First Women's and Youth America's Cup Invitations are Issued

6th February 2023

America’s Cup Recon Emirates Team New Zealand LEQ12 - Set to be stand-out global events, the Women’s & Youth America’s Cup Regattas are two of the major highlights of AC37 in Barcelona, shining a spotlight on the next generation of America’s Cup sailors Credit: Adam Mustill

Two of the primary events of AC37 in Barcelona are the Women's & Youth America's Cup Regattas, which place a strong emphasis on the upcoming generation of America's Cup sailors. The most prestigious prize in sailing is the ultimate platform for tomorrow's household names and superstars. After the Notice of Race was issued on November 1, 2022, formal invitations to yacht clubs worldwide began to be handed out on February 1, 2023.

To date, expressions of interest have been strong, with yacht clubs from some thirteen different countries enquiring, some with established pools of Women's and Youth talent, others with start-up teams looking to step up into the big time in one or both of the events.

Irish foiling champion Charlie Cullen of the Royal St. George Yacht Club is aiming to lead an U25 Irish team to compete in the 2024 Youth America's Cup Photo: Martina Orsini

As Afloat previously reported, Ireland has ambitions to be in the mix with the Royal St George Yacht Club of Dun Laoghaire Harbour, aiming to produce an entry through its foiling programme. This programme aims to create a world-class team to ultimately challenge for the Youth America's Cup in Barcelona 2024. If successful, this will be the first time an Irish Team will have been involved in the America's Cup in its 170-year history.

With the six confirmed teams competing in the America's Cup sealing the first six places in the Women's & Youth events, the organisers have offered six remaining places in each event. Initial invitations are being sent to three teams that have registered interest for both regattas with strong and experienced challenges: Those entries are the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club of Canada with AC40 Team Canada as their team; a joint entry from the Royal Netherlands Yacht Club and the Royal Maas Yacht Club of the Netherlands with their team DutchSail; and the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona of Spain, the host country of AC37, with Sail Team BCN.

That will leave three slots in the Youth America's Cup and three in the Women's America's Cup. Further invitations will be issued once an analysis of the remaining Expressions of Interest is complete.

Published in America's Cup, RStGYC, Women in Sailing, Youth Sailing

Published in America's Cup

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America's cup

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