Pittwater Boys Race Toward Cup

Not since James Spithill has there been a America’s Cup Hopefuls effort flying the Aussie flag. Spithill became the youngest skipper to win The America’s Cup. But for the wrong country, currently more boys and men from Pittwater fi l l the team ranks of other countries.

Pittwater Boys Race

AUSTRALIAN CUP FUTURES

That’s all about to change with Australia’s dominance at this year’s Olympics and the guidance of some of the most powerful in the sailing world the Pittwater boys are about to shake things up. Team Objective Australia has earned its spot in history with the announcement they have been selected for the Red Bull Youth Americas Cup. Under the

helmsmanship of Olympic gold medallist Jason Waterhouse, the Pittwater boys travelled to the United States for their chance to be selected from 12 international

Chinese team pulling out.

ALL TRAKS LEAD BACK TO PITTWATER A great effort needs a great coach and leadership Objective Australia has the

best in the business. The Objective Australia sailing team has been handpicked by Traks Gordon, a 20 year veteran of international youth coaching, world champion sailor and mentor to one of the most diverse and successful range of youth sailors, he coaches every international youth class with success down to the International Optimist dinghy in the world today including America’s Cup winning skipper James Spithill, Olympic Games medallist Nina Curtis, Admiral’s Cup winners, World Champions in RC45, Farr 40, M30, M24 and the ISAF Youth Worlds.

by Cup Insider JOHN ERIC MANGINO iSailmedia.comphotos by JOHN ERIC MANGINO

Pittwater Boys RacePittwater Boys RaceToward The Cup

THE FITNESS TEST The Red Bull Youth America’s Cup

Selection series was not just who could sail the New AC45 winged cats the fastest, nor does it spotlight just multihull sailors. First the teams had to prove themselves at the Oracle Team USA facilities where the current America’s Cup defenders also train right alongside of some of their mates like Darren Bundock and of course Jimmy Spithill, their fellow countrymen coming to their aid – well let’s just say their fellow countrymen driving them harder than most the other teams.

Team Objective was impressive in their fitness as well as their knowledge of the boat handling, seamanship and ability to adapt quickly. They truly looked like they had been on the AC45 for months.

The team also showed a professionalism that impressed the judges representing the country and Australian Sailing almost in a class of their own. “Truly impressive,” remarked Russell Coutts after the first day on the water with them in race day one. This

team actually outshined some of the original America’s Cup World series teams, he wouldn’t say which, but we can only imagine if you have followed them.

Originally America’s Cup Race Management decided that the racing would be in the south bay of San Francisco but the first set of teams lead really by the Aussies lead race officials to open the bay up and let them race in the more challenging north bay without incident.

Mike Martin, head race official for the upcoming America’s Cup and Louis Vuitton Cup, remarked that these young men of the teams took us all by surprise. The young men adapted very well to the AC45’s and took to them like water. Pittwater that is.

BUILDING THE PATH TO THE NEXT CUP

Tony Wells has the vision with his Objective Corporation Limited (ASX:OCL). In addition to success in the competitive world of software, Tony knows what

Team Object ive was impressive in their f i tness as wel l as their knowledge of the boat handl ing, seamanship and their abi l i t y to adapt quickly

it takes to establish a successful sailing campaign, having won an Australian One Design Sailing Championship under the guidance of Traks Gordon Private Companies, which are associated with Tony, will fund the Objective Australia Youth America’s Cup and with the assistance of Andrew Palfrey (Artemis Racing’s Head Coach).

CAMPAIGN FROM INCEPTION TO THE FINISH LINE

Private companies associated with Tony will fund the Objective Australia Youth America’s Cup Campaign from inception to the finish line.

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TRAINING AT HOMEWith the guidance of fellow Pittwater

men the team erected a drive platform to train on. The AC45 is a workout of a boat and takes a lot fitness and stamina with short tacks and constant adjustment. Before they even set sights on a AC45 the team trained on this dry rig day and night leading up to the February trials, something that really showed in their boat handling and knowledge upon arrival further impressing their coaches at RBYAC.

PREPAREDNESS AND FITNESSA foundation of fitness and physical

strength is hugely important to maximise performance on the race course in the Youth America’s Cup. The team were physically prepared and trained by Andrew Verdon, the strength and conditioning trainer for the Australian Olympic sailing team.

COMMUNICATION The team prides itself on

understanding the need to debrief and share information weather coming from world class skippers like Bundock and

Before the WATER

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Spithill to their sailing mates – an ‘all for one/one for all’. There are no stars on the team – just one bright one – the objective.

Complete and win and open the doors to the future youth of sailing in the great country of historic sailing leaders that has been missing for some time and lead by example.

PITTWATER GANGS TAKE ON THE WORLD

Jason Waterhouse (Objective Australia helmsman) and Jimmy Spithill (America’s Cup Winning helmsman): Jason and Jimmy grew up together on Pittwater on the Northern Beaches of Sydney and hail from the same yacht club (Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club).

Pittwater is a source of many of the world’s professional sailors including a good portion from 2013 America’s Cup Teams.

Jimmy Spithill (America’s Cup Winning Helmsman) and Traks Gordon (Objective Australia Coach). Traks Gordon was Jimmy Spithill’s coach back in Australia as a youth before graduating to the the America’s Cup. Jimmy and Traks have a longstanding mentor relationship. Traks was also coach to Katie Spithill, Jimmy’s younger sister in her successful campaigns on the World Match Racing Tour.

