Team Tilt target San Francisco for Red Bull Youth Americas Cup selection

Team Tilt training in a Decision 35 for the Red Bull Youth America's Cup © Loris Von Siebenthal / Team Tilt Sailing

Team Tilt training in a Decision 35 for the Red Bull Youth America's Cup © Loris Von Siebenthal / Team Tilt Sailing

For the first time in the history of America's Cup, the most talented sailors of the world will have the opportunity to sail together in order to win one of the most prestigious trophies in the sports world.

The selection process is intense and demanding. After having been accepted based on their file, the young sailors of Team Tilt had to show all their skills on the water in December 2012 to a selection committee, composed of Olympic champions Roman Hagara and Peter Steinacher; they also brilliantly met the requirements of this second phase.

The last phase of the Selection Series will be held in San Francisco from February 18 to 24 2013, in the context of a regatta on board of the wingsail catamarans of the Youth America's Cup. While 12 teams out of thirty have been selected for this final phase, only five of these teams will be present in San Francisco in September 2013. Five teams will on the other hand be directly selected for the finals as they are supported by one of the teams of the America's Cup.

Team Tilt will participate to this second phase of the selection from February 18 to 24, 2013. This selection will be based on two criteria: The physical condition as well as the technical aspects of the sailing. After three days of physical tests, the judges will go on board with each team on AC45 catamarans in order to assess their competences. The result of the regatta will of course also be a key factor. The training program of each team will also be taken into consideration – a positive point for the Swiss team which will moreover participate to the Vulcain Trophy on board of a Décision 35 boat.

"The objective of this selection is twofold", explains Hans-Peter Steinacher, Sports manager of the regatta together with his colleague Roman Hagara. "In the first instance, we want the teams to learn and then improve and develop their potential within very short time constraints. Parallel, we will assess the teams in order to select the best for the Red Bull Youth America's Cup in September 2013. This is a unique opportunity for young sailors to launch their career."

The eight young sailors, all between 18 and 24 years of age, have all a professional activity or are students in parallel to this project. They accordingly had to adapt their daily schedule to this new challenge: "It was not an easy task to find the time in order to prepare for the exams, as we train every week-end as well as during the week", says Jeremy Bachelin. "However, to participate to the Youth America's Cup, happens only once in a lifetime! Exams can be passed again, if needed."

As the team has an excellent training instrument in the form of the Décision 35, it was in a position to sail every week-end as well as during the week, despite the freezing temperatures: "The Décision 35 is a super boat in order to prepare for the AC45 ", declared Arnaud Psarofaghis, the coach of Team Tilt. "The objective was that the team does its training on these boats and also that they acquire the necessary automatism. The boat has been adapted in order to resemble as much as possible to the Wingsail AC 45 catamarans". Laurent Voiron, the other coach of the team besides Arnaud, provided a key support thanks to his Olympic experience to prepare the team for this major international event.

The trainings were accompanied by an intensive preparation. The sailors of Team Tilt have also been supported by the coaching of Matt Cooper as to the team building and the development of the team spirit: "We do not sail together for a long time", says Thomas Mermod, who is on the boat as trimmer. "These meetings helped us to better understand each other, to enhance the communication and also to anticipate the actions of the others."

The whole team has dedicated 100% of its efforts to the project during these last weeks in order to meet the conditions which they expect in San Francisco. There were physical trainings every morning at 07:00, followed by team building and daily sailing sessions on the Décision 35. François Eggenberger, international umpire, provided a significant input thanks to his experience as to the sailing rules of the Youth America's Cup, the activities of the umpires and the specific penalties which apply in this context.

The dedication of the young sailors has paid off and a few days from their departure, the assessment is positive: "To pass the whole week together was extremely helpful", means Lucien Cujean. "We have all different characters and moments like those which we spent together were missing!" Arnaud Psarofaghis concludes: "They have made huge progress. The team is ready for the final selection series and everything has been put in place in order to allow them to race in San Francisco in the best possible conditions". This has also required an intensive organisational and implementation work which was assumed by Team Leader Alex Schneiter and Rules Advisor François Rayroux.

Teams participating to the Red Bull Youth America's Cup:

Session 1 – 9 to 15 February 2013
AUS - Objective Australia
AUT - Team Austria
DEN - Danish Vikings
GER - STG-NRV Sailing Team
NZL - Full Metal Jacket Racing
RSA - Team i'KaziKati

Session 2 – 18 to 24 February 2013
ARG - Argentina Youth Team
GBR - GBR Youth Challenge
ITA - Team Italy powered by Stig
POR - ROFF-Cascais
SUI - Team TILT

Teams sponsored by one of America's Cup World Series team
CHN - China Team / Name TBC
FRA - Energy Team / Name TBC
NZL - Emirates Team New Zealand / Name TBC
SWE - Artemis Racing / Swedish Youth Challenge
USA - ORACLE TEAM USA / American Youth Sailing Force (SFO)
USA - ORACLE TEAM USA / USA45 Racing (USA)

www.teamtiltsailing.ch