Sailing
Red Bull Foiling Generation World Final in Miami
The planet’s largest youth sailing program will fly on the waters off Miami, USA on November 9-11, 2018.
3 min
What is Red Bull Foiling Generation?
Find out everything you need to know about Red Bull Foiling Generation.
The second-ever World Final of the planet’s largest youth sailing program, Red Bull Foiling Generation, will fly on the waters off Miami, USA on November 9-11, 2018.
Across the past year, Roman Hagara and Hans-Peter Steinacher have sought out the planet’s best young sailors to learn and compete in the next wave of sailing – high-speed foiling catamarans – and top teams from 16 nations will vie to be crowned world champion. For the 32 participating athletes, the experience could be the stepping stone to a professional career.
After getting off to a flying start in 2015 and 2016, Red Bull Foiling Generation is back to discover the world’s top youth sailors. Developed by sports directors Hagara and Steinacher, the series gives wings to talented sailors aged 16-20 years old by introducing them to the type of cutting-edge foiling technology used in the America’s Cup.
Olivia Mackay, who helmed New Zealand to win the Red Bull Foiling Generation World Final in 2016, has gone on to helm a boat in the Extreme Sailing Series, and at least 40 previous participants are currently in Olympic-class programs.
Red Bull Foiling Generation Qualifier - La Baule, France
© Vincent Curutchet/Red Bull Content Pool
Red Bull Foiling Generation – Qualifier New Zealand
© Graeme Murray/Red Bull Content Poo
Red Bull Foiling Generation Qualifier – The Netherlands
© Rutger Pauw/Red Bull Content Pool
Red Bull Foiling Generation Qualifier – Switzerland
© Loris von Siebenthal/Red Bull Content Pool
Now, a new crop of future sailing stars have their own chance to shine, in the 2018 Red Bull Foiling Generation World Final, the first to be held off the sunny shores of Florida. Talent scouts and professional coaches will be keeping a close eye on the line-up of 16 teams from five continents, which includes fresh faces from returning sailing powerhouses such as Switzerland, the UK and defending champion New Zealand, as well as newcomers to the prestige event, including Argentina, Austria, Greece and Portugal.
The last national qualifier of 2018, to be held in Miami on November 2-4, just days before the World Final, will decide the US team for the event.
Since the season kicked off with a national final in La Baule, France in October 2017, anticipation has been building toward this year’s World Final, where, as always, Red Bull Foiling Generation will provide the boats. Each two-person team will race the innovative Flying Phantom, a spectacular multihull catamaran capable of reaching speeds up to 35 knots (nearly 40mph).
“We created this series to give outstanding young sailors the tools to follow a unique career path, and we chose the Flying Phantom because it is the fastest boat of its size,” says Steinacher.
Miami is well known in the sailing world and provides an excellent setting to showcase the skills of these ambitious athetes.
Roman Hagara, Hans-Peter Steinacher
© Samo Vidic/Red Bull Content Pool
All participants gain invaluable experience, as they are coached by Steinacher and Hagara in taking on the demanding challenge of foiling. The Austrian legends are also the masterminds behind the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup, where victorious skipper Peter Burling learned skills that helped him to win the 2017 America’s Cup at the helm of Emirates Team New Zealand.
It’s like in motorsport: young people start in karts and they keep moving up toward Formula 1
Sailors that have proven themselves in Red Bull Foiling Generation have moved on to compete at a very high level in other events,” Hagara explains. “I’m sure you will see the winners and other sailors from the Miami regatta sailing in new classes in the future. For some of them the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup or the Extreme Sailing Series could be the next step.”
The 2018 Red Bull Foiling Generation World Final sets sail in Miami on Friday, November 9, with racing to continue through Sunday, November 11, when the World Champions will be crowned.
Red Bull Foiling Generation World Final Teams
The Boot
The Flying Phantom earns rave reviews as the future of sailing because unlike other small boats, it uses hydrofoil technology to lift completely out of the water. The cutting-edge system allows it to hit blistering speeds of up to 35 knots – almost 40mph – making it by far the quickest sailing boat of its size in the world.
3 min
The Red Bull Foiling Generation Boot Camp
All you need to know about the boot of the young sailing talents
