New series for outstanding young sailors

A new series will be launched in 2015 for talented sailors aged 16-20 to race the 18-foot Flying Phantom, an innovative foiling catamarans capable of reaching speeds of up to 35 knots.

Olympic champions Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher are organizing the Red Bull Foiling Generation, which will have four brand-new flying boats and regattas in seven countries.

“We are looking for the world’s best talents,” said Red Bull Foiling Generation sports director Hans Peter Steinacher, inviting the new generation of sailors to take a step forward.

The Red Bull Foiling Generation starts in 2015 with seven events in Japan, the UK, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Russia and France. The winners of these national competitions will be invited to the world final in late 2016 to compete but not merely for glory and honor.

The format will be that of knockout races, a new modus for sailing, but one which promises a lot of excitement for both athletes and spectators. With four boats at the start of every race, each distinctly marked with a colour, either, red, yellow, blue or grey. The top two teams automatically advance to the next round, while the losing pair get another shot at qualifying with a lucky loser round. The draw will be further reduced in the quarter-finals and the last four, with the winner in the final crowned national competition winner.

Right before every event, sailing heroes Hagara and Steinacher will introduce the young sailors to the art of foiling and coach them.

“We are offering outstanding young sailors a unique career path starting on foiling catamarans in the Red Bull Foiling Generation, the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup and the Red Bull Sailing Team competing in the Extreme Sailing Series,” said Hans Peter Steinacher of the fantastic opportunities offered by the new series.

Red Bull Foiling Generation race calendar 2015
April 17-19, Wakayama / Japan
June 26-28, Weymouth / United Kingdom
July 10-12, Malcesine/ Italy
August 7-9, Malmö / Sweden
September 4-6, Aarhus / Denmark
September 25-27, St. Petersburg / Russia
October 19-21, TBA / France

Contact: Mario Schoby, mario.schoby@redbullextremesailing.com

Source: Red Bull