America’s Cup Endeavour is a programme with a goal of exposing as many of Bermuda’s youth as possible to education via the science, technology, engineering, art and maths curriculum component and personal growth through the sport of sailing.

The initiative is aimed at M1 students across the island, and the after-school programme is for P5 and P6 students.

AC Endeavour is managed by Tom Herbert-Evans, the community sailing manager, and run by Bermudians Katrina Williams, Molly Riihilluoma, Tristan Loescher, Thomas Mahoney and Josh Greenslade, who run the day-to-day operations, alongside Leah Collis.

Here, we learn a bit more about the team.

Tom Herbert-Evans Community Sailing Manager

Herbert-Evans has been in Bermuda since 2011 and before joining the America’s Cup Event Authority was the sailing director at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club which, under his leadership, became Bermuda’s only internationally recognised non-profit Royal Yachting Association certified sailing centre. Herbert-Evans grew up sailing optimists and 420s competitively in Swansea, Wales and later worked for the RYA participation programme. He is passionate about getting children on the water, revitalising sailing for all in Bermuda and breaking down traditional barriers to the sport.

Leah Collis, Coordinator, East Fort

Collis started sailing in North Wales more than 15 years ago and represented Wales as a teenager in sailing. She then moved to the RYA working on developing sailing in North Wales as part of the OnBoard Programme run by the RYA. Leah later moved to Australia and travelled throughout the continent and Asia before coming to Bermuda. She calls her job “the most rewarding job I have ever had”.

Thomas Mahoney, Instructor, East Fort

Mahoney is a Bermudian instructor who started sailing when he was seven years old. He has been sailing ever since. Mahoney worked for the Bermuda Sailing Association and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club before joining the AC Endeavour team. He enjoys helping the students not only with learning to sail, but also with their self-confidence and self-reliance. He enjoys maintaining boats and sails in his spare time.

Katrina Williams, Coordinator, West Fort

Williams holds a degree in sports management and marketing and has been working with sailing programmes in the United States since graduation. Her passion lies in sailing and racing, and she grew up representing Bermuda at regattas around the world. Williams won Bermuda Female sailor of the year twice, the only two years the award was given. As a young sailor, Williams grew up idolising America’s Cup sailors such as Sir Russell Coutts and Dean Barker. She thinks it’s amazing that sailing legends such as these are in Bermuda and are giving back to the community.

Joshua Greenslade, Instructor, East Fort

Greenslade has a degree in economics and started his sailing career at White’s Island when he was eight-years-old. He continued sailing through schools and club programmes. Most of his sailing now revolves around coaching, which he started when he was 16. Greenslade has coached at all levels from first time sailors to elite college students. He brings this experience to the America’s Cup to provide the youth of Bermuda the best quality of coaching.

Tristan Loescher, Instructor, West Fort

Loescher was born and raised in Bermuda and has been a sporting coach as long as he can remember. He was educated in Germany, Canada and Japan. Tristan obtained a degree in biogeosciences before returning home to Bermuda to obtain his marine captain’s license.

Molly Riihiluoma, Instructor, West Fort

Riihiluoma has been sailing alongside her family since a young age. Her family’s passion for being on the water has led her to a variety of different sailing opportunities. Formerly she coached at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club where she attained her RYA Dinghy Instructor Qualification. She attended university in North Carolina studying human resources and marketing. Riihiluoma plans to finish her degree after the America’s Cup in 2017.