Red Bull Youth AC Teams Selected

February 25, 2013

The challengers in the Red Bull Youth America's Cup have finished racing and have been weeded down to ten teams to race in September in San Francisco.

The final day of racing was on Sunday, with a light northerly pushing the boats around a course set up just outside of the Berkeley Circle. In the early days of racing the crews were much more animated, but by the end of the selections they had calmed down and looked very professional. Philipp Buhl, skipper of the German team STG/NRV summed up their experience. "It was a brilliant week. We didn’t expect to be first, but we stayed grounded and kept improving our maneuvers and team work. In the end, we learned not to talk so much. Everyone learned to do their job and just did it.”

More of Sunday's racing. ©2013 Gilles Martin-Raget/ACEA

Not all of the racing was in calm waters, and all the teams proved they could handle the often difficult AC45. "We went into this with a plan not to let them sail in over 15 knots of wind and to keep the teams inside [south of] the Bay Bridge," said Hans-Peter Steinacher, Co-Sports Director of the RBYAC. "We broke both of those rules on the very first day! Fortunately, the teams have shown us they are able to handle the boats in conditions that are on the limit."

The kids didn't flip a boat even though Sir Russell has.

Selection Series Teams advancing to Red Bull Youth America’s Cup:
Australia – Objective Australia
Germany – STG/NRV Youth Team
New Zealand – Full Metal Jacket Racing
Portugal – ROFF/Cascais Sailing Team
Switzerland – Team TILT

Youth crews supported by America's Cup World Series Teams:
France – Energy Team/Name TBC
New Zealand – Emirates Team New Zealand/Name TBC
Sweden – Artemis Racing/Swedish Youth Challenge
USA – Oracle Team USA/American Youth Sailing Force (SFO)
USA – Oracle Team USA/USA45 Racing (USA)

For much more, see www.americascup.com.