Videos: TeamBDA Advance To Youth AC Finals
TeamBDA triumphantly sailed their way to the finals of the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup after two days of strong racing on the Great Sound.
With the support of Bermudians in the America’s Cup Village and on the water, the home team fought hard for their place in the finals of the competition and finished in the middle of the leaderboard with 45 points after six races.
Loud cheers were heard in the America’s Cup Village after TeamBDA sailed across the finish line in their last race to clinch their place in the Finals and the team could be seen celebrating on board their AC45F from the big screens.
This is the first time Bermuda has competed in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup and the first time black sailors have sailed in the regatta.
TeamBDA finished second in race one, sixth in race two and fourth in race three. Helmsman Dimitri Stevens was thrilled to move in to the next round, yet sees room for improvement.
“I’m a little disappointed in the actual results of the day, but we made it through so I’m very happy about that,” he said.
“The next round means more work. We need to do more work and hopefully we will get a good result. All the support and encouragement from Bermudians helps us to push as hard as we can to do as well in the racing.”
Skipper Mackenzie Cooper was pleased with the large turnout of Bermudian fans.
“What an amazing feeling. Coming in today, we knew we could do it and now we’re through. The pressure is off,”he said.
“We are so happy and this was goal number one. Now we have to re-evaluate and work toward our new goal number two, which is to do as well as we possibly can in the Finals.
“We’ve done it and I can’t thank our fans enough. Every single one of us, we have a bit of nerves before racing and even during racing, but then you hear the air horns and the people in the Grandstand and it puts a smile on your face, even in the toughest times. We can’t thank them enough.”
TeamBDA had a very strong performance and finished a highly impressive fourth in race one, third in race two and second in race three. They advance to the finals with Land Rover BAR Academy, Spanish Impulse and NZL Sailing team.
The current Pool B standings:
- NZL Sailing Team – 51
- Land Rover BAR Academy – 51
- Spanish Impulse Team – 51
- TeamBDA – 45
- Next Generation USA – 36
- Candidate Sailing Team – 36
Pool A qualifiers will begin on Thursday with teams from Japan, Germany, Switzerland, France, Sweden and Denmark.
The finals will be held on Tuesday, June 20 and Wednesday, June 21 from 2pm to 3:30pm. The America’s Cup Village will be open from 11:30am to 5:30pm both days. The teams are racing in the AC45Fs used around the world in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series events in 2015 and 2016.
The ACBDA said Bermudians are encouraged to come to the America’s Cup Village to support TeamBDA. Here are the various ways you can support the team:
- Buy a ticket for the America’s Cup Village for just $10 per day and watch the races on the big screens and along the shoreline.
- Buy a ticket for the Grandstand, from $70, which is directly in front of the finish line and watch the boats fly by at the end of each race.
- Buy a ticket for the Goslings Dark ‘n Stormy ® Island Bar, from $150 and watch the races in a party atmosphere from an elevated terrace.
- Take your own boat out and watch the races on the Great Sound with private boat registration.
Tickets for the America’s Cup Village, Grandstand and Gosling’s Dark ‘n Stormy Island Bar are available at www.americascup.com/tickets.
If you plan to watch the races in the America’s Cup Village, you can take the dedicated ferry from Albuoy’s Point, Hamilton directly to the America’s Cup Village. Transportation must be purchased in advance. Photos above courtesy of Beau Outteridge.
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