Applications should be submitted to David Brookes, Executive Director of the International Hobie Class Association, no later than 31 January 2017. Visit Hobie's America's Cup Endeavour webpage for more information including the notice of race and application instructions.