Team Australia Challenge has announced heroic 1983 America’s Cup winning skipper John Bertrand, AO and John Winning Jr, the skipper of Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race winning Andoo Comanche, as Patrons of the campaign.
Bertrand believes Australia will be highly competitive with the selection process tapping into the high level of skilled and world winning Australian sailors in all levels of global competition and with the capacity for two squads.
The AC40 is sailed by 4 people, a driver and a trimmer on each side. The boat requires 4 skilled sailors to work together and communicate clearly in a racing environment. Australia will assemble a squad to cover reserve positions as well as the challenge teams.
An AC40 simulator is on order to be stationed in Sydney in the coming months to start craft training alongside the on water training. Athletes and supporters will have access to the simulator experience.
Applications to register are open now here.
The Australian Women’s Challenge team has already announced skippers, dual Olympic medallists Olivia Price and Nina Curtis to lead the campaign.
“This campaign has the ability to transform women’s sailing in Australia. We are so excited to be able to pioneer this for all Australian sailors,” Olivia Price said.
Images available here : Please credit Salty Dingo in appropriate photos.
Media enquiries and interviews: Communications Director Carolyn Grant: carolyn@teamaustraliachallenge.org | +61 407 898 727 | www.teamaustraliachallenge.com.au