Antonio Torrado, Martin Wizner, Conrad Konitzer and Jaime Framis @TORVEO
Sail Team BCN, the team representing Spain in the Women’s and Youth America’s Cup, will make its debut next Wednesday, September 18, in competition with the first youth races, where all participants are under 26 years old.
Today, the presentation event of the Youth America’s Cup was held in Barcelona, where twelve teams will compete: six backed by a challenge from the main America’s Cup (New Zealand, Great Britain, Italy, France, Switzerland, and the United States), forming Pool A, and the invited teams (Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, and Spain), forming Pool B.
Martín Wizner represented Sail Team BCN at the skippers’ press conference. “It’s an honor to be here in Spain and compete with these amazing boats. The main goal is to become an AC team in the next Cup. This is the path, and I’m really excited for this week to start,” said the Spanish skipper.
The competition format sets up two groups: Pool A, which starts competing this Tuesday, and Pool B, which begins on Wednesday. After up to eight fleet races spread over two days of competition, the top three finishers will advance to the semifinals, taking place on Sunday, September 22. The top two from the semifinals will face off in the final on September 26.
Alongside Wizner, the other skipper of the team will be Conrad Konitzer, while Jaime Framis and Antonio Torrado will take on the position of trimmers. Albert Torres and Neus Ballester will serve as reserve skippers, and Marcos Fernández will also serve as a trimmer.
Martín Wizner (01/01/2001, Vigo)
His club is the Real Club Náutico de Vigo. He is a 420 world champion and European youth champion in the 49er class.
“I’m super happy to be here and to represent my family name, but my goal is to one day stop being ‘the son of’ and start creating my own legacy.”
Conrad Konitzer (16/06/2001, Vancouver, Canada)
He is part of Club Náutico Arenal. He is a European 420 champion.
“The 49er is an Olympic sailing boat that teaches you a lot and offers many experiences that help with this project. We’re thrilled to be here in Barcelona and really excited to see what we can achieve in the Cup.”
Jaime Framis (05/09/2002, San Sebastián)
He is part of the Club Náutico Hondarribia. He is a world champion in Waszp slalom.
“It’s a world I really enjoy; it’s a lot of fun and gives you a big adrenaline rush. We’re going to try to be on the water as much as possible, learning every day from everything that flies.”
Antonio Torrado (01/04/1999, Torrevieja)
He belongs to the Real Club Náutico Torrevieja. He is a European youth bronze medalist in the 49er class.
“It is an honor and a pleasure, something we all dream of, to be able to represent our country in the America’s Cup. As for our chances, we are going to try to learn and improve as a team to do the best job possible.”
Neus Ballester (16/12/2003)
She is part of Club Náutico SA Ràpita. She is a two-time 420 world champion, a European youth bronze medalist in 470, and fifth in the world in youth 470.
“For me, even though I’m in this team and also in the women’s team, I feel like we all make one team. I don’t see it as being in two teams, but rather we are all part of the same team. We include all our sponsors in our team. In the end, we believe the best way to reach the goal is to work together as a team; you can learn a lot from each person, and we must take in as much as possible from everyone.”
Marcos Fernández (21/04/1999, Santiago de Compostela)
He belongs to the Real Club Náutico Portosín. He is a Youth World bronze medalist in Nacra 17.
“We started hearing different news about the possibility of a selection process that could include us, and we were fortunate to be part of this process. We are very happy to have made it here and to be among the chosen ones.”
Albert Torres (12/06/1999, Mallorca)
Real Club Náutico de Palma. He is a 420 World Champion
“It’s a unique opportunity, something we dreamed of since we were kids. Obviously, this is the Youth America’s Cup, but it’s a stepping stone towards the professional world that we aim to reach. I’m very happy and excited to compete in the America’s Cup.”
The women’s team, meanwhile, will begin official training on September 28, once the youth event has concluded, to prepare for their competition, which will start on October 6. In the women’s team, the AC40 will be helmed by Silvia Mas and Neus Ballester, with María Cantero and Paula Barceló as trimmers, and Nicole Van der Velden as the reserve sailor.
Sail Team BCN’s main sponsors are Foundation 0 and CaixaBank, with collaborators including the Ajuntament de Barcelona, Port de Sitges, Highfield, Musto, BWA Yachting, Sailproof, and Time Out. The team sails representing the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona.
