Vancouver sailor to lead Team Canada in first-ever women's America's Cup
A team of women will be setting sail for the America's Cup in Barcelona this fall. It marks the first time women have been able to compete in the 173-year-old sailing competition.
Team Canada’s crew will be led by Vancouver’s Isabella Bertold. She says it will be transformative for the sport.
“Often we beat the boys racing. It’s a sport where men and women can compete head to head on an equal playing field and to now have that accessible is historical,” explains Bertold.
Sponsorships for the competition include Telus and RBC, with the team sailing under the banner of Concord Pacific Racing.
“Globally, sailing is a much bigger deal in other parts of the world compared to Canada, but that’s going to change. It’s not just about boats in the water,” says Terry Hui, president and CEO of Concord Pacific.
Bertold says “never before has Canadian sailing had support like this” and is excited for what the future has in store for the sport.
“One of my favourite quotes is if you can see it, you can be it," she says. "Now, there is going to be women centre-stage next to the men. When I grew up as a little girl sailing, there was nowhere to see it.”
The 37th America's Cup will feature up to 12 women's teams in Barcelona. Each women's team will be racing an identical, brand new sailboat, the AC40.
Bertold says the men and women will be learning how to sail the new boats at the same time, so there's no excuse for there not to be a co-ed team by 2028.
The teams are set to compete in October.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Hamas rocket attack from Gaza sets off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv for the first time in months
Hamas fired a barrage of rockets from Gaza that set off air raid sirens as far away as Tel Aviv for the first time in months on Sunday in a show of resilience more than seven months into Israel's massive air, sea and ground offensive.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event. The family asked for privacy and that people honor Murray by being kind to one another.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
'Inspires a sense of adventure': Sask. man conquers Mount Everest
A Saskatchewan man made it to the summit of Mount Everest earlier this month.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
Indianapolis 500 delayed as strong storm forces fans to evacuate Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The start of the Indianapolis 500 was delayed as a strong storm pushed through the area Sunday, forcing Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials to evacuate about 125,000 fans who had already arrived for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
At least 9 dead in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after severe weather roars across region
Powerful storms killed at least nine people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after obliterating homes and destroying a truck stop where drivers took shelter during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.