As the eyes of the sailing world turn to the impressive spectacle of the America’s Cup in New Zealand these weeks, the best sailing talents in the world are gathering in Italy in preparation for the Liberty Bitcoin Youth Foiling World Cup which will be held from February 24 to March 12 take place. The highlight is the finals weekend from 10 to 12 March. The sailors of Team DutchSail – Janssen de Jong represent the Netherlands on this world stage.
Youth Foiling World Cup vervangt Youth America’s Cup
The Liberty Bitcoin Youth Foiling World Cup is seen internationally as the replacement of the Youth America’s Cup, the regatta that should have taken place in New Zealand where the best sailors between the ages of 18 and 25 would compete for the honor. This America’s Cup training regatta was canceled several months ago due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
With the Youth Foiling World Cup, which is sailed in the spectacular 69F class, a podium has been created where the best youth sailors in a world championship setting can compete with each other in a foiling monohull.
Team DutchSail – Janssen de Jong
The Dutch Team DutchSail – Janssen de Jong has been together since the end of July 2020 and will play for the KNZ & RV Muiden and KRZV De Maas from Rotterdam. After the cancellation of the Youth America’s Cup, the team led by coach Pieter-Jan Postma quickly turned its arrows on the match series in the 69F.
Selection round with Van Dongen, Houtman and Usman in the starting line-up
After training in various formations in recent months, Postma has made his final selection one month before the start of the regatta.
Postma:
“It has been a fantastic and challenging process in recent months, in which all nine different sailors each contributed to the team process in their own way and from their own strength. I dare say that it has been an intensive selection process, with only cool people that I would have liked to have given a place. If everyone stays fit, we sail with Cas van Dongen on the wheel, Scipio Houtman on the main and Ismene Usman as flight controller on the boards. If necessary, we have a number of very strong sailors on reserve who can jump in. ”
Helmsman Cas van Dongen cannot wait to finally cross swords with the other teams.
Van dongen:
“I am really looking forward to starting the Youth Foiling World Cup. We have prepared well, experienced a lot as a team and have now focused on the right points for the last few weeks. We know how to sail the boat. We are fit, happy and feel privileged to be able to experience our sport in this way in these times. ”
Team DutchSail – Janssen de Jong among top favorites
Van Dongen is clear about the level of competition:
“It is a very special event for which many teams, like us, are preparing very well. You can assume that everyone who appears at the start really wants to participate in order to win. The level is high and we know what is at stake. We are mainly concerned with what we would like to show. ”
Coach Pieter-Jan Postma sees his team as a great contender for a medal.
Postma:
“I give us a good chance, we have standardized a lot, Cas, Scipio and Ismene are well attuned to each other and we will use the coming weeks to put the proverbial dots on the ï here in Gaeta. We have been training here since the beginning of January to ensure that we are optimally prepared in a month’s time to compete with the best sailors in the world. ”
“In addition, at the moment I see two other big contenders next to us, the Italian Young Azzura and the Hong-Kong team Agriplast. But there are also a number of teams that we now have even less insight into, such as the French, the Swiss and the Americans.”
Weekly updates on YouTube
You can follow the activities of Team DutchSail -Janssen de Jong every week in their own weekly update. This update comes online every week on Flying Friday and can be viewed via YouTube, Facebook when Instagram.
Image: Sander van der Borch / Team DutchSail
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