SailGP Inspire Returns to Bermuda for the Season 3 Opener

Building on the spectacular conclusion of Season 2 in San Francisco, all eyes are now on SailGP’s Season 3 kick-off with the Bermuda Sail Grand Prix presented by Hamilton Princess on May 14-15, 2022. SailGP’s Inspire program is gearing up to share the spotlight and its robust series of Learning, Careers and Racing programs with the Island’s youth.

Returning to Bermuda for its second year, Inspire plans to continue developing its better sport strategy in the community, alongside its partner Endeavour, to provide life-changing opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds across Bermuda including students, aspiring mariners and sailors. Inspire’s pioneering three-pronged strategy – Learning, Careers, and Racing – intertwined with its Adopt-a-Club program focuses on new opportunities and skills development beneficial to all youth, from all walks of life.

Since its inception, Inspire Learning has focused on engaging over 3,000 young people between the ages of 9 to 15 from diverse backgrounds to learn about sustainability using the power of nature. The Learning pathway provides memorable and immersive experiences for participants through in-person STEM based activities; offering a platform to meet some of the sport’s best athletes; providing guided tours of the team’s technical bases; and delivering invaluable training on the water.

Ramping up to the main racing events in May, Inspire’s Learning program has already shared with Bermuda’s school children the opportunity to dig deep, motivating them to design their own version of the high-flying F50 foiling catamaran. Participants can draw or create their version of an improved F50 from recycled materials to rival the speeds of the existing ones.

Working with some of the most experienced professionals in the field, local youth who have completed the Endeavour Maritime Career Springboard Programme have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience including, but are not limited to: technical team roles such as Boatbuilding, Hydraulics and Wing, Hospitality, Broadcast & Media Operations, Sustainability, Digital & Social Media Management, and On-water Operations.

Endeavour’s Community Engagement, Development & Partnerships Manager, Jennifer Pitcher said: “Endeavour is honoured to partner with SailGP Inspire for another year to create exciting legacy opportunities that inspire the next generation of Bermudian sailors and maritime professionals.

“We are truly grateful for the amazing support that SailGP is investing in our Island community, specifically our young people, toward our shared goal of creating opportunities for Bermuda’s youth that will have a positive impact on their futures.”

Inspire Racing x WASZP is a world-class program designed to select the next generation of elite Under 21 youth sailors from outside of traditional settings and train them to become high-performance sailors. With professional coaching, these young athletes undergo rigorous training aboard WASZPs, honing in on their foiling abilities in the lead-up to the main competition. Once race weekend arrives, their hard work will pay off as they take to the official F50 race course to display their skills in front of hundreds of fans, family and friends.

WASZP Racing applications remain open until April 15 for local youth sailors under 21. To submit interest and fill one of the 16 highly sought after positions in this season’s competition, visit SailGP.com/general/inspire/racing.

Fortifying relationships between the SailGP teams and the Island’s youth sailing programs includes the Inspire x RS FEVA racing competition. Two outstanding youth sailors, one male and one female from each sailing club, are nominated to showcase their sailing abilities on Bermuda’s Great Sound ahead of the F50 spectacle on May 14 - 15. Chosen not only for their excellent sailing skills, but for their strength in character as they represent their respective clubs, will be the highlight of 20 RS FEVA racing candidates, as they build relationships with professional sailing athletes and other industry professionals.

As part of SailGP’s ongoing expansion of community partnerships, the Adopt-a-Club program returns to Bermuda - the place where it all began - to build on the natural synergies already established between SailGP teams and the island’s local sailing clubs. Two new additions to Season 3 include the Swiss team paired with Endeavour’s East Fort which is hosted by the Bermuda Sea Cadets in St. George’s; and the Canadian team paired with a unique combination of Endeavour’s West Fort in Dockyard, along with Blue Waters Anglers' Club.

Each SailGP team will proudly represent their partnered sailing clubs’ burgee on the team’s F50. Equally, each sailing club will be engaged directly with its team partner through hosted events, themed activities and an opportunity to display their support by donning the team’s national colours and flags on their vessels during race weekend.

West End Sailboat Club Past Commodore, Emily DeShields said: “As the first female, Past Commodore, of the West End Sailboat Club, I was truly excited to hear about the “Adopt a Club” program returning. The West End Sailboat Club Executive, and its Members, are truly excited to be able to participate in this program and look forward to hosting the Spanish SailGP Team, with the amazing backdrop of the Great Sound, which is second to none.

“Bermuda has a rich history relating to “sailing” and I am more than thrilled to know that our young female sailors will get to participate in the program. With regard to SailGP’s Women’s Pathway Program, I wait with great anticipation to see young women at the helm of the F50s.

“I know that all of our young sailors will relish this ‘once in a lifetime’ experience and hope that the young people of Bermuda will take full advantage of all that is being offered, as sailing can take them to places that they never dreamed of.”