Big sailing dreams will soon be shattered: Alinghi Red Bull selects its women’s team

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Due to the national rule now in place, more Swiss are sailing in Alinghi Red Bull’s America’s Cup comeback than ever before – the entire boat crew must come from the team’s country.

This also applies to the small classes at the America’s Cup. Each syndicate that will sail for the world’s oldest sporting trophy in Barcelona in 2024 will provide a boat for the categories Women (women aged 18 and over) and Youth (women and men aged 18 to 25).

This week the selections in Geneva enter the hot phase. Alinghi Red Bull Racing was eliminated in the summer. In the camps in Hilterfingen BE, Brunnen SZ and Geneva, the selection of 91 candidates was initially reduced to 69 and then to 20.

The “Who’s Who” of the Swiss sailing scene

These 20 are now in the selection finals. The nine women and eleven men are full of European and World Cup medalists, Olympians and top Swiss talents. For example, Maud Jayet (27) has already qualified for Paris 2024. But she would also like to be in the six-person crew for the small America’s Cup. Like every 20.

But soon some of the great sailing dreams are shattered. At least eight selection participants will only be spectators next year. Four of the nine women can also be selected for the youth team.

A double deployment of a sailor would also be conceivable. But team boss Hans-Peter Steinacher still speaks of a dozen that Alinghi Red Bull Racing will select. “Our goal is to find twelve athletes who show a total commitment to winning.”

This week the candidates will compete on the Catalan Mediterranean for the America’s Cup ticket in so-called 69F foil boats. But also on land at the Alinghi base: the final display takes place in the simulator and in the weight room as well as in discussions with the jury.

In the second half of October, Geneva bosses will make a final decision on the squads for the youth and women’s teams.

Source : Blick