The Puig Women’s America’s Cup competition kicked off Sunday in the Mediterranean waters off the coast of Barcelona, Spain. And it has been a long time coming — 173 years, in fact. The iconic men’s America’s Cup series, also underway in Barcelona and this time again sponsored by Louis Vuitton, has been going that long; this is the first time a Women’s America’s Cup will be awarded.
There are 12 teams competing for the Women’s Cup — Italy, Great Britain, Australia, France, the U.S., Sweden, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Spain. WWD sat down dockside with members from six of the teams to discuss their favorite memories on the water and hopes for the future.
Alice Linussi, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA)
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Where are you from? Trieste, Italy
How long have you been sailing? Since I was 6 years old
Position within the team? Trimmer
What are your favorite moments when you’re on the water and ashore? My favorite moment when I’m on the water is the sense of freedom and, at the same time, the adrenaline that sailing gives me; while when I’m ashore, it’s sharing this experience with my team.
What do you hope the Puig Women’s America’s Cup does for women’s sailing? The Puig Women’s America’s Cup is already giving significant visibility to women’s sailing, and I hope it’s just the beginning for the future. I hope we can inspire young girls who want to pursue their dreams.
Ellie Aldridge, Athena Pathway (GBR)
Where are you from? Poole, Dorset, U.K.
How long have you been sailing? Since I was 7 (20 years!?
Position within the team? Spare helm
What are your favorite moments when you’re on the water and ashore? Sailing these amazing boats! The feel of being completely on the edge but also kind of in control. On shore: being with the sailing team and wider team and exploring Barcelona.
What do you hope the Puig Women’s America’s Cup does for women’s sailing? More women in the actual America’s Cup next time and make it more normal to have women in key roles throughout the professional sailing world.
Helena Scutt, NYYC American Magic (USA)
Where are you from? Seattle and San Francisco
How long have you been sailing? I started racing 17 years ago, when I was 15. I started sailing when I was 11.
Position within the team? Trimmer and working full-time on the design team for American Magic as a mechatronics engineer.
What are your favorite moments when you’re on the water and ashore? Pulling off a difficult maneuver well is such an addicting feeling. Also, learning and problem-solving with my teammates, whether it’s while sailing, debriefing, or in the simulator. Preferably on the water, of course!
What do you hope the Puig Women’s America’s Cup does for women’s sailing? I expect that the sailors in the Puig Women’s America’s Cup will reimagine what’s possible for them in professional sailing. For everyone else, investment in women’s sports is exploding right now, and the Puig Women’s America’s Cup will show that women’s sailing is no exception.
Rebecca Netzler, Swedish Challenge powered by Artemis Technologies (SWE)
Where are you from? Östersund, north of Sweden
How long have you been sailing? Started sailing: 2005 at age 10
Loves most on water: Ripping it on the AC40 downwind.
Loves most ashore: Having a nice brunch with friends here in Barcelona.
What do you hope the Puig Women’s America’s Cup does for women’s sailing? I hope that this will lead to that women who dream about being a professional sailor now feel that it’s not only a dream.
Odile van Aanholt, Jajo Team DutchSail (NED)
Where are you from? I’m originally from Curaçao, which is an island just above Venezuela in South America. That’s where I grew up, that’s where I learned to sail and eventually I had to move to the Netherlands. Curaçao is very small, so it has limited options, especially in professional sailing.
How long have you been sailing? I’ve been sailing since I was 4, so 22 years now.
Position within the team? In this team I’m the starboard helm and skipper.
What are your favorite moments when you’re on the water and ashore? I really love being out on the water. It’s great to be away from your phone. Basically from all things reality and just be out there and be fully connected with the moment. With the ocean, sunshine hopefully most often and especially what I like here at the America’s Cup is that it’s such a big team and making that work is a great challenge but also very fun when you achieve that goal.
What do you hope the Puig Women’s America’s Cup does for women’s sailing? I think the Puig Women’s America’s Cup is already accomplishing a lot by just being. It’s really great to be here, I’m grateful but it’s also about time that this is happening. For me, I didn’t have women’s in the America’s Cup to look up to when I was young. And I’m very proud that I’m standing here right now and that we can be an example for the little girls back home. It basically shows what’s possible. You still need to work hard but it’s possible. And that’s a really big step.
Paula Barceló, Sail Team BCN (ESP)
Where are you from? Palma de Mallorca
How long have you been sailing? Since I was 7 years old
Position within the team? Starboard trimmer
What are your favorite moments when you’re on the water and ashore? I enjoy every moment in the water, these boats are just so amazing!
What do you hope the Puig Women’s America’ s Cup does for women’s sailing?
I think it is another step forward for women in the professional sailing world. I hope to be able to continue to advance and that this marks only the beginning for much bigger things to come.
SPONSORS BOX
Here, a list of the sponsors of the teams for the Puig Women’s America’s Cup.
BARCELONA: CaixaBank, Foundation0
DUTCH: Jajo
CANADA: Concord, RBC, Telus
GERMANY: Rohde & Schwarz, UniCredit, Bay GmBH, Horn & Company, Vector Foiltec, Voight Logistik, Venjakob, Fisacom
FRANCE: L’Oréal, Orient Express, Accor, All.com, Photomaton ME Group, Alpine
SWITZERLAND: Tudor, UBS, Prysmian
NEW ZEALAND: Emirates, Omega, Toyota, Explora, Estrella Damn
AUSTRALIA: Andoo
GREAT BRITAIN: Cobham Ultra, Rolex
ITALY: Prada, Pirelli, Oakley, Panerai, Unipol
SWEDEN: Artemis Technology, Pelle P
USA: Instruments, Pensacola, Quantum Sails, Mahou Sanmiguel, Altair, Parker, H/H
