NZ Red Bull Foiling Generation winners now head for Worlds
by Red Bull Media 25 Feb 2018 02:57 PST
25 February 2018
Red Bull Foiling Generation - NZ round - February 22-25, 2018 © Graeme Murray
In the City of Sails on February 23-25, New Zealand’s most talented youth sailors delivered thrilling action at the first 2018 stop of Red Bull Foiling Generation – the innovative series created by two-time Olympic champions Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher.
Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie triumphed to claim the NZ leg of the Red Bull Foiling Generation and will go on to compete in the World Final in November this year.
Reigning Red Bull Foiling Generation World Champions Olivia Mackay and Micah Wilkinson had claimed the global title for New Zealand in 2016, and with the pair now over the 16-20 age category, anticipation was high to find the Kiwi sailors who will defend the title. Sixteen teams vied for the honor, flying on their foils across Waitemata¯ Harbour. When two days of intense racing concluded on Sunday, McHardie and McKenzie emerged as the class of the field to top the podium. The new national champions will take on an international line-up in the Red Bull Foiling Generation World Final at Miami, USA, on November 16-18, 2018.
“We are absolutely pumped to come away with the win!” says Isaac McHardie. “Unfortunately we didn’t get to race today but we’re really looking forward to Miami and we’re going to give it our all.”
Today’s light wind conditions meant Auckland unfortunately did not see Semi-Final or Final races being able to be completed, therefore the winners were selected from the 11th heat race concluded on Saturday. This heat was decided on the final downwind leg - Jackson Keon & Tom Fyfe who had lead the entire race found themselves looking over their shoulders, as Isaac McHardie & William McKenzie came hard at them, getting to the final mark by a small margin, and sailing on to win the race.
“New Zealand has a passion for sailing, and people recognize that participating in this series can be a step toward a career in the sport,” said Hagara. “Since Olivia and Micah won the World Final in 2016, she has helmed a wildcard boat in the Extreme Sailing Series, and he sailed in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup. Plus at least 40 previous participants in Red Bull Foiling Generation are currently in Olympic-class programs for Tokyo 2020.“??
Hagara and Steinacher first launched Red Bull Foiling Generation in 2015 to find the world’s most talented young sailors and introduce them to the type of cutting-edge foiling technology used in the America’s Cup. Both males and females participate in two-person teams and race in four-boat heats on Flying Phantom foiling catamarans. After regattas in France and New Zealand, four stops remain to determine national champions in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria and the USA before the World Final.
“I think the World Final is going to be even more competitive this year because sailors are more professional” Steinacher commented.
“When you watch young sailors like these athletes in New Zealand, you’re seeing the future of the sport, and that’s what Red Bull Foiling Generation is all about.”
Next up: The foils will fly in the Netherlands, when Red Bull Foiling Generation sets sail in The Hague on June 28-30, 2018.
Results Red Bull Foiling Generation Auckland (NZL): 1. Isaac McHardie / William McKenzie (NZL) 2. Jackson Keon / Tom Fyfe (NZL) 3. Nick Egnot Johnson / Josh WiJohn (NZL) 4. Oscar Gunn / Taylor Balogh (NZL)
Red Bull Foiling Generation 2017/2018 calendar: La Baule, France, October 25-27, 2017 Auckland, New Zealand, February 23-25, 2018 The Hague, Netherlands, June 28-30, 2018 Geneva, Switzerland, July 13-15, 2018
Achensee, Austria, August 10-12, 2018 Miami, USA, November 9-11, 2018 World Final, Miami, USA, November 16-18, 2018
Technical data for Flying Phantom: The Flying Phantom earns raves as the future of sailing because unlike other small boats, it uses hydrofoil technology to lift completely out of the water. The cutting-edge system allows it to hit blistering speeds of up to 35 knots – almost 40 mph – making it by far the quickest sailing boat of its size in the world. Length: 5,52m (18ft), width: 3,00m, weight: 155kg, mast height: 9,6m, mainsail: 18sqm, Jib: 5,5sqm, Gennaker: 24sqm, crew: 2
About Red Bull Foiling Generation:
After previous seasons in 2015 and 2016, Red Bull Foiling Generation is back, with Flying Phantom catamarans lifting over the water at up to 35 knots in a novel format. Sailors aged 16 to 20 compete in a series of heats on four identical boats of distinct colors until the final race determines the team that will represent its country in the World Final. The biggest youth sailing program on the planet, in 2017/2018 Red Bull Foiling Generation will hold regattas worldwide, starting with La Baule, France in October 2017 and continuing through a World Final in 2018.