SailGP Inspire, the global league’s community, education and outreach initiative, will relaunch in Bermuda at the opening event of SailGP Season 2 with an increased focus on inclusivity and diversity.

Launched in 2019 and building on the success of its inaugural season – when 3,000 young people were engaged through the programme – SailGP Inspire will focus on providing experiential opportunities and new career pathways to the next generation.

Not only will the programme be gender equal, but will aim to expand racial and socioeconomic diversity in the sport through three pillars: Learning, Careers and Racing.

Powered by the belief that sailing can be a force for good and after SailGP’s recently announced purpose-led Race for the Future agenda, SailGP Inspire will serve a leading role in promoting diversity in the sport of sailing and in building a sustainable sport, targeting 10,000 young people by 2025.

Starting with the season opener in Bermuda on April 24 and 25, every SailGP event in Season 2 will include a programme in partnership with World Sailing, national sailing federations, and local community clubs and programmes.

In co-ordination with each host venue and SailGP Inspire partners RS Sailing, WASZP, Rooster, MarkSetBot, World Sailing Trust, ePropulsion and Doyle Sails, impactful programmes will be created within the local communities around SailGP event weeks.

“We recognise the unique position we are in to be able to use our platform to champion diversity and inclusivity and help drive meaningful change in our sport,” said Sir Russell Coutts, the SailGP chief executive.

“Through Inspire, we want to break boundaries and ensure the amazing opportunities we have in our sport are able to be enjoyed by a broader range of people.”

For the Season 2 opener, SailGP Inspire will partner with Endeavour – a Bermudian-registered charity and non-profit. Endeavour engages diverse youth from across Bermuda in hands-on learning and career development opportunities that inspire experiential learning, foster career exploration, and sustain the future generation of sailors and maritime professionals.

With the support of official host partner the Bermuda Tourism Authority, title partner Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, and event partners West End Development Corporation, insurance firm BF&M, global reinsurer RenaissanceRe and leading independent offshore bank and trust company Butterfield Group, SailGP will work with Endeavour to deliver its three programme pillars on-island.

Inspire Learning will engage Bermuda’s youth, including those who participate in Endeavour's programmes, with a series of sustainable science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics learning activities designed around three of the key elements: wind, sun and water.

Students will learn how SailGP is powered by nature and, after the learning activities, will get to witness science in practice and how the series is showcasing the transition to clean energy with an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the SailGP Technical Area.

Through Inspire Careers, Bermudian youth – including those who have completed the Endeavour Maritime Career Springboard Programme in partnership with the Bermuda College Professional and Career Education Division – will have an opportunity to gain hands-on, practical work experience and shadow a diverse range of roles available within the marine industry.

Bermudian youths will gain experience and knowledge of key positions in SailGP, such as on-water operations, boatbuilding, rigging, photography and videography.

Finally, Inspire Racing will target young sailors on the island and connect them with the sport’s pinnacle league, allowing them to experience high-performance, foiling sail racing.

Through the SailGP’s partnership with foiling-dinghy manufacturer WASZP, there will be an incredible opportunity for 16 local youth sailors – gender-balanced with a focus on racial diversity – to showcase their sailing talents and foiling abilities during the event weekend.

Applications are open until March 26 for sailors in Bermuda under the age of 21. Further details can be found on the SailGP website.

For the first time, SailGP Inspire will also offer two community outreach days on April 11 and 18. This will provide local youngsters who have come through Endeavour the opportunity to try hydrofoiling for the first time and experience what the world-class athletes go through on the supercharged F50s.

Two wild-card nominations will be given to the most promising young sailors at the outreach day to join the Inspire Racing programme.

Throughout the Bermuda Grand Prix, there will also be joint fundraising efforts by SailGP Inspire and Endeavour to help raise vital funds to provide further opportunities for young sailors in the future and leave a lasting legacy on the island.

“We are thrilled to partner with SailGP to bring greater awareness to the meaningful work Endeavour is accomplishing in our community with experiential learning through sailing, while increasing access to exciting opportunities that benefit Bermuda’s youth for years to come,” said Jennifer Pitcher, Endeavour’s community engagement, development and partnerships manager.

“We commend SailGP for their extraordinary efforts working to close the opportunity gap and make sailing more inclusive for all.

“We are grateful to Endeavour’s valued donors and supporters who make our programmes possible including lead founding partner Orbis Investments.

“It is through this generosity and support that Bermuda’s youth have transformative experiences through Endeavour’s programmes that provide new perspectives, enhanced skills and confidence along with memories to last a lifetime.”