Alinghi Red Bull Racing Youth & Women's America's Cup Selections: from 69 to 20 candidates

Alinghi Red Bull Racing © Alinghi Red Bull Racing

Following three rounds of Swiss Qualifiers over the last few weeks, the Alinghi Red Bull Racing selection committee has narrowed the pool down to 20 candidates for the final phase to be held in Barcelona this autumn. Nine women and 11 men are a step closer to the Youth & Puig Women's America's Cup.

From the 69 candidates selected for the three qualifying rounds in Switzerland over the summer, Alinghi Red Bull Racing has selected 20 Swiss sailors to take part in the final Youth & Women's America's Cup teams' selection phase scheduled for the autumn in Barcelona.

Coach and selection committee member Matías Bühler looks back at the candidates selected for Phase 3: "It wasn't an easy choice for us. We really enjoyed meeting the 69 sailors who represented a mix of talent and youth. We're well aware of the opportunity that the Youth & Women's America's Cup represents for those selected."

After all, five of the current Swiss America's Cup team were members of the Red Bull Youth America's Cup teams in 2013 and 2017, illustrating the obvious springboard that these regattas represent.

Nine women — four of whom are eligible for the Youth team — and 11 men will travel to Barcelona in October for various selection events that will include an assessment of the candidates sailing and ashore in competition mode. It will also be a chance for them to meet members of the team and to discover the world of the America's Cup. At the end of the final selection phase, six women and six youth sailors will be selected for the Youth & America's Cup teams.

"Our objective is to find twelve athletes who will show total commitment to winning," explained Hans-Peter Steinacher, double Olympic medallist, and member of the selection committee. "Some of the candidates will also be preparing for the Olympics. My advice, for these candidates as for all sailors, is to spend as much time as possible foiling. Whatever the platform, it's the best way to progress."

The list of candidates selected for Phase 3 is available below. Representing all the regions of Switzerland the sailors have very different backgrounds, from solo sailing to Olympic sailing, and ocean racing to foiling. We look forward to seeing them all in Barcelona in October for the final selection stage.

Alinghi Red Bull Racing - photo © Alinghi Red Bull Racing

Quotes

Matías Bühler, coach and member of the selection committee: "It wasn't an easy choice for us. We really enjoyed meeting the 69 sailors, who represented a mix of talent and youth. We're well aware of the opportunity that the Youth & Women's America's Cup represents for those selected. We looked at them from four different angles to assess each profile as fairly as possible. We pooled our analyses, our feelings and the results of the tests and the sailing to define the final choice together.

"I'm now looking forward to having them here with us and seeing how they develop. They will discover the world of sailing from a new angle. They'll get a taste of the America's Cup from the inside by meeting the team. It will be interesting to see them in a Cup atmosphere."

Hans-Peter Steinacher, member of the Selection Committee: "Being able to be on the boats with the candidates in Switzerland was the most important thing for me, despite the few capsizes which showed that they were pushing hard! We quickly spotted those with experience in foiling as well as those with talent. We also gave a chance to those who have been working on projects at the highest level for several years, as they have proved that they know how to work hard. That's what we're looking for: six women and six youth sailors who are ready to give it their all for a year with the aim of winning. We are, however, aware of the timing of the Olympic Games, which is not a problem for us and which we see as a complementary programme.

"Whether they are selected for Phase 3 or not, my recommendation to all candidates is to foil as much as possible on all platforms. It's a completely different way of sailing. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the shortlisted candidates develop in the space of a few months."

Candidates selected for Phase 3

Women

• Nathalie Brugger, Fribourg, Gstaad Yacht Club / CV Estavayer /CN Morges
• Anja Camusso*, Minusio, YCAs / SNNY
• Maud Jayet, Lutry, Société Nautique de Genève
• Marie Mazuay*, Aire-la-Ville, Club Nautique Versoix / Société Nautique de Genève
• Elodie-Jane Mettraux, Hyères, COYCH Hyères
• Laurane Mettraux, Versoix, Club Nautique de Versoix
• Maja Siegenthaler, Bern, Thunersee-Yachtclub
• Alexandra Stalder*, Oppeano, Circolo Vela Torbole
• Anja von Allmen*, Spiez, Gstaad Yacht Club / Regatta CLub Oberhofen / Yacht Club Spiez

*Eligible for the Youth America's Cup

Youth

• Andrea Aschieri, Gland, Société Nautique de Nyon
• Arno de Planta, Pully, Société Nautique de Genève / Cercle de la Voile de Vidy
• Arnaud Grange, Anières, Société Nautique de Genève
• Morgan Lauber, Ballens, Club Nautique Morges
• Janik Müller, Rorschacherberg, DRCS / SCR
• Joshua Richner, Courgevaux, Gstaad Yacht Club / Thunersee-Yachtclub
• Nilo Schärer, Hinterkappelen, Thunersee-Yachtclub / Gstaad Yacht Club / Regatta Club Oberhofen
• Jann Schüpbach, Thun, Thunersee Yachtclub / Regattaclub Oberhofen
• Matthieu Sistek, Lutry, Club Nautique de Lutry
• Gauthier Verhulst, Goumoens-la-Ville, Gstaad Yacht Club / Club Nautique Pully
• Nick Zeltner, Oberhofen, Regatta Club Oberhofen