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02 October 2024

The AC 40 show at the Youth America's Cup

Entushiasm and a touch of Youthfullreckleness make for incredible race

Elena Giolai/SLAM

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In 2013, Peter Burling, Blair Tuke and Andy Maloney had won the Youth America’s Cup, dreaming of one day joining “the big boys”. And so it was: all three, after raising the Cup to the skies in San Francisco, are now aboard the AC75 Taihoro with Emirates Team New Zealand, integral members of the defending team, eager to take on the challenge for the Louis Vuitton Cup. At this year’s edition of the Youth AC, Leonard Takahashi, Oscar Gunn, Veerle ten Have, Josh Armit and Seb Menzies came close to repeating history, but for now their dream of achieving their predecessors’ victory and joining the America’s Cup team will remain just that. The young Kiwis didn't make it through to the semi-finals, but they did have the opportunity to experience a fantastic event, a spectacle that surely exceeded anything they could have imagined.

We thought we had seen enough of the breathtaking crosses and constant thrills with the Louis Vuitton Cup semi-finals, but the Unicredit Youth America's Cup exceeded all expectations. The races onboard the AC40s looked less like foil monohulls and more like shrapnel soaring in every direction without much concern given to the fierce winds and tall waves, which seemed to only boost the excitement of each and evert race, with a few inevitable splashdowns. With the AC40s there we witnessed “acrobatics” not unlike those of a fast-paced video game, such was the ease and fluidity with which the young international sailing talents manoeuvred those flying mini-foils. Despite not being “foil natives,” the mastery and freshness demonstrated by all 12 teams made them certainly look as if they were.

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In terms of pure spectacle, at times they perhaps even surpassed the greatest AC75s, at least until the LVC semi-finals came around. Then again, the monotype has always offered incredible starts, passes and crosses. Among the participants were a substantial number of champions, more or less renowned on the global circuit, but for all of them the excitement and daring were difficult to hide, fearlessly flying at 40 knots, crashing and picking themselves back up. The sheer fun of tasting these new “skyrocketing” speeds was palpable, and it will be difficult to bring them back to earth after such an incredible experience.

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Among the 12 teams was of course Emirates Team New Zealand, who raced in Group A alongside the America's Cup challengers: INEOS Britannia (GBR), Alinghi Red Bull Racing (SUI), Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team (ITA), Orient Express (FRA), and American Magic (USA). The other six invited teams competed in Group B, representing Spain, Holland, Canada, Germany, Sweden, and Australia. Unfortunately, the young Kiwis missed out on claiming their place in the semi-finals, won instead by the top 6 teams, despite having fought valiantly to the end against the British onboard Athena Pathway and the French team Orient Express L'Oreal. They will, however, come away with a wealth of experience and the honour of having represented the defender's Youth Team.


Honour and congratulations go to the winners of Luna Rossa, with the talented Marco Gradoni on board, who clearly dominated this exciting edition of the Unicredit Youth America's Cup!

Luca Rizzotti and the secrets behind the AC40

At the SLAM stand in the Genoa International Boat Show, the AC40 simulators were a tremendous hit with many fans of all ages. Join us as we discover the secrets of the AC40, the programmes and the importance of the simulator itself for flying this foiling monohull, during our chat with Class manager Luca Rizzotti, already known for Foiling Week.

  • Luca Rizzotti, AC 40 class manager, explaining how the simulator works at the Genoa Boat Show

  • iQFoil Olympic gold medallist Marta Maggetti and photographer Martina Orsini busy with the simulator at the Genoa Boat Show

Did you expect the AC40s in the Unicredit Youth America's Cup to outperform the AC75s in both spectacle and maneuverability?

L.R: The AC40s are like go-karts compared to the AC75s, so incredibly manoeuvrable: of course, a fleet race allows for a lot more interaction between boats crossing each other and passing the buoys.

What is your greatest satisfaction from this “debut”, specifically for the younger generation?

L.R: Seeing that in the final Youth race the AC40s, even in borderline conditions, remained manageable at top speeds close to 50 knots.

How important do you think the Youth America's Cup is for recruiting future America's Cup crews?

L.R: Fundamentally important. Look at the winners of the Luna Rossa team. I’m sure most of them will have a place in the next Cup.

The AC40 is a pinnacle of technology and innovation: how do you balance the need to have a cutting-edge boat with the need to make it accessible to young sailors?

L.R: The AC40 is clearly a technological powerhouse beyond the reach of the average young sailor, at least from an economic standpoint. Team New Zealand has invested a lot on the success of this boat and on making it available to the Youth and Women’s AC. Thanks to the simulator, boys and girls have been able to train a lot, and speed up their reaction times in all the various potential scenarios.

Following the America's Cup, what is in store for the AC40 class?

L.R: The Class includes a women's circuit and an Open circuit starting in 2025. We are still finalising the programmes and hope to announce them by the end of the Cup. 

How can a young sailor take part in other AC40 events?

L.R: Forming an AC40 Circuit will create many new opportunities for young and female sailors to take part in events. New teams, in particular, will need the experience gained by these talents and bring them into their ranks as they move forward as quickly as possible. 

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The class rules will determine a minimum number of simulated and in-water sailing hours in order to be eligible for regattas. Just like a flight simulator, the one used for the AC40 accelerates learning times by making the necessary adjustments automatic and safe, while also freeing up their minds to get a better picture of the racecourse and work on tactics.

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SLAM

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