Battle on the Bay: New Zealand and USA Tied for Overall Lead
SAN FRANCISCO (Sept. 2, 2013) – The eyes of the sailing world were on the future stars on Monday, as the NZL Sailing Team and American Youth Sailing Force came away tied for the overall lead at the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup. This 10-team, 8-country fleet race is delivering the tightest and most competitive racing seen on San Francisco Bay this summer at the halfway point of the regatta. In fact, four different countries have taken a first place flag in the four fleet races so far – USA, New Zealand, Portugal and Sweden.
The top seven teams are separated by just 3 points with four races remaining over the next two days, with double points on the line in the final race.
“We’re surprised to be in the lead, but happy to be there and looking forward to getting back out tomorrow,” said NZL skipper Peter Burling, a silver medalist in the 49er class at the 2012 Olympics. “We didn’t have a great start to the day but got an alright finish on the board in the second race to bring us back into it. I think it’ll come down to the last day anyway, so we’re trying to build as a group and looking forward to each day as it comes.”
“The racing’s really tight, so it’s not too surprising that the standings are as close as they are,” said American Youth Sailing Force skipper Mike Menninger, a three-time collegiate All-American from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. “I think we’re sailing well, but we’re not too worried about the standings with two days to go. We have to treat each day separately.”
The ROFF/Cascais Sailing Team from Portugal won the day’s first race, Race 3 of the series. Helmsman Bernardo Freitas nailed the start, to the leeward of the pack, and the crew led at all six mark roundings enroute to a 28-second victory over Team Tilt from Switzerland.
“Today we pushed a little harder on the start. That was our bad point yesterday,” said skipper and wing trimmer Antonio Mello. “The start was really good, we got to the reach mark first and then we tried to make the race as simple as possible. The fleet is very competitive.”
Race 4 might’ve been the closest of the series. The Swedish Youth Challenge, Team Tilt, NZL Sailing Team and Emirates Team New Zealand battled it out at the top of the fleet, with the Swedes and Swiss trading the lead at least four times. The Swedes led around the last windward mark and held on for a 5-second victory over the Swiss, who brought back memories of that country’s sailing prowess at the 2007 America’s Cup finals.
Chris Draper, the skipper of America’s Cup Challenger Luna Rossa, was on-hand to watch these 10 one-design AC45 catamarans race each other on the same bay that will host the 34th America’s Cup Finals.
The Red Bull Youth America’s Cup will again take center stage on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 11am PT/2 pm ET, with more than 70 territories around the world broadcasting live coverage and replays.
Red Bull Youth America’s Cup – Provisional Standings
1. NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ (NZL) 2-4-7-3 – 28 points
2. American Youth Sailing Force (USA) 1-7-3-5 – 28 points
3. Team TILT (SUI) 8-5-2-2 – 27 points
4. Swedish Youth Challenge (SWE) 6-2-9-1 – 26 points
5. Full Metal Jacket Racing (NZL) 7-1-4-6 – 26 points
6. ROFF/Cascais Sailing Team (POR) 3-6-1-8 – 26 points
7. Next World Energy (FRA) 4-3-8-4 – 25 points
8. All In Racing (GER) 5-8-5-9 – 17 points
9. Objective Australia (AUS) RDG-10-6-10 – 9.3 points
10. USA45 Racing (USA) 9-9-10-7 – 9 points
Fast facts about the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup:
- The Red Bull Youth America’s Cup runs from September 1-4 and is based out of the America’s Cup Village at Marina Green.
- The format is fleet racing – 2 races per day, for an 8 race series, with racing beginning at 11:10am each day. The final race will carry double-points.
- The boats are AC45 catamarans powered by giant wing sails – the same boats used by the America’s Cup teams in the AC World Series from 2011-2013.
- Teams are composed of six sailors, aged 19-24, who represent their country through a nationality rule.
About the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup
For the first time in the history of the America’s Cup, young, talented sailors have a clear pathway towards competing for one of the most prestigious trophies in sport. Racing takes place in the same high performance, wing-sailed AC45 catamarans that are used in the America’s Cup World Series. The Red Bull Youth America’s Cup is scheduled for September 1-4, 2013, in San Francisco, during the heart of the 34th America’s Cup racing season.
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