64 Athletes Try Out For Youth America’s Cup
Fourteen more young athletes completed the fitness combine over the weekend in a bid to make Team BDA in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup, bringing the total number of candidates to try out thus far to 64.
Since the launch of the Team BDA campaign on July 14, 101 candidates have expressed interest to join the team by filling out an application online.
The Team BDA committee will hold a third fitness combine in December as part of its commitment to audition as many athletes as possible. Committee members will work with educators and visit local schools to recruit athletes ahead of the December try out.
“Our goal is to build the greatest young sailing team the country has ever seen, made up of the best athletes in our community regardless of their sailing experience,” said Jane Savage, Team BDA Chairperson.
About 60% of those who have expressed an interest to try out for Team BDA describe themselves as non-sailors. They come from a diverse array of athletic disciplines.
By early 2016 the selection committee hopes to identify a squad of 18 of the best sailors and athletes who, with intensive training and coaching, will be equipped to compete with the world’s best young sailors in foiling high performance catamarans.
The final racing team will consist of six Red Bull Youth America’s Cup squad members, with others supporting as training partners and a shore team.
Team Bermuda will be training and racing in the Great Sound before a hometown crowd as they face other youth teams from around the world in June 2017.
The Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in Bermuda will take place on one-design foiling AC45 catamarans – the same boats the professionals will use in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series events in 2015 and 2016.
