Please select your home edition
Edition
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - LEADERBOARD

Andoo Team Australia on form for start of UniCredit Youth America's Cup regatta

by Andoo Team Australia 17 Sep 2024 02:36 AEST

The Andoo Team Australia campaign for the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup gets underway this week when the six invited nations start competition in Barcelona and Australia once again flys the flag on the America’s Cup global stage.

The Andoo Australia squad, led by Skipper Cole Tapper, are in fighting form with two successful practice days under their belt, scoring two impressive wins from three races day one and a further win today in the only practice race, with the team in strong form leading into the start of their regatta on 18 September.

After hundreds of hours of simulator training in Sydney and just a handful of hours on the water on the actual high-speed foiling AC40 yachts in Barcelona, the sailors are keen to commence competition which will involve six fleet races in their group for the qualification series.

On Wednesday 18 September, Tapper will co-helm the four-person crew with Jack Ferguson on starboard helm and trimmers Max Paul and Tom Needham. They will be supported by youth squad members Annie Wilmot, George Richardson and Miles Davey.

Tapper acknowledged the AC40 was a highly complex craft to master but said both the Australian preparation over the past year and the “vertical learning curve” on water in the actual boats had prepared them well.

Tapper provided some insight to the team preparation during the UniCredit Youth Competition media conference on the morning of 16 August ahead of the regatta.

“We have spent a lot of time in the simulator, hundreds and hundreds of hours, and the key thing we've learned is how to find the problem when the boat is out of balance. With these boats you're leaning on two points in the water and everything has to be lined up for you to feel locked in, but there definitely is that locked-in feeling. So that's what we've learned on the sim, how to troubleshoot those problems.

“And then to get on the boat, the sensation is fairly different when you're actually flying above the waves and you've got 80 kilometres of wind on your face and spray,” he said.

Tapper described his live AC40 training experience - “The first bear away I did, we popped up and we had some Barcelona sea state, which was not very appreciated on my end, but I poked my head out the side of the cockpit and was looking a long way down to the water!”

Andoo Team Australia CEO Peter Wrigley said the team were very proud to be the ones back flying the Australian flag at the world’s most prestigious sailing event, and one of the greatest sporting events in the world.

“It has been because of the support and dedication of so many people that we are here at the starting line in Barcelona. Our team is well prepared and ready for competition on the world stage and I am confident that they will do themselves and Australia proud,” he said.

They have had significant mentorship on the pathway from Patrons John Bertrand AO, who won the Cup for Australia in 1983, and current record setting sailing champion John Winning.

The Group B invited nations of Australia, Spain, The Netherlands, Canada, Germany and Sweden will complete eight races in the qualifying rounds on alternate days to the Group A competitors of New Zealand, Great Britain, USA, Italy, Switzerland and France who commence competition on 17 September.

The top three teams from each group will progress through to a finals series of four fleet races starting on 22 September followed by a winner takes all Match Race final on 26 September.

The Puig Women’s America’s Cup will follow after a training program with racing starting on 5 October.

Related Articles

Andoo Team Australia 2024 supporter update
A memorable chapter in Australia's return to the most prestigious competition in world sailing The Andoo Team Australia Challenge campaign for 2024 UniCredit Youth and Puig Women's America's Cup has wrapped up, marking a memorable chapter in Australia's return to the most prestigious competition in world sailing. Posted on 12 Nov 2024
Andoo Team Australia bows out
Of the Puig Women's America's Cup The Women's squad for Andoo Team Australia bowed out of the Puig Women's America's Cup qualifying series in a tightly fought battle for fourth place today in Barcelona. Posted on 8 Oct 2024
Women's America's Cup racing delayed a day
Barcelona weather conditions have again impacted racing The Barcelona weather conditions have again impacted racing with AC37 organisers postponing the Group B Puig Women's America's Cup racing until tomorrow, 8 October, meaning Andoo Team Australia will have a morning start in the final qualifying fleet races Posted on 7 Oct 2024
Andoo Team Australia in top 3 after D1
Four races completed for Group B on the first day In a day of literal ups and downs Australia survived and shone to achieve a crucial third place on the overall rankings of the six B Group teams after 4 races in varying conditions on their first day of the Puig Women's America's Cup Posted on 6 Oct 2024
Andoo Team Australia prepare
Ready for Puig Women's America's Cup to start History is in the making in Barcelona a day away from the start of the Puig Women's America's Cup on October 5th and Andoo Team Australia has taken to the stage. Posted on 5 Oct 2024
Australia's women lift into practice racing mode
Andoo Team Australia women finally got the chance to line up with their Group B After three practice days in Barcelona on the Puig Women's America's Cup AC40's, the Andoo Team Australia women finally got the chance to line up head to head with their Group B competitors for three practice races. Posted on 3 Oct 2024
Andoo Team Australia's Women's squad hit the water
Practicing ahead of the Puig Women's America's Cup Andoo Team Australia's Women's squad hit the water in Barcelona for Puig Women's America's Cup first practice day today. Posted on 29 Sep 2024
Andoo Team Australia bow out in style
Winning the final race of the 2024 UniCredit Youth America's Cup semi-final Andoo Team Australia led from start to finish to win the last race of the semi-final but missed a spot in the two-boat final. Posted on 24 Sep 2024
Andoo Team Australia youth through to semi-final
At the 2024 UniCredit Youth America's Cup The Andoo Team Australia youth crew have smashed out a convincing win today in race 7 of 8, to secure their spot in the UniCredit Youth America's Cup semi-final tomorrow in Barcelona. Posted on 23 Sep 2024
Andoo Team Australia Youth America's Cup update
Back to racing today after cancellation yesterday With racing canceled yesterday due to lack of wind after a long day waiting, today we are scheduled to race in two Groups to help get all UniCredit Youth teams through the competition. Posted on 23 Sep 2024
Pantaenius Sail 2025 AUS FooterBoat Books Australia FOOTERZhik 2024 December