Yesterday our Youth Dutch Team sailed for the first time in Barcelona the new AC-40 boat. Sailed? As you can see in the picture it flies a meter above the waves! For over 800 hours they’ve been preparing themselves in the simulator at our teambase in Scheveningen. Finally they were able to test their skills in the real thing. Our women have to wait another week but are learning from the de-briefs and follow the boys on the water in the Rib (fast speedboat). Upcoming week it’s their turn.
These boats sail over 70km/hour and 4 crew are needed to get them going. The sailors have to reinvent themselves: the boats are steered by 2 helmsmen: one for port- and one for starboard tack. They don’t cross the boat but sit in a Formula 1 kind of seat like Max Verstappen. Next to them there are 2 sail-/boat trimmers sitting left and right of the mainsail. They can’t see each other and communicate through headphones. Apart from the different set-up these boats go way faster than any other sailing ship. Decision making on steroids!
This week they will be training and the first race is upcoming week September 17, 2024. More to find on the America’s Cup website: https://www.americascup.com/
Last month, I was asked to join the board of DutchSail, the platform for professional sailing, and feel honoured to do so. Together with our partners we make this possible.
Made possible by our beloved partners: DutchSail | JAJO | Van der Zwan | MUSTO | NovaYachting | Steenfabriek De Rijswaard B.V. | Schouten Zekerheid | Steengoed | KoffiePartners | Uijthoven Vastgoedadvies | Lingotto Ontwikkeling | Red to Green | M2 Real Estate | Over Engh Vastgoed B.V. | Menrad Nederland BV | ALLsportsradio | Ribrental.org | Watersportverbond | KNZ&RV | Koninklijke Roei- en Zeilvereeniging ‘De Maas’
Picture by Sander van der Borch