Global interest
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has had significant interest from yacht clubs all over the globe entering teams into the revamped 2021 Youth America’s Cup.
26 February 2020
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With the initial entry period closing Saturday 29 February, the RNZYS has confirmed that ten teams have already officially entered the event and it is shaping up to be a melting pot of global youth sailing talent.
Since the event was announced, there have been over forty high quality expressions of interest received.
Many of these clubs or teams are still in the process of getting their entry completed so the event is looking to be fully subscribed as planned. Whilst entries remain open past this initial entry period, those entering 1 March – 30 September 2020 will incur a late entry fee. Teams receive preferences to training periods pending the order in which the entries were received so the earlier the entry the better.
Teams that have entered so far span from countries all over the world, with confirmed entries from; New Zealand, China, Australia, Italy, Hong Kong, Switzerland(2), Russia, Argentina and the Netherlands.
The first Australian team to enter so far is from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Sydney, a club who has a strong alliance with the RNZYS when it comes to youth sailing.
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The team is sponsored by Objective Racing. Tony Walls from Objective Racing is excited about the event and said.
“There are many so parallels between the format of the 2021 Youth Americas Cup as a club based challenge and our values in developing youth that it’s only fitting we again campaign for the Youth America’s Cup as Objective Australia.
For more than a decade Objective has been creating opportunities and community role models through youth sailing. Throughout our program we have always maintained our values of remaining club based, youth oriented, talent nurturing and gender equal.”
One of the most exciting aspects of the 2021 Youth America’s Cup is the new AC9F foiling mono-hulls that the racing will take place in in. These boats have been developed by Yachting Developments with some input from the Emirates Team New Zealand design team and the first boat is due to be launched in the next two weeks.
RNZYS CEO Hayden Porter, who has been tasked with managing and receiving the entries, is over the moon with the interest he has received since the event was announced late last year.
“Having daily contact with a large number of the original EOI’s we are now very confident of high numbers attending this event. Some nations have several clubs looking to enter which is great to see. The event has been priced so that it is achievable for most clubs to get an entry in and secure their spot, and then focus on the fundraising and sponsorship elements as they prepare with the next entry instalment not due until June.”
The multi-leg event will begin with a fleet racing seeding event in China in November 2020 and then a match racing event in Auckland from 18 – 23 February 2021 with the finals held between 8 – 12 March 2021 right outside the RNZYS in the shadow of Auckland’s iconic Harbour Bridge.
In line with the original America’s Cup Deed of Gift it is designed to be a ‘friendly competition between yacht clubs of all nations’. Unlike previous editions, multiple entries from various countries will be allowed.
The age restriction for the crews is they must be between 18-24 years of age. To encourage diversity at this high level the teams will consist of a mixed crew of four sailors on each boat, including two females and two male sailors with a maximum crew weight of 311kgs.
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