Australian Challenge ‘frothers’, Olympians, Sydney-Hobart guns for Women’s, Youth America’s Cup
It’s the famous event upgrading the image of sailing forever, from boring and staid to super fast, super cool and super fan friendly. And two crews of Aussie “frothers” are part of the transformation
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Think sailing is staid, pompous, full of blue blazers, old silverware and older money, then it’s time to think again.
The new world is super fast, super cool and super fan friendly and two teams of Australian young guns are part of the radical transformation where sailor will fly above the water, not through it, and computer games are part of the training program.
The 17 sailors unveiled to lead Australia back into the America’s Cup arena via new women’s and youth regattas in 2024 are more likely to be slurping an energy drink than a gin and tonic and definitely keener to be out on the racetrack than reliving past glories on a bar stool.
And a $280,000 simulator is the weapons of choice as a training tool for the young talent from NSW, Queensland and Western Australia selected from 500 plus applicants to be part of Australian crews competing next year in Barcelona.
“We call ourselves frothers because we are frothing we are so excited, just having so much fun,’’ said London Olympic silver medallist and Paris Olympic hopeful Olivia Price from the women’s squad.
Australia II America's Cup winning skipper John Bertrand said while punters may have found sailing in the past to be ”dull and boring’’ that has changed with the Australian challenge where the attractions of e sport collide with best aspects and skills of traditional sport.
“It’s a new world of opportunity,’’ Bertrand said of the team training in a simulator with sophisticated software developed by the New Zealand America’s Cup campaign.
MORE SAILING
WINGING IT:Aussie flying high
WEIRD:New way to train for Cup
AUSSIE RETURN: Backed by Sydney-Hobart winner
“We are competing in a virtual world … in the future we could have millions of people competing in real time. The world of sailing is changing with e sport.’’
But right now just eight sailors in total will race the women’s and youth AC40s - a crazy foiling monohull capable of speeds close to 30 knots - or 56km/h - and where the athletes sit in pods using buttons and toggles to fly, steer and race the machine.
But with the boats expensive to build and largely unavailable, the 17 named on Thursday will be using the simulator for computer wars between them and the crew they will meet in Spain next year with the cockpits, helm wheels, control devices and instrumentation displays replicating those in the actual boat to be raced.
The series has been designed to create a pool of both male and female athletes to eventually move up into the America’s Cup arena proper.
It is also hoped it will trigger interest in Australia returning to the America’s Cup.
The Australian Challenge squad boats Olympians, world ranked sailors, international champions and Paris Olympic hopefuls, including 49er skiff hopeful Max Paul.
“Australia’s re-entry in this competition is so important to us and we are aiming to make
our nation proud again with such a legacy to uphold,” he said.
The squad is dominated by NSW sailors with Tokyo Olympian Mara Stransky and Tom Needam hailing from Queensland and Paris Olympic hopeful Zoe Thomson from Western Australia.
Team Australia Challenge Squad: Finn Alexander, Tash Bryant, Lucy Copeland,
Nina Curtis, Lisa Darmanin, Miles Davey, Jack Ferguson, Evie Haseldine, Tom
Needham, Max Paul, Olivia Price, George Richardson, Harry Smith, Mara Stransky,
Cole Tapper, Zoe Thomson and Annie Wilmot.
‘Physical, combative’: What selectors looking for at Waratahs U15 trials
A desire to be “physical and combative’ are just two traits NSW Waratahs selectors are keen to see as 125 of NSW’s best junior talent hunt for spots in their U15’s squad this weekend.
Noted! How Aussies chasing winning edge at Youth America’s Cup
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but Australian sailors are relying on it giving them an extra edge at the America’s Cup youth regatta in Barcelona.