RHKYC enters Youth America's Cup 2021
by RHKYC Team Agiplast 12 Mar 17:13 NZDT
The AC9F will sail with a mixed crew. © Youth America's Cup
Calling on Hong Kong youth sailors aged 18 to 24 to join RHKYC Team Agiplast!
Up to 20 sailing clubs from across the world will be challenging for the Youth America's Cup trophy. The event will be sailed in brand new AC9F 9m monohull foiling boats, with the first AC9F being launched for test sailing next week. Foiling is at the pinnacle of sailing, and this discipline is developing rapidly - think Moths, Waszps, SailGP and the America's Cup. It's fun, fast, demanding and exhilarating!
The Youth America's Cup will consist of fleet racing in the waters of China in November 2020, and Fleet and Match Racing in Auckland, New Zealand in February and March 2021.
If you are 18 or over (as of 1 November 2020) and under 25 (as of 12 March 2021) and are among Hong Kong's best and most promising youth sailors, then you should consider applying for a place on RHKYC Team Agiplast. Please - pass the invitation on to anyone who is both interested and eligible.
To qualify for the team you must either be a permanent Hong Kong resident or have been a Hong Kong resident for minimum of 18 months as of 1 October 2020. This means that you are eligible if you are a Hong Kong resident currently overseas - say, at university. You must also have either a valid Hong Kong ID card or a Hong Kong passport. We may choose to have one individual on the team, male or female, with outstanding qualifications and a recent or future commitment to the development of youth sailing in Hong Kong, but who currently do not qualify as a Hong Kong resident. You do not need to be a member of the RHKYC to apply to join the team, but you will need to become a member if selected. Details of the RHKYC membership schemes can be provided if required.
We are seeking to fill positions for a permanent crew and an extended crew. The permanent crew will consist of two male and two female sailors. The 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. The minimum weight has been set by the Organising Authority to ensure there is sufficient strength among the crew to handle the boat well.
The permanent crew must be willing to dedicate 100% of their time to the campaign from 15 June 2020 to the end of April 2021 inclusive. The extended crew must be willing to commit up to 30% of their time to join some selected weekly training sessions both in New Zealand and Hong Kong. We will train extensively in the AC9F in New Zealand and in China, and with the Waszp dinghies at Middle Island in Hong Kong, and at Lake Garda, Italy. We aim to partner up with another fully committed Yacht Club who are also challenging for the Youth AC. This will enable us to fast track the learning process and our understanding of how to get the best from the AC9F and our team.
We can promise a truly exciting year of sailing. You will gain an enormous amount of experience; in sailing and foiling, in team work, in goal setting and learning how to be structured and professional in every step you take. We will also very soon share some exciting news about our selection of a world class coach to lead our team. This year will not only make you a much better sailor, but will also prepare you for your next steps in life - for business or for a continued career in sailing. Previous Youth America's Cup sailors are today among the absolutely best sailors in the world.
Whilst the deadline to apply is no later than 24 March, it's absolutely ideal that you apply sooner.
The Club will conduct personal interviews with all candidates, and the top candidates will be invited to a half-day fitness test on either 28 or 29 March. In exceptional circumstances, the selection committee may conduct interviews over Skype for those outstanding candidates currently overseas. The sailors finally selected to join RHKYC Team Agiplast will be announced on 2 April.
The selection criteria are:
- Your aspirations and motivation
- Teaming capability
- Full time or part time (extended team) commitment from 15 June to mid-April 2021 inclusive
- Sailing experience from dinghy and windsurfing international regattas
- Foiling experience
- Height (cm), weight (kgs)
- Level of fitness
- Commitment to development of youth sailing at RHKYC
If you have any questions concerning the selection process or the questionnaire, please contact the RHKYC Sailing Office by email on