Weird Way Team Australia Sailors Are Training For The Women’s And Youth America’s Cup In 2024
A computer game worth $200,000 is being craned into an office hundreds of kilometers from any body of water to serve as part of our sailors' training for the youth and women's America's Cup.
It's like training for the Tour de France without ever climbing a real mountain or a football game without ever stepping foot on the pitch.
In a remarkable application of logic, a Sydney suburb office kilometers from the nearest waterways has been converted into a training center for the best young male and female sailors in Australia, who are training in an entirely new fashion for one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world.
The New World Order is ruled by computers, specifically a high-tech sailing simulator that cost $200,000 and was so large and included two 258-kilogram pods that it had to be craned into an office that was owned by well-known sailor and patron John "Herman" Winnings, with doors and glass windows removed, just so it could be set up as the coolest ever training tool. This was done so the simulator could be used as the coolest ever training tool.
It's great to have you aboard in 2023.
Crew candidates are learning the techniques of this new trade in a simulator rather than having their talents tested aboard the high-speed and innovative foiling AC40 monohulls that will be raced at the 2024 America's Cup youth and women's series. These boats are projected to be capable of speeds of over 40 knots, which is equivalent to approximately 75 kilometers per hour.
"It's very cool, like a giant video game, and it's a very cool toy," said the person. However, it is strange,'' said Olympic hopeful Olivia Price, who is one of the faces of the women's campaign and is presently competing in the Team Australia Challenge alongside 32 other sailors in an effort to earn one of 18 available squad berths.
During a race, the driver and his or her team will each take a seat in a separate pod. Each pod is equipped with a set of steering wheels and controls, allowing the pilot to make adjustments to the craft's flying height, lift, and other features such as trimming the sails and moving the daggerboards. It operates in a manner not unlike to that of contemporary flight or automobile simulators.
The information that is collected from the simulators is then used to assist sailors in developing their abilities and, in the early stages of the process, to assist in identifying the younger candidates who have the skills that are most suited to the campaign.
The idea is to have everyone on board learn about the boat and practice their combinations and communicate with one another.
"We're trying to kick off some team building, but everyone's in a different headspace. There is no wind to buffet you, no spray to make you uncomfortable, and no sun to scorch you.
The simulator, which was purchased by an anonymous backer for the young sailors, is the closest thing to really sailing a foiling 40 that they have access to at this time.
As Jack Ferguson put it, "This is my absolute dream, to be doing this," despite the fact that he was born two decades after Australia's II victory but fell in love with America's Cup racing as an eight-year-old watching it on TV with his dad.
Ferguson and his crewmate Jack Hilderbrand won the junior world U23 49er championship. "I never knew sailing could be this much fun!"
This week, 27 competitors from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Tasmania are in Sydney competing for a few berths on the respective squads. There were originally 132 applicants from all throughout the country, but only these sailors made the cut.
Before the Youth and Women's regatta in Barcelona in 2004, which is being utilized as a road into the America's Cup for women and the next generation of foiling sailors, the Team Australia Challenge is aiming to earn $4 million through donations, charity, and sponsorship. This will allow the Team Australia Challenge to compete in the event.
In Barcelona, there will be a total of 12 women's and youth teams competing in the same AC40s.
The objective of Australia's initiatives is to provide the foundation for a genuine challenge to bring the America's Cup back to the waters of Australia in the not too distant future.
This is so awesome, right? It's the quirky, slightly wacky way our sailors are practicing for the youth and women's America's Cup, which involves a $200,000 video game being craned into an office in Sydney. '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''a link to this tweet can be found at: https://t.co/Cz6zB0fKjpic.twitter.com/XJtiEiemSj
14 September 2023 a.m., Amanda Lulham (@amandalulham)
This possibility is what attracted benefactor Winning to the project; he wants to assist establish a winning culture in sailing among our nation's greatest young minds.
It was his hope that Australia will host another America's Cup.
The return of the Cup to Australia is personally paramount to me.
John Bertrand, the captain of Australia II, is another supporter of the Australia Team Challenge.
SAILORS AT THE TRIALS IN SYDNEY
Will Cooley and Charles Zeeman represent Tasmania.
NSW: Miles Davey, Cole Tapper, Paddy Butler, Harry Hall, Harry Smith, Ruben Booth, Jack Hilderbrand, Max Paul, Brin Liddell, Finn Alexander, Jake Liddell, Otto Henry, Ryan Littlechild, Jack Ferguson, Will Sargent, Madeline McLeay, Annie Wilmot, Evie Haseldine, Rita Booth, Tash Bryant, Olivia Price, Lisa Darmanin, Lucy Copeland, Nina Curtis, Jess Grimes, Jamie Ryan.
Queenslanders: Tom Needham and Mara Stransky.
Victoria: Laura Harding.
WA: Zoe Thomson.