Yugo Yoshida and Yuki Kasatani have been selected following grueling crew trials to join sailing team in Bermuda.
After a three-month search to find the ultimate Japanese sailor, SoftBank Team Japan is excited to announce that Yugo Yoshida and Yuki Kasatani will join the sailing team as they challenge for the 35th America’s Cup.
“Right from Day 1 of the trials it became clear there were 6 applicants very much in the running for the two available places on the team,” said team skipper and CEO Dean Barker. “However Yuki and Yugo really stood out in all areas of the testing process. Although very different athletes they both had the drive to earn their rights to the two positions.”
Yugo Yoshida, age 31, is an experienced Olympic 470 sailor and comes to the team following campaigns competing in the 2012 London Olympic games as well as several ISAF Sailing World Championships.
Yuki Kasatani, age 26, joins the sailing team as a strong competitive rower having competed in the All Japan Cup since 2009 most recently competing in the Coxed Pair and Double Scull events.
Both athletes will move to Bermuda immediately to start integrating with the team and begin an intense training regimen preparing them with the physical strength and stamina needed to sail team’s new AC45S race yacht.
