Liberty Bitcoin Youth Foiling World Cup: Building sailing's future together
by Persico 69F 23 Dec 2020 18:54 NZDT
Liberty Bitcoin Youth Foiling World Cup © Persico 69F / Studio Borlenghi
69F Sailing and Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club officially organize the Liberty Bitcoin Youth Foiling World Cup, an event dedicated to mixed Under-25 crews from all over the world: the first edition will be held in three stages over 12 months, with the first two scheduled in Italy and the third in Hong Kong.
The event was born as an international synergy between 69F Sailing, the company that designed and produced the Persico 69F, the first class of foil crew boats in the world, and the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. The first stage of the Liberty Bitcoin Youth Foiling World Cup takes place in Gaeta, in partnership with the Yacht Club Gaeta from February 24 to March 12, 2021. Preceded by two days of training, the event includes the Open Ceremony on February 26: the calendar includes a warmup regatta, the qualification series (3 - 8 March) and the final (10 - 12 March).
In July, Lake Garda will host the second act, while in January 2022 the final event of the first edition of the Liberty Bitcoin Youth Foiling World Cup will take place in Hong Kong.
"Liberty Bitcoin Youth Foiling World Cup - said Maciel Cicchetti, member of the team 69F currently engaged in Auckland with American Magic - combines the spirit of youth sailing with the 69F formula and was created to give the next generation of sailors the opportunity to race in a unique sporting context, on foiling boats capable of enhancing the show and fun".
The event sees the patronage of the Italian Sailing Federation: "The regatta actually fills the gap due to the cancellation of the Youth America's CUP. Persico 69F has shown all its potential and our vision - said Francesco Ettorre, president of the Italian Sailing Federation - we are proud to be involved in an event that aims to be educational for children: competition, team spirit, personal growth, gender equality, respect for the environment and safety, as well as healthy fun are our values".
The Formula - Liberty Bitcoin Youth Foiling World Cup accepts the registration of mixed crews Under 25 of 3 or 4 people presented by a Yacht Club representing a country. The races are held on board the Persico 69F according to a board formula tested in the circuit regattas in 2020, a format that guarantees the possibility of recuperation throughout the race days. The calendar includes a first elimination round, then the three-day final dedicated to the top six teams ranked in the first round. The format is designed to allow participation of up to 18 teams per stage and for this reason six Persico 69F monotypes will be used.
Enrolments - At the moment, there are nine members registered, coming from eight countries and four continents: from the start, the challenge involves the whole world. Registration for the event is open and will close at the end of 2020. Clubs can participate in a single stage or throughout the circuit. Those who participate in the previous stage get priority to register for the next one. To get information, clubs can write to and visit www.69fsailing.com
No Covid Zone - Liberty Bitcoin Youth Foiling World Cup will follow the restrictions regarding the fight against Covid: the regattas organized in 2020 by 69F Sailing saw the application of a strict protocol that worked perfectly, registering zero infections in ten regattas that saw the involvement of 32 teams from all over the world. The health regulations will provide for the creation of a "bubble" thanks to a coordinated management of the entire program for all teams. Crews will enter the bubble after a first Covid test, then follow sports and social guidelines in safe and health-controlled places.
Prizes - Liberty Bitcoin Youth Foiling World Cup is a regatta with a finals prize, thanks to the initiative of the main sponsor Liberty Bitcoin. The winner of the general classification, which takes into account the three stages throughout 2020-2021, will get 1 Bitcoin as the prize, whose current value is about 20 thousand euros.