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The Jersey Junior Team has just returned from representing Great Britain at the America’s Cup Junior Endeavour Regatta, which took place in Bermuda last week alongside the America’s Cup finals. Royal Channel Island Yacht Club (RCIYC) cadets, Finlay Arenz and Tom Hunt, were selected for the event on the basis of Jersey’s past performances at the Junior Hobie World Championships and a video presentation submitted to the selection committee. They joined other teams from all over the world sailing Hobie Wave catamarans in the last of three junior regattas run during the course of the America’s Cup as part of the Endeavour program, the other regattas being run in Bic Opens and RS Fevas.
The Jersey team finished tenth overall with results that steadily improved over the week. The last race was a ‘Spectator Exhibition’ race run as part of the half time show in between the two America’s Cup finals races being run on that day. All of the teams appeared on the event stage before and after the race for the "Dock Out" show and presentation of the trophy for this showcase race; all being televised in 150 different countries. The Jersey team were very excited to win a podium position finishing in second place, an excellent effort from the young Jersey team.
As well as being a great opportunity for the team to develop their sailing skills, the event was also very much about meeting and spending the week with other teams from all over the world. After racing there was a busy schedule organised which included Blo-Karting, a visit to the AC45 compound where the boats sailing in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup are maintained and a Q&A session with the Spanish Red Bull Youth team which included Olympic sailors and a Hobie 16 world champion. The British team also enjoyed a visit to the Landrover BAR compound.
The America’s Cup is the oldest trophy in international sport, and the 2017 event in particular, is the world’s greatest show in sailing. It has been a fantastic experience for the Jersey team, not only to see it all first hand, but also to be part of it.
David Carter the RCIYC Sailing development officer accompanied Tom and Finlay as Team Manager. Thanks and appreciation goes to both Appleby for the team’s travel sponsorship and to British Airways for their support.
Tim Hart, Partner at Appleby, commented on this support “As the Official Law Firm of the 35th America’s Cup, we were delighted to support Tom and Finlay with their participation in Bermuda. The sailing link with the Club fits very well with the firm’s vision to share our America’s Cup Partnership with all our locations, as well as supporting Junior sailing in the Island. We are delighted with the result and hope it was an experience for them both to remember.”
