Please select your home edition
Edition
J Composites J/99

Racing at the Limit on Day 1 of the UniCredit Youth America's Cup

by America's Cup media 17 Sep 13:38 PDT 17-26 September 2024

Sometimes, good things take time, and after a lengthy delay on day one of the UniCredit Youth America's Cup in Barcelona as the lower-end wind-limit of 7.5 knots struggled to be met, suddenly, in the early evening the regatta roared into life. Pressure thundered in from the south-east as dark, angry cloud cover came in from across the Mediterranean, delivering a gusty, solid, 14-16 knots atop a building sea state over a metre in height.

The young sailors were in full survival mode but we saw some of the greatest racing so far of this summer of sailing in Barcelona. Spin-outs, sky-rockets, skids and splash downs - along with some astonishing speeds all around the course, really showcased the emerging next-generation talent at its very best.

The first race got under way just before 1800 CET with the entire fleet stuck on their biggest J1 jibs which added significantly to the challenge, but from the start we saw the experience and brilliance of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team come to the fore.

Marco Gradoni and Gianluigi Ugolini powered into a commanding lead for Italy with pace and pointing ability that was next-level. The Emirates Team New Zealand challenge was negated by an early start, so it was down to American Magic with Harry Melges and Kyle Navin helming, to give chase. Italy however, held it together over six legs of the course, sailing cautiously when required in the waves and surviving some big scares, to notch the first win of the series.

Harry Melges, skipper of NYYC American Magic gave a glimpse into how tough it was on the racetrack, saying: "The conditions were pretty tricky out here this afternoon, we've got really big waves, the whole fleet got stuck out here on the J1's which made the boats tricky to sail. It was definitely quite out of balance; we were in full survival mode for that race."

With the Race Committee instructing the fleet to change down to the smaller J3 jibs, fleet race two got under way with the French and Swiss teams both ordered not to sail due to technical issues on board their boats. Off the start, Emirates Team New Zealand held the lead with Italy and USA close, but a splashdown on the first downwind brought an end to their challenge. Luna Rossa strode into the lead but it was tenuous, and American Magic were chasing hard.

On what became the penultimate leg of the course, and with both boats locked in a match-race as the wind peaked at 18 knots, American Magic nailed the starboard lay line out by the right boundary, and with speeds in excess of 30 knots, took the lead and held it to the finish, with Kyle Navin and Harry Melges crossing the line at 40 knots. Amazing sailing from all the teams.

It's all square at the top of the standings with NYYC American Magic and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli tied onpoints, whilst also sharing third are Emirates Team New Zealand and Athena Pathway.

Harry Melges, skipper of NYYC American Magic, beamed as he came ashore, saying: "The racing was really awesome. It was extremely difficult for us. The first race when the wind came in was quite bumpy and we're on the J1 still which kind of threw the boat out of balance pretty good and made it quite tricky to sail. Then race two got even windier and wavier but we had the correct sails up and it was wild-ride racing, really fun."

Talking about overtaking the Italians upwind, Melges added: "That gave us a lot of confidence and now we've got two races down, we've got what it takes and we're going to keep battling for the rest of the regatta. We definitely like to send it at American Magic."

Marco Gradoni, skipper of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, meanwhile praised his team saying: "It was just amazing to race and I'm really proud of the boys because it was really difficult, especially downwind it was crazy passing through the waves. I'm really proud of the boys because they're less experienced than me but they learn super-fast, and we know we can be better."

The UniCredit Youth America's Cup is off to a high-adrenaline start and is all set to be a thriller right to the bitter end. Tomorrow will see four races, starting from 10:30 CET with two Group A races and two Group B (Invited Teams) races scheduled.

Event website: www.americascup.com/events/unicredit-youth-americas-cup

Group A standings after day 1:

1. NYYC American magic Youth Team - 17pts
2. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Youth Team - 17pts
3. Athena Pathway Youth Team - 8pts
4. Emirates Team New Zealand Youth Team - 8pts
5. Orient Express - L'Oréal Racing Youth Team - 8pts
6. Alinghi Red Bull Racing Youth Team - 6pts

Related Articles

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli dominate Match Race Final
To win the UniCredit Youth America's Cup Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli's young guns, generational talent, dominated the UniCredit Youth America's Cup Final with a comprehensive victory over NYYC American Magic in a high-adrenaline, six-leg, race sailed in winds up to 18 knots and big waves. Posted on 26 Sep
UniCredit Youth America's Cup Finalists set
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and NYYC American Magic set to light up the race course It could well be billed as the 'battle of the new age' as two of the world's finest young sailing talents go head-to-head for the UniCredit Youth America's Cup title. Posted on 24 Sep
Spain & Great Britain secure last Semi Final spots
After a tense day in the UniCredit Youth America's Cup It was a day when the brightest youth sailing talent on the planet announced their arrival into the big league after an outstanding day of racing at the UniCredit Youth America's Cup that saw a total of six races completed in superb Barcelona conditions. Posted on 23 Sep
Fickle breeze keeps the fleet ashore on Sunday
At the UniCredit Youth America's Cup A teasing light weather system sat over Barcelona today with bruised, early morning clouds delivering rain to the area before clearing in the afternoon, leaving mere zephyrs across the racecourse of the UniCredit Youth America's Cup. Posted on 22 Sep
UniCredit Youth America's Cup day 4
Sensational Sweden Imperious on all-action day It was some of the best racing we've seen in this fabulous summer of sailing in Barcelona with the Invited Teams of the UniCredit Youth America's Cup having a rip-roaring day in a big sea state. Posted on 21 Sep
UniCredit Youth America's Cup day 3
SailTeam BCN on top after hometown race win The opening day of fleet racing for the Invited Teams from Australia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden in the UniCredit Youth America's Cup, saw Mother Nature ultimately dictate the schedule. Posted on 20 Sep
UniCredit Youth America's Cup day 2
Luna Rossa confirm star billing Remember the names of Marco Gradoni and Gianluigi Ugolini, two nailed-on future stars of the America's Cup for sure, who today confirmed their top billing, scoring two straight wins for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli on day two. Posted on 18 Sep
UniCredit Youth America's Cup Press Conference
Next Generation set to shine After an early-morning photocall at the Hivernacle del Parc de la Ciutadella the next generation of sailing superstars were presented at a Press Conference ahead of tomorrow's start of the UniCredit Youth America's Cup. Posted on 16 Sep
Youth America's Cup Cancelled
Due To NZ Government Immigration Rules The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) has today confirmed that next year's Youth America's Cup event has been cancelled due to New Zealand Government restrictions around immigration. Posted on 1 Sep 2020
RNZYS confirms 15 teams for Youth America's Cup
There are now only a handful of entry spaces left available The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is delighted to announce that fifteen teams from twelve nations all over the world have already officially entered into the 2021 Youth America's Cup. Posted on 6 Mar 2020
37th AC Store 2024-one-728X90 BOTTOMMaritimo 2023 S600 FOOTERDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px-01 BOTTOM