The Andoo Team Australia campaign for the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup gets underway this week when the six invited nations start competition in Barcelona and Australia once again flys the flag on the America’s Cup global stage.

The Andoo Australia squad, led by Skipper Cole Tapper, are in fighting form with two successful practice days under their belt, scoring two impressive wins from three races day one and a further win today in the only practice race, with the team in strong form leading into the start of their regatta on 18 September.

After hundreds of hours of simulator training in Sydney and just a handful of hours on the water on the actual high-speed foiling AC40 yachts in Barcelona, the sailors are keen to commence competition which will involve six fleet races in their group for the qualification series.

On Wednesday 18 September, Tapper will co-helm the four-person crew with Jack Ferguson on starboard helm and trimmers Max Paul and Tom Needham. They will be supported by youth squad members Annie Wilmot, George Richardson and Miles Davey.

Tapper acknowledged the AC40 was a highly complex craft to master but said both the Australian preparation over the past year and the “vertical learning curve” on water in the actual boats had prepared them well.

Tapper provided some insight to the team preparation during the UniCredit Youth Competition media conference on the morning of 16 August ahead of the regatta.

“We have spent a lot of time in the simulator, hundreds and hundreds of hours, and the key thing we’ve learned is how to find the problem when the boat is out of balance. With these boats you’re leaning on two points in the water and everything has to be lined up for you to feel locked in, but there definitely is that locked-in feeling. So that’s what we’ve learned on the sim, how to troubleshoot those problems.

“And then to get on the boat, the sensation is fairly different when you’re actually flying above the waves and you’ve got 80 kilometres of wind on your face and spray,” he said.

Tapper described his live AC40 training experience – “The first bear away I did, we popped up and we had some Barcelona sea state, which was not very appreciated on my end, but I poked my head out the side of the cockpit and was looking a long way down to the water!”

Andoo Team Australia CEO Peter Wrigley said the team were very proud to be the ones back flying the Australian flag at the world’s most prestigious sailing event, and one of the greatest sporting events in the world.

“It has been because of the support and dedication of so many people that we are here at the starting line in Barcelona. Our team is well prepared and ready for competition on the world stage and I am confident that they will do themselves and Australia proud,” he said.

They have had significant mentorship on the pathway from Patrons John Bertrand AO, who won the Cup for Australia in 1983, and current record setting sailing champion John Winning.

The Group B invited nations of Australia, Spain, The Netherlands, Canada, Germany and Sweden will complete eight races in the qualifying rounds on alternate days to the Group A competitors of New Zealand, Great Britain, USA, Italy, Switzerland and France who commence competition on 17 September.

The top three teams from each group will progress through to a finals series of four fleet races starting on 22 September followed by a winner takes all Match Race final on 26 September.

The Puig Women’s America’s Cup will follow after a training program with racing starting on 5 October.

The Andoo Team Australia campaign is supported by Title sponsor Andoo, Platinum sponsor Myer and Gold Sponsors, ExpenseMe and Ray White Commercial (RWC). Official suppliers to the campaign are Musto, Bolle, News Corp and SailorGirlHQ | Sunset Media.

The club of record for Australia is the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA).

Racing will be broadcast on Fox Sports and Kayo Freebies in Australia with the two competitions interweaving with the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup.