Sailing
Kiwis rule the roost again at Red Bull Foiling Generation
Following in the wake of the triumphant New Zealand sailors of 2016, Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie flew along the Miami shoreline to win the 2018 edition of the Foiling Generation World Final.
Part of this story
In the climax of a year-long search for the planet’s most talented young sailors, the pair defeated 15 other international teams, with duos from Belgium and Sweden also outstanding in second and third.
In perfect conditions and in front of cheering Miami crowds, the Red Bull Foiling Generation World Final was a festival of foiling, but for 16 of the planet’s most talented teams of sailors aged 16-20, the regatta was a hard-fought battle. Sunday’s final delivered perhaps the closest start in Red Bull Foiling Generation history, as all four boats were within centimetres of each other to the first mark.
Then the Kiwis, McHardie and McKenzie, took control, edging into first place and never letting go until they crossed the finish line, ahead of the second-placed Belgians, Morgan Wirtz and Henri Demesmaeker, and the third-place Swedes Emil Järudd and Hugo Christensson.
Watch the best action from Miami in the video below.
1 min
Red Bull Foiling Generation World Finals 2018
Following in the wake of triumphant New Zealand sailors in 2016 young Kiwis Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie landed the second edition of the Red Bull Foiling Generation World Finals in Miami 2018.
Be sure to download the free Red Bull TV app and catch the sailing action on all your devices! Get the app here
The drama continued when the victorious New Zealand team capsized just after passing the finish line. “The breeze picked up a bit – more than we’d had in the past few days – and the boats were a lot faster, more out of control, but I think everyone here had a lot of skill," McKenzie said.
Double Olympic champions Hagara and Steinacher of Austria developed and launched Red Bull Foiling Generation in 2015 to find the world’s best young sailors and provide a stepping-stone to a potential career in the sport. They personally coach the youth teams on Flying Phantom hydrofoil catamarans, the fastest boats of their size.
It’s been gratifying to see the interest in Red Bull Foiling Generation around the world, as well as the progress sailors from the program are making in the sport.
See the best stills from Red Bull Foiling Generation 2018 in the gallery below.
The top-3 teams teams at the Red Bull Foiling Generation World Final 2018
© Predrag Vuckovic/Red Bull Content Pool
Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie in action during the final
© Predrag Vuckovic/Red Bull Content Pool
Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie of New Zealand celebrate the victory
© Predrag Vuckovic/Red Bull Content Pool
Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie compete in the World Final
© Predrag Vuckovic/Red Bull Content Pool
“Olivia Mackay and Micah Wilkinson, who won the 2016 World Final, went on to win the Flying Phantom Series of the Extreme Sailing Series together in 2017, and since then both of them have raced on GC32s in the Extreme Sailing Series, in addition to pursuing Olympic campaigns. The future of sailing is looking very strong and very exciting,” Hagara said.
McHardie, who sails with McKenzie in the Olympic 49er class, commented, “The 49er isn’t a foiling boat, so sailing the Phantoms taught us skills in foiling and speed. I’m really happy and looking forward to following in Micah’s footsteps and hopefully in the future having some awesome opportunities.”
Part of this story