It’s a massive stepping stone toward getting involved with the America’s Cup, said ORACLE TEAM USA coach Darren Bundock. We were looking for a variety of things mainly potential and finding those teams that gelled together and that we think can go forward and win the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup. The teams were evaluated on several factors, such as boat handling, trimming skills and crew communication. All were mentored by ORACLE TEAM USA sailors and coaches, Philippe Presti along with Bundock, throughout the team selection process, and they will continue to receive coaching and guidance through to the finals.
Our team is very honored it means we performed well in the selection and are on the right track, and that they feel we have what it takes to do well in the Red Bull Youth Americas Cup, said Team America Racing skipper Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif./graduated Georgetown University). To be able to learn from ORACLE TEAM USA is going to be so huge for our team. Now we can keep getting better with some expert help.
The youth sailors are ages 19-24 and hail from around the U.S., including many from the San Francisco Bay Area. The crews are made up of collegiate All-Americans, youth World medalists and members of US Sailings Development Team. Six sailors are onboard for each crew, one more than Americas Cup World Series teams as the youth sailors are, on average, 40-50 pounds lighter than a Cup sailor.
I grew up sailing on the San Francisco Bay, so I feel very comfortable in the Bay and have sailed in pretty much any condition. Everyone on our team has sailed there at one point or another, said American Youth Sailing Force skipper Michael Radziejowski (San Francisco, Calif./UC Santa Cruz). Sailing a catamaran on the Bay is definitely going to be a huge challenge, but I feel confident with our team, and I think everyone has the same appreciation for the Bay.
Many sailors on both Team America Racing and the American Youth Sailing Force will now balance training for the Red Bull Youth Americas Cup with attending university and competing on their university sailing teams, while others will balance daily professional work schedules. They will make periodic trips to train with ORALCE TEAM USA in the coming months, with more extensive training to take place next summer.
Its a huge weight lifted off our shoulders to be selected, said Ian Andrewes, American Youth Sailing Force team manager. But, now going into this next step, it doesnt mean its going to get easier. I think everyone on the team realizes how much weve all been working towards this goal, and well continue to push hard through to the finals.
The Red Bull Youth Americas Cup finals run September 1-4, 2013, in San Francisco Bay. Additional teams will be selected through the Selection Series to take place in February.
TEAM AMERICA RACING
Name, Age, Hometown, University
Charlie Buckingham, 23, Newport Beach, Calif., Georgetown University (graduated)
Jacob La Dow, 19, San Diego, Calif., St. Marys College of Maryland
Graham Landy, 19, Virginia Beach, Va., Yale University
Jake Reynolds, 19, San Diego, Calif., College of Charleston
Nevin Snow, 19, San Diego, Calif., Georgetown University
John Wallace, 20, St. Petersburg, Fla., St. Marys College of Maryland
Matthew Whitehead, 19, Tampa, Fla., University of South Florida
AMERICAN YOUTH SAILING FORCE
Name, Age, Hometown, University
Ian Andrewes, 22, Seattle, Wash., Pacific Maritime Institute (graduated)
David Liebenberg, 21, San Francisco, Calif., Tufts University
Michael Menninger, 23, Newport Beach, Calif., St. Marys College of Maryland
Tomas Pastalka, 22, Tiburon, Calif., UC Santa Cruz
Matt Pistay, 22, Zenda, Wis.
Michael Radziejowski, 21, Alameda, Calif., UC Santa Cruz
Evan Sjostedt, 19, Long Beach, Calif., Seattle University
