Team BDA have announced their full racing line-up for next week’s Red Bull Youth America’s Cup, after beginning training yesterday.

In August 2015, a call went out for the best young athletes in Bermuda to try out for Team BDA, whether they had sailing experience or not. The final team of nine emerged from a series of gruelling mental and physical assessments, and come from a variety of sailing and non-sailing backgrounds. The team has been training full-time since January of this year, with official training starting yesterday.

Helmsman Dimitri Stevens will drive the boat while wing grinder Mustafa Ingham will handle the winch that keeps the giant wingsail in the optimum position for speed. Stevens comes from a sailing background while Ingham had never sailed before trying out for the team almost two years ago.

Stevens, 22, said: “I began sailing when I was 11 and now 11 years later to be a helmsman competing in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup is a dream come true. This is the pinnacle of my sailing career and I’m so proud of my team-mates.”

Twenty-year-old Ingham added: “Two years ago, I had never sailed and jumped on the opportunity to try out for Team BDA. As a result of being on the team, I’ve had amazing opportunities that wouldn’t have come my way otherwise. I’m excited to compete next week and hope the entire island comes out to watch our races.”

Team BDA began training in their AC45F on the Great Sound on Sunday and will continue to train for the rest of the week. The qualifying stages of the regatta are scheduled for 5pm to 7pm next Monday and Tuesday on the Great Sound.

The roundup of the team and their roles:

Stevens: Helm, drives the boat, controls ride height by adjusting the angle of the front foils with push buttons near where he sits.

Owen Siese: Wing trimmer, adjusts the angle of the wing through his wing sheet, works closely with Stevens on what mode the boat sails, also works with Mackenzie Cooper (tactician) on general racecourse strategy.

Ingham: Wing Grinder, grinds the winch that moves Siese’s wing sheet, furls code zero (sail), helps grind the running backstay.

Mackenzie Cooper: Skipper and tactician, decides where the boat travels on the racecourse, how it starts, where it tacks and gybes, and what mode it sails, also adjusts the tension of the running backstays.

Peter Dill: Jib/Code Zero Trimmer; adjusts the tension and setting of the two soft sails in the front of the boat.

Philip Hagen: Bowman, works at the front of the boat, lowering the foils, pulling up, or hoisting, the code zero (a large jib) and grinding the code zero.

“We are so excited to announce the team who will sail on the boat during the competition,” Team BDA manager Laura Cutler said. “Not only is it historic for Mustafa and Dimitri to be in the competition, but also for the entire team as it is Bermuda’s first time competing in this elite event.

“We encourage all of Bermuda to rally behind the team as we sail against some of the best youth sailors in the world. The team has trained diligently for the past six months and they are ready to do their best for Bermuda on the world stage.”

Watch Team BDA next Monday and Tuesday from the America’s Cup Village, including grandstand seating or the Goslings Dark ‘n Stormy Island Bar. With tickets available from just $10, please go to www.americascup.com/tickets to secure your place.

The Red Bull Youth America’s Cup Qualifiers feature two groups of six teams. The top four teams from each group will proceed to the finals, which take place on June 20th and 21st. Team BDA will compete in Group B, along with teams from Austria, Great Britain, New Zealand, Spain and the United States.

The Red Bull Youth America’s Cup was developed to provide a pathway for youth sailors into the highest level of international sailing.

Many of the America’s Cup teams competing in Bermuda feature sailors that took part in the 2013 regatta in San Francisco, including Peter Burling who was the winning skipper for New Zealand’s youth team and is now the helmsman for Emirates Team New Zealand.

You can learn more about TeamBDA and the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup here: www.acbda.bm/teambda-home/.