Jason Waterhouse (Objective Australia Helmsman) and Darren Bundock (Oracle Racing Coach and Olympian) are great friends and rivals. Both sailors have traded places

Jason Waterhouse – Objective Australia CUPINSIDER: This has

been a very eventful week for you, what has it been like? JS: “It’s a learning experience and just absolutely exciting. Just the most amazingexperience you can have as a youth sailor.” CUPINSIDER: You guys have been taking out the AC45s, for the first time. What arethe challenges you faced with that? JS: “The challenges – we sort of knew they were coming – I think the main one was the physicality of the boat and we were prepared for that. The loads are just extreme and they go out very quickly with the wind, so I suppose the loads pretty challenging. The wing is a new feature for us, but it’s not as hard as I thought it would be. It’s actually quite basic and simple to use. The challenges are, they’re pretty big challenges, but we’re prepared for them, so, very happy with that preparation.” CUPINSIDER: How does sailing in the SF Bay compare to sailing in Pittwater? JS: “San Fran is just an amazing body of water – the winds, the tides, the current. Even the natural life of the seals and the birds. It’s just pretty incredible and sailing here is definitely challenging, for sure. But it’s something that – sailing around the Golden GateBridge and Alcatraz – it’s pretty amazing.” CUPINSIDER: You’ve gotten a lot of advice from very talented coaches and sailors here, what is the advice that has stuck with you and who gave it? JS: “I’m pretty close to Darren Bundock, we’re pretty good mates. His advice was to just, sort of, stay calm on the tiller, be nice and sensitive. And also, a few of the other guys, like Kinley, was just, to be a leader – as a skipper be a leader, help your guys out and communicate. You gotta scream at the top of your lungs to direct your boys and they’re doing a fantastic job.”

at world championships around the globe and their special relationship has transcended rivalry to become a close mentor relationship. Darren is also a coach at the Youth America’s Cup.

Tom Burton (Objective Australia Tactician) and Tom Slingsby (Olympic Gold Medalist in Sailing and AC crew): Tom Burton supported Tom Slingsby in his successful 2012 Olympic Games Campaign to win gold and was his training partner sailing together right up to the start of the London Games.

Tom Burton edged Tom Slingsby from the number one ranked Laser sailor in 2012 winning the World Cup.Josh McNight (Objective Australia Crew) and Nathan Outeridge (Olympic Gold Medallist and AC helmsman) Josh McNight is the 2012 Moth World Champion succeeding in the same class as previous Moth World Champion Nathan Outeridge.

The high performance foiling Moth is a hugely challenging class with speed and technology. Their rivalry is set to continue into the future in high performance skiffs, foiling Moths and the America’s Cup.

Tony Walls (Team Principle) and Malcolm Page (Double Olympic Gold Medallist):

Tony is an Australian One Design yachting champion sailing together with Malcolm Page – double Gold Medallist in the 470 class as tactician. Tony has supported Malcolm in two successful Olympic campaigns.

by Cup Insider Christine Kho

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PITTWATER AGAINST THE WORLD

Objective Australia now have the added pressure to perform – they will be going against the finest young talent the world has to offer.

First the rivalry of New Zealand returns with this country having two entries. One backed by the Emirates team New Zealand camp, an official challenger of the 34th America’s Cup and will be competing first in the Louis Vuitton Trophy this summer and the second team, Full Metal Jacket, sailed and impressed their way into the RBYAC just like the four teams listed below.

Australia – Objective Australia Germany – STG/NRV Youth Team New Zealand – Full Metal Jacket Racing

Portugal – ROFF/Cascais Sailing Team

Switzerland – Team TILT.

Youth crews supported by America’s Cup World Series Teams: France – Energy Team/Name TBC

New Zealand – Emirates Team

New Zealand/Name TBC Sweden – Artemis Racing/Swedish Youth Challenge USA – ORACLE TEAM USA/American Youth Sailing Force (SFO) USA – ORACLE TEAM USA/USA45 Racing (USA)

The race in San Francisco on the same course raced by their big brothers

means AC72 history will be made in front the world with these young men and their flying machines racing for some five days straight in between the Louis Vuitton Trophy and the America’s Cup finals. The eyes of the sailing world will be upon them and will be broadcast internationally and on American television as well as streamed live on You Tube.

FLEET RACING These international teams are said by

most to probably steal the show with the nationality rules in place, for once a real country against country regatta only really seen in the Olympics. The hopes being that this will become a sustainable path for young sailors in the future and also tool to begin the journey back to Cup Competition for Australian sailing and to build a team to compete in the 35th America’s Cup. If anyone can do it it’s this group who are already favourites amongst the 10 teams.

The hard part has just begun. Training now will be on the plate for the next few months. Just how much access they have to their newly won boat spot or AC45 is still to be seen. I believe they’re to start as soon as March or after the finals of The America’s Cup World series In Naples, Italy this April. Already coming up the ranks is Tom Slingsby, another of the Pittwater gang who will be piloting the Oracle Team USA AC45 that currently leads that series. The helm being given by James Spithill so he can concentrate on AC72 training, the future is here, it’s now and it’s bright for Australian sailing.

Hopefully with the support of a great sports foundation like Team Australia doors will open again for a Cup challenger. God knows these young men are doing their jobs and are sailing their way there. Objective – Bring the Cup Back.

Summer of Sailing

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Pittwater Boys Race Toward Cup

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