Alinghi Red Bull Racing Youth & Women hit the water in Barcelona

Alinghi Red Bull Racing Youth & Women hit the water in Barcelona © Alinghi Red Bull Racing

After a rigorous selection process last year, Alinghi Red Bull Racing announced their final roster for the UniCredit Youth & Puig Women's America's Cup in September, featuring 12 talented sailors to represent Switzerland.

Since their selection, the athletes have been engaged in various individual projects and intensive simulator training, honing their skills and preparing for the challenges ahead.

This week, the Alinghi Red Bull Racing Youth & Women's teams gathered in Barcelona for an intensive training camp, marking their first time sailing the AC40s in the Mediterranean waters. The last time they met was on the snowy slopes of Zermatt, Switzerland, and moving to the warm seas of Barcelona marks a significant milestone in their journey.

Alexandra Stalder from the Women's team expressed her excitement at sailing in Barcelona: "My first day on the AC40 in Barcelona was really emotional. The hours spent in the simulator with my teammates were fundamental—it seemed like we already knew the boat. Once it started to fly, it was amazing how high we were and the speed we were going!"

Alinghi Red Bull Racing Youth & Women hit the water in Barcelona - photo © Alinghi Red Bull Racing

For the past two months, Morgan Lauber has been actively involved at the Alinghi Red Bull Racing base as part of the Shore & Tech Pathway. This initiative has integrated a select few young sail racers into various departments, including the shore team, electronics, data analysis, and design. As a boat builder and member of the Youth team, Lauber has gained hands-on experience in every aspect of the Swiss campaign while also sailing the AC40 yacht. "It's amazing how you feel the G-force and how responsive the boat is. From the outside, everything looks stable, but inside the boat is shaking with speed."

The teams have been experimenting with different pairings, placing members in various roles to assess their performance. Matias Bühler, head coach for the Youth & Women's teams, praised the progress made. "It's been really impressive to see how they've jumped onboard and found their marks so quickly, especially in such wavy conditions."

At this stage of the campaign, every hour on the water matters. With their first taste of sailing in Barcelona and an intensive week of training and bonding, the groundwork has been laid. The teams are now eagerly anticipating the start of full-time training this summer.