12 quality candidates apply to join RHKYC Team Agiplast

Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club © RHKYC Media

12 aspiring and talented young sailors (six male and six female) have applied to become a member of RHKYC Team Agiplast, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's Challenge for the Youth America's Cup 2020-2021.

The event will be sailed in the brand new AC9F 9m monohull foiling boats with the first AC9F having been launched only a few weeks ago. Foiling is at the pinnacle of sailing and this discipline is developing rapidly, with America's Cup, SailGP and the foiling Moth and Waszp dinghies.

Per regulations, the final permanent crew of four must comprise two male and two female sailors. An extended crew will consist of one male and one female sailor. The average minimum weight set out in the NOR by the Organising Authority for the Youth America's Cup is 70 kg (280 kg total crew), and the maximum average weight is 78 kg (311 kg total crew). The AC9F is expected to be a great physical challenge and physical attributes will play a key role in the success of the top teams. A minimum weight has been set by the Organising Authority to ensure there is sufficient strength among the crew to handle the boat well.

Now that the 12 applications have been received, the selection process is under way with a round of online interviews taking place over the weekend of 28 and 29 March. The move to online interviews has come in response to the ongoing Covid-19 global epidemic.

Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's Rear Commodore (Sailing), Lucy Sutro, said "When we launched our search for our crew, we had indicated that the decisions would be finalised on 2 April. With the ongoing Covid-19 epidemic, we now have to be a little more fluid with that original deadline, not to mention how we conduct our interviews, including a fitness test. Travel restrictions, and the fact that the Club is now having to close its facilities for what we hope will only be a few weeks, means that we must adapt. We must all do our part during this difficult period but at the same time move forwards how best we can."

The Club hopes - the Covid-19 situation allowing - to announce their final selection by mid April.

For more information visit the RHKYC Team Agiplast Facebook page.