69F Sailing goes to 2022 Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex
by 69F Sailing 13 Jul 2022 09:04 AEST
July 13-16, 2022
69F Sailing goes to 2022 Race Week © 69F Sailing
69F goes to Newport, the sailing capital in the United States, to participate to the prestigious Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex, hosted by the New York Yacht Club. Six teams have entered and will battle it out from July 13th to the 16th on the waters that hosted America's Cup regattas from 1930 up to 1983 when it was won by John Bertrand and flown to Australia. It was a 12 Metre yacht then, all about displacement, now the Cup has moved to foiling, just like the Persico 69F.
A revolutionary boat and race format that allows any sailor to experience what the Americas Cup sailors do, foiling safely at high speeds in a team. The 69F project is about technology and innovation, but also people and sports: the project aims to create an innovative, spectacular, and sustainable sailing competition format, both economically and environmentally. And this week, for the first time, the forward-looking 69F will proudly and respectfully be racing in one of the most traditional sailing venue, the cradle of American yachting organized by one of the oldest and most celebrated yacht clubs in the world, the New York Yacht Club.
"On behalf of the New York Yacht Club, I'm pleased to welcome the 69F sailors and fleet to Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex, our biggest event of this summer", quotes New York Yacht Club Commodore Paul M. Zabetakis, M.D. "We're honored to play a part in introducing women and youth sailors to foiling technology similar to that which will power the AC40 to be raced by the New York Yacht Club American Magic Youth and Women's teams as well as the team's new AC75 that will be built for New York Yacht Club American Magic's pursuit of the 37th America's Cup."
Among our sailors the up-and-coming sailing star of the foiling, CJ Perez, American 19 years old helming and managing her own team 'Clean Sailors Youth Racing Team'. She is shining bright in the sailing sky as a highly-skilled foiling competitor from Hawaii's burgeoning WASZP sailing circuit and winning the US Nationals in 2021 at only 18 years old.
"I love sailing the 69F because it really teaches you the importance of teamwork" says CJ Perez - Clear Sailors Youth Racing Team. "When you have three people on the boat it becomes so important that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities and can communicate effectively. There's a lot of work that needs to be done to improve the foiling pathway in America. So, being here in Newport with New York Yacht Club, I hope to show people that foiling is the future and to inspire more Americans to get into this revolutionary side of sailing. I'm really looking forward to this week. My goal is to win with Clean Sailors Youth RT and continue learning from the talented teams on this circuit. We have Teresa from Argentina who will be joining us as flight controller for this event and we're all stoked to get back on the boat and race".
In addition to Clean Sailors Youth Racing Team, the only made-in-the-USA team, there will be four teams from Europe and one from New Zealand, representing 'the other' big yacht club in the history of the America's Cup, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron of Auckland.
Racing will start tomorrow, Wednesday, July 13th, and will continue through Saturday July 16th, crowning the winner of this American YFGC who will then join the other events winners to the YFGC Final in November.