America's Cup: Youth AC yacht nails foiling gybes - Video
by Andrew Delves/RNZYS 25 Jun 2020 00:16 PDT
Kotare - America's Cup Youth Boat - AC9F - sailing on the Waitemata - June 24, 2020 © Andrew Delves
The brand new AC9F Youth America's Cup yacht has undergone an official on-water sail testing day in Auckland with fantastic results, and the event is well on track for 2021.
With two female and two male crew on board, the boat was up on the foils straight away, and was pushing speeds of up to thirty knots. The crew even managed a few foiling gybes and showed - even in this early testing stage - that the AC9F is the real deal and will be an incredibly exciting boat to see in action during next year's event.
This first AC9F has been designed and built in New Zealand in a collaboration between Yachting Developments and the NZ Marine Industry, including Southern Spars, Harken and North Sails. It is great to have had this unique project built here in New Zealand, generating jobs and money for the country.
Yachting Developments owner Ian Cook was out on the water to witness the boat in action and was incredibly happy with the outcome.
"It was great to see the boat sailing and working well, we are thrilled with how it performed. It has been a big combined effort from the NZ Marine Industry to make this happen, and to see it flying on the foils at speed today was a massive result for everyone involved."
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has received seventeen confirmed entries with fifteen of these teams' internationals. With more in the pipeline, the goal of twenty teams is looking likely. Collectively the teams are set to bring in over two-hundred-and-fifty people to New Zealand, all of whom will be staying in the country for several months which will have a significantly positive impact on the New Zealand economy. This figure doesn't include families and spectators, which will then push this impact up even further.
"This event is going to be huge for New Zealand and we can't wait to see all the teams here and getting stuck in," RNZYS CEO Hayden Porter said.
"A huge amount of hard work has gone on behind the scenes gathering entries and getting the first boat ready to go. This event is set to have a very important impact on the New Zealand economy, and will bring in the equivalent of two America's Cup teams worth of people into the country for a long period of time. It will generate tens of millions of dollars for New Zealand. Teams will soon begin the immigration process and are willing to quarantine at their expense to ensure they can compete as required."
Gender diversity is one of the main draw cards and motivations for this reinvigorated Youth America's Cup, with all teams required to include two male and two female crew members.
Yachting Developments' and Ocean Race sailor Bianca Cook was on board for the testing and is really excited by the gender diversity rule for this event."It was a lot of fun, I only wish I was young enough to be able to compete in the event next year! I think this event is going to be a great success and the gender diversity makes it really interesting. I think to have this rule in place can only be a positive for the sport of sailing, and paves the way for female sailors to be involved in major sailing events such as the America's Cup."
The Youth America's Cup will take place over a 3 week period in the off sailing days of the Prada Cup Challenger Series finals and America's Cup Match, the dates are February 18th - 23rd, March 1st - 5th, and March 8th - 12th 2021.
Teams are set to begin arriving later this year for training preparations, and now with the first boat in the water and performing well, the countdown is on for what is going to be a superb event in Auckland in 2021.
For more information on the Youth America's Cup see the official website: www.youthamericascup.com
Related Articles
American Magic's AC75 Race Boat Uncloaked
Commissioning of B3 continues in Barcelona
New York Yacht Club American Magic, Challenger for the 37th America's Cup, uncloaked its AC75 race boat, "B3," as commissioning continues in Barcelona.
Posted today at 4:49 pm
Cup Spy April 23: Swiss gain confidence
Alinghi Red Bull Racing had a good session in their new AC75, in a building breeze and foiling fast
Three America's Cup teams sailed - two in new AC75s and the third two-boat testing/trialling in AC40s. Alinghi Red Bull Racing had a good session in their new AC75, in a building breeze foiling comfortably and fast at the end of the session.
Posted on 24 Apr
America's Cup: Revealing Reveals - the new AC75s
In the AC design stakes it's clear that different solutions have been found for similar questions
As the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup nears, the intensity ramps up and with four teams revealing their box-fresh AC75s, it's abundantly clear that different solutions have been found for very similar questions.
Posted on 24 Apr
Cup Spy Apr 24: End of the Beginning for USA
American Magic have reached the end of their AC40 development/test phase. Swiss get fresher breeze
We had a good look at the Alinghi Red Bull Racing AC75 design - which has several interesting design features which we explore in this report. The Swiss had a challenging day. American Magic wound up their AC40 program - with more racing and sail testing
Posted on 24 Apr
Cup Spy Apr 22: Kiwis stress test in 30kts
American Magic battles fresh breeze and off-axis sea stat. ETNZ sail new AC75 Taihoro in 30kts
Emirates Team New Zealand started the new week with a courageous display of heavy air sailing in their new AC75. In Barcelona, American Magic sailed in an increasing breeze, topping 22kts, and a sea state that was 100° off-axis from the wind direction.
Posted on 22 Apr
Emirates Team NZ train in 20-30kts
Emirates Team NZ sailed their new AC75 in winds of 20-25kts and gusting over 30kts
Emirates Team New Zealand sailed for the seventh day of sailing in their new AC75 in winds of 20-25kts gusting over 30kts. Auckland based videographer, Justin Mitchell captured the action from ashore in this extended video.
Posted on 22 Apr
Cup Spy April 19-20: Brits do a limited reveal
INEOS Britannia did a limited reveal of their new AC75 in a pre-dawn rollout
INEOS Britannia did a limited reveal of their new AC75 in a pre-dawn rollout. The yacht, without its rudder, was rotated around the forecourt on its motorized cradle ahead of a long day of mast levelling and instrument calibrating.
Posted on 21 Apr
America's Cup Defender christened "Taihoro"
Cup Defender named “To move swiftly as the sea between both sky and earth.”
In a stirring ceremony, Iwi Ngati Whatua Orakei gifted and blessed the name ‘Taihoro' on the boat that Emirates Team NZ will sail in their defence of the 37th America's Cup. The launch event took place at the Team's base in Auckland's Wynyard Point.
Posted on 18 Apr
Cup Spy Apr 16: Radical Swiss AC75 revealed
Alinghi Red Bull Racing was revealed in daylight - showing some very unique design features
Alinghi Red Bull Racing was revealed in daylight on Tuesday in Barcelona - showing some very unique design features - and looking to leapfrog the other design teams, and make a two generation advance in AC75 design.
Posted on 17 Apr
Cup Spy April 16: Luna Rossa revealed
The first tow-run reached a boat speed of 20 knots before turning around for a second run
The first tow-run reached a boat speed of 20 knots before turning around and proceeding with the second one at 25 knots and finally increasing to 30 knots.
Posted on 17 Apr
