America's Cup: Youth AC yacht nails foiling gybes - Video
by Andrew Delves/RNZYS 25 Jun 2020 07:16 UTC
Kotare - America's Cup Youth Boat - AC9F - sailing on the Waitemata - June 24, 2020 © Andrew Delves
The brand new AC9F Youth America's Cup yacht has undergone an official on-water sail testing day in Auckland with fantastic results, and the event is well on track for 2021.
With two female and two male crew on board, the boat was up on the foils straight away, and was pushing speeds of up to thirty knots. The crew even managed a few foiling gybes and showed - even in this early testing stage - that the AC9F is the real deal and will be an incredibly exciting boat to see in action during next year's event.
This first AC9F has been designed and built in New Zealand in a collaboration between Yachting Developments and the NZ Marine Industry, including Southern Spars, Harken and North Sails. It is great to have had this unique project built here in New Zealand, generating jobs and money for the country.
Yachting Developments owner Ian Cook was out on the water to witness the boat in action and was incredibly happy with the outcome.
"It was great to see the boat sailing and working well, we are thrilled with how it performed. It has been a big combined effort from the NZ Marine Industry to make this happen, and to see it flying on the foils at speed today was a massive result for everyone involved."
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has received seventeen confirmed entries with fifteen of these teams' internationals. With more in the pipeline, the goal of twenty teams is looking likely. Collectively the teams are set to bring in over two-hundred-and-fifty people to New Zealand, all of whom will be staying in the country for several months which will have a significantly positive impact on the New Zealand economy. This figure doesn't include families and spectators, which will then push this impact up even further.
"This event is going to be huge for New Zealand and we can't wait to see all the teams here and getting stuck in," RNZYS CEO Hayden Porter said.
"A huge amount of hard work has gone on behind the scenes gathering entries and getting the first boat ready to go. This event is set to have a very important impact on the New Zealand economy, and will bring in the equivalent of two America's Cup teams worth of people into the country for a long period of time. It will generate tens of millions of dollars for New Zealand. Teams will soon begin the immigration process and are willing to quarantine at their expense to ensure they can compete as required."
Gender diversity is one of the main draw cards and motivations for this reinvigorated Youth America's Cup, with all teams required to include two male and two female crew members.
Yachting Developments' and Ocean Race sailor Bianca Cook was on board for the testing and is really excited by the gender diversity rule for this event."It was a lot of fun, I only wish I was young enough to be able to compete in the event next year! I think this event is going to be a great success and the gender diversity makes it really interesting. I think to have this rule in place can only be a positive for the sport of sailing, and paves the way for female sailors to be involved in major sailing events such as the America's Cup."
The Youth America's Cup will take place over a 3 week period in the off sailing days of the Prada Cup Challenger Series finals and America's Cup Match, the dates are February 18th - 23rd, March 1st - 5th, and March 8th - 12th 2021.
Teams are set to begin arriving later this year for training preparations, and now with the first boat in the water and performing well, the countdown is on for what is going to be a superb event in Auckland in 2021.
For more information on the Youth America's Cup see the official website: www.youthamericascup.com
Related Articles
![]()
DAIWA: Highly anticipated SAMURAI 8 Braid
Battles fish with strength, toughness, and a smooth finish
Now in-stock, DAIWA's new 8-carrier SAMURAI 8 Braid battles fish with strength, toughness, and a smooth finish.
Posted on 22 Jan
NOAA proposes fishing closure for 55 species
Releasing Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan
NOAA Fisheries released Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic that would prohibit bottomfishing for 55 species, including red snapper, off much of the Florida Atlantic coast.
Posted on 22 Jan
Earliest videos of the New York Boat Show
A look back into our video archive, to see how far we can go
With the 2025 edition of the Show about to start in a few days, lets see how far back in time our video archive can go, with footage from early shows. The best we can do is 1937.
Posted on 19 Jan
![]()
BUBBA® has reinvented the fish scale again
Introducing the Smart Fish Scale “SFS” Lite
BUBBA®, a fishing brand focused on bringing innovative solutions to fishing tools, and creator of the original Smart Fish Scale (“SFS”), has once again reinvented the way anglers fish, with the new BUBBA SFS Lite.
Posted on 18 Jan
What to look for in an aluminum boat
Vexus® Pro John Cox has a pretty keen eye
Vexus® pro John Cox is known for having nearly supernatural vision for spotting bass in shallow water, and he's got a pretty keen eye for a top-quality aluminum boat too.
Posted on 17 Jan
Meet Captain David Schunke
PENN rods and reels have been his constant companion
Captain David Schunke isn't just an angler - he's a testament to what it means to live for the saltwater.
Posted on 17 Jan
25th Annual Shallow Sport & SCB Owners Tournament
Rally up your team and get ready for the biggest and best tournament on the Gulf Coast!
Returning bigger and better than ever, the 25th Annual Shallow Sport & SCB Owners Tournament will be held May 8-10th on South Padre Island, TX!
Posted on 17 Jan
![]()
DAIWA's KAGE Family grows
Engineered to be the lightest spinning reel in its class
Now available, DAIWA's new multispecies KAGE LT engineered to be the lightest spinning reel in its class.
Posted on 16 Jan
Pleased with withdrawal of vessel speed rule
Sportfishing Industry pleased, but more work to be done
NOAA Fisheries formally withdrew a proposed rule that would have had dire consequences on public access to fishing along much of the eastern seaboard.
Posted on 16 Jan
NOAA proposes fishing closure for 55 species
This proposed Secretarial Amendment was prepared by NOAA Fisheries as part of a legal agreement
Today, NOAA Fisheries released Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic. The Amendment would prohibit bottomfishing for 55 species, including red snapper, off much of the Florida Atlantic coast.
Posted on 15 Jan