America’s Cup youth regatta: Andoo Australia results, day 1 race winners in invited pool racing

Australia finally raced in anger at the America’s Cup Youth regatta after days of weather delays and in terrible conditions off Barcelona. Latest news.

The Australian team racing in Barcelona. Picture: Supplied/America’s Cup.

Australia has finally raced in anger at the America’s Cup Youth regatta after days of weather delays and in terrible conditions off Barcelona.

The team of helmsmen Cole Tapper and Jack Ferguson and trimmers Tom Needham and Max Paul went into the fleet racing for the six invited teams with confidence from a series of wins in practice racing.

Their Swedish rivals, however, took to the water with the mantle of favourites, thanks to the extra amount of time they had preparing on the AC foiling boats being raced in Spain.

But as often happens in sailing, very little went to plan on the opening day of the invitees regatta raced in ultra light winds and with storm clouds above and around.

And, thanks to the marginal conditions, there were shocks, upsets and plenty of heartbreak for a number of crews.

The Andoo Australia AC40 in Barcelona. Picture: Ricardo Pinto / America's Cup

YOUTH AMERICA’S CUP RACE 1 SNAPSHOT

Impressively, Australia was the only team without a penalty to perform at the start of the first race of the Invited teams racing but fell off the foils and lost the lead soon after in ultra light winds.

With the Netherlands failing to start and race officials shortening the course from four to three legs, Sweden’s Artemis Racing took control of the opening race in the marginal conditions.

As the Australians, sporting their biggest J1 jib, struggled to find breeze and get out of displacement mode, Sweden foiled away to lead the fleet round the course before disaster struck.

Falling off their foils on the final leg, the Spanish team helmed by Martin Wizner and Conrad Konitzer, overtook to claim the upwind win.

Canada then overtook Sweden for second place with Germany fourth and Australia last.

Results: Spain, Canada, Sweden, Germany, Australia. DNS: the Netherlands.

Race officials tried in vain to get another of the planned four races underway but eventually gave up due to the light conditions and sent the fleet home with just one race in the bag.

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Originally published as America’s Cup youth regatta: Andoo Australia results, day 1 race winners in invited pool racing