Andoo Australia youth prove Aussie America’s Cup talent alive and well if challenge launched

A quartet of young sailors are proof positive Australia has the talent and mongrel to be “back at the table” in upcoming America’s Cups.

September 24, 2024. UniCredit Youth America's Cup, Race Day 7, Semi Finals. Andoo Team Australia Youth Team, Athena Pathway - Youth

A quartet of young sailors are proof positive Australia has the talent and mongrel to be “back at the table” and a player again in upcoming America’s Cup regatta after their performance at the Youth regatta in Spain.

Despite having less time than most teams on the AC40s raced at the in Youth Americas Cup - seen as a pathway to the main event for future steerers, tactician and trimmers - the Australian crew of Cole Tapper, fellow helmsman Jack Ferguson and trimmers Tom Needham and Max Paul make the semi-finals of the Youth Cup - and won a race.

It was the combination of an extraordinary week plus of racing, weather delays and drama for the Andoo Australian crews involving a numerous splashdowns, spectacular nosedive, hitting a piece of bamboo on the racecourse and then last-minute equipment failures on the final day including a toggle used to trim the starboard traveller snapping off.

While the Australians failed to make the two-boat match racing finale of the youth America’s Cup being contested by Italy and the USA, they did make a mark.

The youth regatta throws limelight on burgeoning sailing talent with Australians always in high demand across-the-board as part of Challenger syndicates and even the defender campaign.

Australia racing at the UniCredit Youth America's Cup. Picture: Richard Pinto/America’s Cup

America’s Cup great James Spithill, who grew up on Sydney’s northern beaches, is the current skipper of the Italian Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team ready to take on Great Britain in the Louis Vuitton final

He is one of just multiple Australians working behind-the-scenes or actually racing the AC 75s in the America’s Cup proper.

In the America’s Cup youth event Australian sailor and former America’s Cup winner Kyle Langford from Newcastle was the coach of the Swedish team.

The British and Italian teams racing. Picture: Richard Pino/America’s Cup

“I think it’s pretty promising there’s this budding group of youth talent coming through who want to make waves as well,’’ said 21-year-old Jack Ferguson.

“We wanted to prove to ourselves and everybody else that we are on the pace and even with the cards stacked against us like no access to the boats like other teams, and having the least amount of sailing time out of every team in the semi-finals, we still manage to win a race.

“I think we prove to the world that we have wh at it takes and that Australia deserves a seat at the table.”

Sydney businessman John Winning Junior has backed the Andoo Australian youth and women’s team and is in Barcelona measuring interest for a full tilt campaign for the next editions of the Americas Cup.

Like Ferguson he would like to stem the talent drain of too Australian sailors to other teams with an Australian challenge in the future.

While the youth team have wrapped up their time in Barcelona, Australia will field a new crew in the women’s event starting late next week.

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Originally published as Andoo Australia youth prove Aussie America’s Cup talent alive and well if challenge launched