Concord Pacific Racing poised for historic debut at the UniCredit Youth America's Cup
by Concord Pacific Racing 16 Sep 18:03 BST
17-26 September 2024
Concord Pacific Racing at UniCredit Youth America's Cup, Practice Day © Ricardo Pinto / America's Cup
Concord Pacific Racing is set to make history as Canada competes for the first time in the UniCredit Youth America's Cup, with racing scheduled to kick off tomorrow.
With the support of lead sponsors Concord Green Energy, RBC, TELUS and Dilawri, this milestone represents a new chapter for Canadian sailing on the sport's pinnacle stage. Under the leadership of Coach Kyle Martin and Captain Andrew Wood, the team has navigated a challenging and exciting journey to arrive at this point, embodying the grit and determination required to compete at the highest level.
Wood sees this as a significant step for the sport in Canada. "It's an incredible honour to represent Canada at the UniCredit Youth America's Cup. This is the first time we've had a Canadian team in the event, and I'm proud to pull on the Concord Pacific Racing jersey and represent the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club. We've had great support from back home, and it's amazing to feel the excitement building across the country," said Wood.
Canada's participation comes at a pivotal moment for the America's Cup, as the inaugural Puig Women's America's Cup joins the long-established Youth America's Cup—both events aimed at increasing participation and providing pathways for the sailors of tomorrow. Notably, Canada also has an entry in the Women's event, underscoring the country's growing ambitions on the global sailing stage.
The journey to prepare for the UniCredit Youth America's Cup has been anything but straightforward. Without access to a dedicated AC40 boat, Concord Pacific Racing has relied extensively on a high-tech simulator to get up to speed with the high-performance, foiling monohull that is capable of flying above the water at exhilarating speeds of up to 40 knots (74 km/h). Despite these hurdles, Wood is confident their efforts will be evident come race day.
"Every day has been about making the most of every opportunity to improve, and I'm proud of how the team has come together. It's been a steep learning curve, but the teamwork and communication we've developed have been crucial."
The UniCredit Youth America's Cup features two types of competitors: America's Cup teams and Invited teams. America's Cup teams, such as Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, Emirates Team New Zealand, and NYYC American Magic, have close ties to senior America's Cup syndicates and benefit from significantly more time on the AC40 boats, giving them a training advantage.
In contrast, the Invited teams, including Concord Pacific Racing, represent nations like Canada, Sweden, Spain and Germany and have relied primarily on simulator training due to limited boat access. As Wood explains, "Not having our own boat has definitely added a layer of difficulty, but it's a challenge we've overcome. We've put in so many hours on the simulator refining our skills and communication, and that's translated really well to our time on the water."
This sets up a fascinating competition, where the Invited teams have the chance to disrupt the established order and prove themselves on the world stage.
The confirmed Concord Pacific Racing Youth team for the 2024 UniCredit Youth America's Cup is as follows:
- Andrew Wood (Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, Captain)
- Andre Van Dam (Royal Vancouver Yacht Club)
- Jack Gogan (Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron / Northern Yacht Club)
- Georgia Lewin-LaFrance (Chester Yacht Club / Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron)
Spare sailor: Galen Richardson (Royal Canadian Yacht Club)
Wood, who hails from the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, Concord Pacific Racing's Yacht Club of Record, shared his pride in representing both his club and country on the world stage. "Royal Van has been a huge part of my sailing journey. They supported me when I was sailing the 49er with my brother, and it's amazing to represent them now in the Youth America's Cup. The support from the club and everyone back home has been fantastic."
The team's fans, family, and supporters have rallied behind them as they embark on this journey, with Wood's family making the trip to Barcelona to cheer them on. "It's exciting to see how much attention the America's Cup is getting in Canada. This is a big deal globally, and we're incredibly proud to be a part of it."
Race format and how to watch
Racing begins on September 17 for the America's Cup teams, while Concord Pacific Racing kick off their campaign in a pool with the Invited Teams on September 18 in a qualification series of four races per day. The top three teams from each pool will advance to the semi-finals, culminating in a match-race final to determine the champions.
"We're going up against some of the best youth sailors in the world, and the competition is fierce," said Wood. "We're ready to give it everything we've got, and we're hoping Canadians will tune in to support us."
Fans can watch the action live on TSN, YouTube, or via the America's Cup website, where all the races will be streamed. The event promises to showcase high-pressure, high-speed racing, with the AC40s—a scaled-down version of the senior teams' AC75 boats—delivering a thrilling spectacle on the water.
As they approach their final training session, Wood and his team are laser-focused on delivering their best performance. Despite competing against teams with significantly more on-water time, Concord Pacific Racing is determined to rise to the challenge. "It feels a bit like a David and Goliath situation going up against teams with more time on the boat," Wood noted. "But we're ready to push ourselves and see what we can achieve. We've got a strong, cohesive team, and I'm confident we'll leave everything out on the water."
With the support of corporate Canada and fans across Canada, Concord Pacific Racing is set to make its mark on the UniCredit Youth America's Cup. The team invites Canadians to follow their journey and cheer them on as they aim to bring the trophy home.
You can follow all the action of Concord Pacific Racing on Instagram or at the team website.