Top young Kiwi match racers crew for Russell Coutts on the AC45. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
Top young Kiwi match racers crew for Russell Coutts on the AC45. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
by America's Cup media, as modified by SailRaceWin
In exchange for serving as night watch crew when the AC45 spent a night on the mooring last week, New Zealand's top two continuing match race skippers on the ISAF Rankings, Phil Robertson, 23, (Waka Racing) and Reuben Corbett, 23, (Black Sheep Racing) received a text today to come down for a sail.
“We were out training for the F18 Nationals and got the text,” said Reuben Corbett. Reuben and Brad Farrand are part of a team they call Black Sheep Racing.
Brad Farrand, from Black Sheep Racing, on the AC45. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
Brad Farrand, from Black Sheep Racing, on the AC45. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
The pair, along with Tom Blampeid and Tom Bentham, are preparing for the F 18 Nationals here in a week. The young sailors took up the F 18s when they heard the next America’s Cup would be in multihulls. When the text came in they wasted no time in coming down to the Viaduct.
Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
For Robertson, he was surprised at the ease of handling. “I was surprised at how balanced it all was and how easy it was to move around when doing 20-25 knots.”
Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
Robertson is skipper of a match racing team called Waka Racing and his dream is to compete in the America’s Cup. The same applies to Corbett, and his Black Sheep Racing team.
The AC45 passes an Australian 470 competing in Sail Auckland. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
“It’s always been the goal and always been the dream,” Robertson said. “In 2000 the dream started when the Cup was here. To be able to sail with Russell (Coutts) and the rest of the guys is really, really cool.”
The AC45 passes Lasers at Sail Auckland. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
The AC45 passes Lasers at Sail Auckland. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
Note from SailRaceWin: It appears, from the images, that the AC45 visited the Sail Auckland, New Zealand's international regatta in Olympic classes, that is currently being held locally.
Black Sheep Racing
Waka Racing
America's Cup
