NEWS
Trailblazers of the Sea: The Puig Women’s America’s Cup Teams
The highly anticipated inaugural Puig Women’s America’s Cup started in Barcelona and is sure to electrify the crowds with thrilling AC40 foiling action! This groundbreaking event brings together some of the world’s most talented female sailors, each team combining elite skill, passion, and a shared mission to make history in the sport. We are looking forward to seeing these top-tier athletes showcase their power and precision as they compete on the global stage. Southern Spars caught up with key members of the Dutch, Spanish, and Italian teams to dive into their journeys, uncover their motivations, and explore what fuels their competitive edge – driving them to compete in the first-ever Women’s America’s Cup.
Neus Ballester
What inspired you to pursue sailing, any notable sailing role models, or heroes?
My parents were keen Sailors and introduced me to the world of sailing. I really enjoyed being with my friends at summer school, where we did a fair amount of sailing. I have a few idols, but more from other sports like Rafa Nadal. Although most of my inspiration comes from my mother.
How does it feel to be involved in the first dedicated women’s America’s Cup event? What is the atmosphere like around the event?
It is a pride and an honour to be able to compete in this first women’s America’s Cup. It would be great if the Women’s America’s Cup event continues and, in the future, there were more female crew members in the senior teams.
As someone who has been focused on developing in fast-paced dinghy sailing, how has your ability to handle small, agile boats like the 49erFX influenced your performance on the larger and more high-tech AC40 foiling boats? Are there specific skills from your dinghy sailing that have been especially useful in this transition?
They are quite different boats, the AC40 goes much faster than the 49er, but sailing on many boats has helped me train and become a more experienced sailor.
As one of the teams’ younger competitors, how do you envision this experience will affect your future in the sailing world?
If things go well in the future I will have more experience, but without the experience I have a big responsibility, so we are going to give it our all and hoping for a successful result.
Paula Barceló
What is the biggest lesson you have learned in sailing and how do you apply it?
The value of hard work and perseverance when facing any challenge. Talent gives you an advantage – but sport in general teaches us how necessary hard work is. To persevere when the road is full of obstacles, but the important thing is to analyse the situation and move forward.
How does it feel to be involved in the first dedicated women’s America’s Cup event? What is the atmosphere like around the event?
I feel proud and a huge responsibility at the same time. I feel fortunate to be part of the Sail Team BCN in this first Women’s America’s Cup, it is something innovative and historic.
Having won a World Championship in a highly technical class like the 49erFX, how has your experience with fine-tuning performance under pressure translated to the technological complexity and precision needed for foiling at speeds in the AC40? How do you approach teamwork differently in this high-tech setting?
Olympic sailing and high-performance competition are something that can be transferred to any sporting or personal project. It gives you values and tools to face challenges in life. It is a constant learning process; each new project offers you new situations and you can learn from them all.
Nicole van der Velden
How does it feel to be involved in the first dedicated women’s America’s Cup event?
It is great to be involved with the Women’s America’s Cup. It is such a good opportunity for us to learn and grow in professional sailing.
What is the atmosphere like around the event?
It is amazing to have everyone you normally see all over the world all living in Barcelona. The atmosphere has been great!
How do you stay focussed?
Routines are the biggest thing to staying focussed, really knowing clearly what the routines are and sticking to them.
Any interesting pre-race routines or rituals?
I normally have quite a long morning routine that gets me going for the day!
Representing Aruba in the Nacra 17 at the 2016 Olympics gave you extensive experience with fast, multihull sailing. How has your Olympic background in multihulls, especially in a boat like the Nacra 17, did it help you adapt to the even faster and more complex dynamics of foiling in the AC40 class? What have been the challenges along the way?
I think the more time you spend sailing and especially foiling, the more you learn, and your reactions get better. In different situations, everything happens so fast that it needs to become second nature. I think the Nacra, IQfoil, Moth and SailGp have all helped me to get to grips faster with the understanding of the AC40, as well as the process side to it.
The biggest challenge is always time on the water and especially in the America’s Cip with that time being limited. It makes being able to learn and adapt quickly particularly important.
