Youth sailors from eight countries converged on Bermuda to sail Hobie Waves at the America’s Cup Junior Regatta. The event, sponsored by Hobie and the America’s Cup Endeavour Program, was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the young sailors, who ranged in age from nine to fourteen years old.
Twenty four strong, they made up a dozen hand-selected teams, each representing their home country. While the competition was fun and avidly contested, the students discovered that making friends, working together, sharing their cultures and experiencing the America’s Cup excitement would be their lasting legacy.
Light winds on practice day made for a comfortable environment for the skippers and crew to learn the new waters on their Hobie Waves. They tried out varied strategies and soaked up the sunshine.
The regatta kicked off a day later. Ideal winds sent the Waves and their crews galloping across the water. After seven races on the traditional catamaran style course, Team USA sailors Samis and Barnard led the way.
The next day’s course featured a reaching start – just like the big foiling cats of the America’s Cup race. Team USA’s Kimberly and Caroline Locke challenged their fellow teammates’ lead, but when all was said and done Annie Samis and Peter Barnard secured a hard-won victory.
“Communication was really key for us. We were constantly talking about what would make us faster or what would make the boat perform better or worse,” Samis said.
During their stay on Bermuda, the young sailors enjoyed blo-karting, spent an afternoon on the Spirit of Bermuda, and toured the Red Bull Youth Camp. But the overall highlight was the exhibition race halftime show between races one and two of the America’s Cup day three finals.
“It was pretty amazing. Having the whole crowd cheering, hearing the commentator talking about us sailing, it was the little things,” said Team Australia skipper Oliver Horden. “Tucker had the whole crowd roaring for us, standing up on their feet. I really enjoyed the sensation and this kind of enthusiasm is great to promote the sport.”
It wasn’t about winning the race as much as seizing the moment and breathing in all that is the America’s Cup. In the best spirit of the AC Endeavour Program, the youth sailors made fast friendships with their fellows.
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“We all have each other’s Snapchats, Instagrams, and Facebooks. This is important to us. We really want to stay in touch because we bonded so much over the past week. Maybe one day when I travel, I can go visit my new friends in their hometowns,” said Team Bermuda Skipper, Ocean Archeval.
The experience fired up imaginations. “After being on the race course with the AC boats, I really want to learn how to foil. That was something I never thought I’d be interested in before,” said Finlay Arenz of Team Great Britain. Perhaps a future America’s Cup sailor?
At Hobie, we are proud that the sailors of the Endeavour Junior America’s Cup experienced camaraderie and sportsmanship that will only further inspire their love of the water and of sailing.
