Video: Team BDA Catamaran Gets A New Look
Team Bermuda’s GC32 foiling catamaran received a makeover last week, giving the boat a distinctive design.
The GC32 is the team’s training platform as they prepare to represent the Island in next year’s Youth America’s Cup.
The new design was created by Nina Cotterill of KPMG Bermuda, as part of KMPG’s sponsorship of the team, and applied by Bermuda Blueprinting.
“This is such an exciting moment for the team because the boat will now be instantly recognizable when it is out on the water,” says Laura Cutler, Team Bermuda’s team manager. “We are just so grateful to Nina, the guys at Bermuda Blue and, of course, the team’s sponsors.”
As a Bermudian, Ms Cotterill says she took great pride in designing the GC32’s new look.
“What a fun project! I wanted to use Bermuda’s colours in a way that conveyed the speed and technology of a high performance racing boat,” she says.
The branding was a two-stage process that took place over three days. First the hulls were wrapped with a special vinyl, donated by 3M, and then the logos of Team Bermuda and its sponsors – Arch Capital Group Ltd., Ascendant Group, Belco, KPMG, and Hamilton Re – were applied.
“We were able to wrap the hulls inside but to get the logos properly placed they had to move the boat outside, into some pretty gusty wind and occasional showers!” says John Stephens, owner of Bermuda Blue. “But the guys got it done in good time and the boat looks great… and fast.
“We’re proud to be part of it and can’t wait to see the boat out on the water.”
Overseeing the process was Team Bermuda foiling coach Michael Barnes. Mr Barnes was part of the original design team for the GC32 Class and has been involved in wrapping a number of GC32s for the Extreme Sailing Series.
“I worked with a company in the UK for a couple of years so I’ve done this a few times,” he says. “The guys at Bermuda Blue have been very professional and delivered under some pretty trying conditions. The boat now has a look that all of Bermuda can take pride in.”
Ultimately, it is the Team Bermuda sailors that will use the boat to get ready for next year’s Red Bull Youth America’s Cup, right here in Bermuda.
So how do they feel about the new look?
“It’s awesome. We really appreciate all the hard work and support it took to give the boat a Bermudian look and we can’t wait to get her back out on the Great Sound,” says Mackenzie Cooper, who was on hand when the new look was completed. “You’ll definitely be able to recognize us now.”
The Red Bull Youth America’s Cup regatta takes place in June 2017 and will feature 16 teams from around the globe. The racing will take place in AC45s, the foiling catamarans presently being raced by the America’s Cup teams in the America’s Cup World Series events.
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NICE, it does look fast! Now all they need to do is learn how to sail it fast!
; )
She looks vicked! Now go foil her fast and don’t put any dings inna!!