Video: Team BDA Set To Begin Training Schedule
Members of Team BDA – Bermuda’s entry into the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup – are gearing up for tough training sessions to get them ship-shape for racing.
Between June and September, the Team will be training on the water and off for more than 40 days in gruelling physical drills and technical exercises.
These summer sessions will be the first time the final 15 will be in training clinics together, where now they compete for a starting spot on the team of six. Others not in the starting six will form the back up squad and shore team.
Ultimately they’re training to race on the AC45F catamaran – the same high-tech, high speed vessel used in the Louis Vuitton World Series event in Bermuda last October.
Team member Emily Nagel, who competed in the 2015 ISAF Team Racing World Championships, said she was sure the regime would be a big step up for everyone.
“The AC45Fs are incredible boats and you obviously have to be a skilled sailor as well as an immensely fit athlete if you have a chance of being able to compete.
“I cannot wait to get involved. I’m lucky enough to have sailed in a number of World and European championships, but competing in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup will be a whole new level.”
Team BDA is being mentored by Oracle Team USA and racing will take place in the Great Sound in June next year.
Six youth crews will compete in Bermuda through their affiliation with current America’s Cup teams. Up to ten additional teams will be selected by Red Bull Youth America’s Cup Sport Directors Roman Hagara and Hans-Peter Steinacher before the end of November this year.
They will then race in a Qualifying Series to determine the top eight who will face off in two days of fleet racing scheduled during the week between the America’s Cup Finals.
“The Team BDA training schedule is June 4 – 12; July 4 – 10; July 16- 23; August 8- 19 and September 10- 17. The team’s preparations are funded entirely from donations,” a spokesperson said.
“Show your support by checking out the team’s donor page or sharing a message on social media using #supportTeamBDA.”
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