Teams from 15 nations have arrived at the sailing hub of Newport, Rhode Island, USA to fight for the first Red Bull Foiling Generation World Championship. Organized by double Olympic gold medalists Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher, the regatta will run from Friday through Sunday, 21–23 October.
NEWPORT, RI, USA (20 October 2016) – Fifteen national champion teams from around the world have assembled for the first-ever Red Bull Foiling Generation World Final in Newport, USA. The brainchild of sports directors Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher, Red Bull Foiling Generation gives wings to talented sailors aged 16-20 by introducing them to the type of cutting-edge foiling technology used in the America’s Cup.
The two-person teams have already completed two days of training on Flying Phantom hydrofoil catamarans. With winds hitting 20 knots, the boats flew across Narragansett Bay, with the Newport Bridge, Fort Adams, and New England’s rocky coast in the background. “These young sailors are really motivated to compete in the same waters where the America’s Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race have sailed. It’s an exciting heritage,” Steinacher comments.
Red Bull Foiling Generation pioneers a revolutionary sailing format, with four-boat knockout heats where the top two teams automatically advance. The competition includes Qualification on Friday, the Knockout series and Repechage on Saturday and the Semifinals and Final on Sunday. The MORECAST app from UBIMET is indicating more strong winds, setting up epic showdowns in the minimum of four races scheduled each day.
“We want to help talented young sailors get experience that can lead them toward the next stage, such as the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup,” says Hagara. “They’re performing at such a high level that it’s impossible to predict the winner. They’re racing on the edge, and Newport will be seeing the future of sailing this weekend.”
The Red Bull Foiling Generation World Final sets sail at Fort Adams State Park on Newport Harbor on 21-23 October 2016. The park is home to many sailing events and regattas because of its natural amphitheater on Narragansett Bay and legendary sailing waters. Red Bull Foiling Generation is working in partnership with US Sailing and the non-profit Sail Newport, New England’s premiere public sailing center, which hosts the event.
Technical data for Flying Phantom:
The Flying Phantom earns raves as the future of sailing because unlike other small boats, it uses hydrofoil technology to lift completely out of the water. The system allows it to hit blistering speeds of up to 35 knots – almost 40 mph – making it by far the quickest sailing boat of its size in the world. Length: 5,52m (18ft), width: 3,00m, weight: 155kg, mast height: 9,6m, mainsail: 18sqm, Jib: 5,5sqm, Gennaker: 24sqm, crew: 2
About Red Bull Foiling Generation
Now in its second season, Red Bull Foiling Generation sees Flying Phantom catamarans lift over the water at up to 35 knots in a novel new format. Sailors aged 16-20 compete in a series of heats on four identical boats of distinct colors until the final race determines the team that will represent its country in the World Final. The biggest youth sailing program on the planet, Red Bull Foiling Generation has held regattas in 15 countries to give talented sailors the opportunity to qualify for the World Final in Newport, USA.
Images for editorial use only. Credit: Predrag Vuckovic for Red Bull Content Pool
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Contact: Mario Schoby / +436646385997 / mario.schoby@redbullextremesailing.com