Red Bull Foiling Generation comes to USA

The third edition of Red Bull Foiling Generation continues on its mission to discover the world’s top youth sailors. Developed by two-time Olympic champions Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher of Austria, the series gives wings to talented sailors aged 16-20 by introducing them to elite coaching and cutting-edge foiling technology.

Following five global events in the past year, Red Bull Foiling Generation now prepares for the U.S. Final qualifier (Nov 2-4) to complete the field for the World Final (Nov 9-11) when the top teams from 16 countries will race for the championship. Both events will at the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park in Miami, FL.

“We created this series to give outstanding young sailors the tools to follow a unique career path,” says Steinacher. “Miami is well known in the sailing world and provides an excellent setting to showcase the skills of these ambitious athletes.”

Doublehanded teams will be sailing the 18-foot Flying Phantom foiling catamaran that are capable of 35 knots. For both events, teams will compete in a series of heats on four identical boats of distinct colors which advance the winners toward the final round to determine the winner.

All participants gain invaluable experience, even getting the opportunity to be coached by Steinacher and Hagara. Past sailors involved have gone onto great success including Olivia Mackay, who led New Zealand to a win at the Red Bull Foiling Generation World Final in 2016. Since then she has gone on to helm a boat in the Extreme Sailing Series, and at least 40 previous participants are currently in Olympic-class programs for Tokyo 2020.

“It’s like in motorsport: young people start in karts and they keep moving up toward Formula 1,” Hagara explains. “Sailors that have proven themselves in Red Bull Foiling Generation have moved on to compete at a very high level in other events.”

Talent scouts and professional coaches will be keeping a close eye on the lineup of 16 teams from five continents, which includes fresh faces from sailing powerhouses like Switzerland, the UK and defending champion New Zealand, as well as newcomers to the prestige event, including Argentina, Austria, Greece and Portugal.

Countries to compete:
Australia
Argentina
Austria
Belgium
France
Germany
Greece
Italy
The Netherlands
New Zealand
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States

Event details – USA entrants – Facebook