Team DutchSail - Janssen de Jong to represent Netherlands at Liberty Bitcoin Youth Foiling World Cup
by Team DutchSail - Janssen de Jong 2 Feb 2021 08:41 PST
24 February - 12 March 2021
DutchSail Jansen de Jong, foiling 69F Muiden, The Netherlands © Sander van der Borch / Team DutchSail
While the eyes of the sailing world are pointed towards the incredible America's Cup currently taking place in New Zealand, the world's best sailing talents are gathering in Italy to prepare themselves for the upcoming Liberty Bitcoin Youth Foiling World Cup.
The Youth Foiling World Cup will take place from the 24th of February till the 12th of March. Highlight: the final weekend from the 10th till the 12th of March. The sailors of Team DutchSail - Janssen de Jong will represent the Netherlands.
Youth Foiling World Cup replaces Youth America's Cup
The Liberty Bitcoin Youth Foiling World Cup is internationally seen as the replacement for the Youth America's Cup. The youth regatta for the America's Cup has been cancelled due to the travel restrictions currently in place.
With the Youth Foiling World Cup, that will be held in the spectacular 69F-class, there is a new platform created for the talents of the sport. A platform in a world championship setting where these talents can measure themselves in one-design foiling monohulls.
Team DutchSail - Janssen de Jong
The team representing the Netherlands, Team DutchSail - Janssen de Jong is together since the end of July 2020 and will be sailing on behalf of KNZ&RV Muiden en KRZV de Maas from Rotterdam. After the cancellation of the Youth America's Cup the team, coached by former Olympian Pieter-Jan Postma, aimed for a new goal, which is now found in this world cup series in the 69F.
Intensive selection process
After training in many different setups over the last couple of months, a month before the start of the regatta coach Postma made up his final selection.
Postma: "It has been a fantastic and challenging process these last couple of months in which all nine different sailors have been giving their strength and contribution in their own way. I dare to say that is has been an intensive selection process, with only cool people who I would have liked to all give a place on the team. If everyone stays fit, we will be sailing with helmsman Cas van Dongen, Scipio Houtman on the main and Ismene Usman as Flight controller on the boards. If necessary, we have a couple of very strong sailors on standby who can jump in at any given time."
Cas van Dongen can't wait to finally cross paths with the other teams again. Van Dongen: "I look forward to starting the Youth Foiling World Cup. We have prepared ourselves very well, and we have experienced a lot as a team. These last couple of weeks we had our focus on the right places. We know how to sail the boat. We are fit, happy and feel privileged to experience our sport especially in these for everyone challenging times."
Team DutchSail - Janssen de Jong as one of the top favourites
About the level of competition is Van Dongen clear: "It is a very special event. Many teams did prepare themselves very well. You can expect that everyone that appears at the starting line is there to win. The level is high, and we know what is at stake. We are mainly focused about what we would like to show."
Coach Pieter-Jan Postma sees his team as contender for a podium place. Postma: "I give us a good chance. We have standardized many things. Cas, Scipio and Ismene are now an experienced team and we'll use the next few weeks to prepare ourselves further here in Gaeta. Since the beginning of January, we are here training. With only one goal: to make sure we are optimally prepared to compete with the best sailors in the world."
"Besides us, I see two other big contenders, these are the Italian team Young Azzura and the team representing Hong-Kong, Team Agriplast. But there are also a few teams on which we have no clue on the level they are at now. These are for example the French, Swiss and the American teams."