Emily Nagel is determined to grasp an opportunity to showcase her talents on the global SailGP circuit with both hands.

The Bermudian is one of six female sailors vying for a spot on Great Britain SailGP team led by Sir Ben Ainslie, the most decorated Olympic sailor, multiple world champion and America’s Cup winner.

As part of the SailGP’s gender-equality initiative, which will see female athletes included for the first time, Nagel has taken advantage of the opportunity to trial before a final decision is made on the successful athletes who will join the British team full time.

She will complete her trial when Ainslie’s team host the third round of the championship at their home port in Plymouth, England, on July 17 and 18.

“I am hugely excited to finally have the opportunity to sail on board one of the F50s after having worked with them for the past couple years,” said Nagel, who was part of the British team as a data analyst during SailGP’s inaugural season in 2019.

“Having spent a lot of time on foiling boats, both inshore and offshore, to me this has been a huge goal for the past few years and one of the main reasons I got involved with SailGP as a data analyst.

“I am very determined to prove to Ben and the team I have what it takes to be part of the team, but clearly up against five incredible athletes, so I will be training hard in the meantime to make sure I put my best foot forward.”

She had hoped her chance might come earlier in the Bermuda Sail Grand Prix presented by Hamilton Princess this weekend.

“Obviously, very disappointing as I was looking forward to the home event,” she told The Royal Gazette. “But I will be trialling with the British SailGP team as a sailor this season and because of this I can no longer work as the data analyst.”

The regatta showcasing the world’s elite sailors in the high-performance wing-sailed foiling F50 catamaran will be held in the Great Sound on Saturday and Sunday and will finally commence the pandemic-delayed start of SailGP Season 2.

Nagel added. “Looking forward to watching the event this coming weekend and proud to see Bermuda hosting yet another world-class event.”

But it is the one-design VO65 that will occupy Nagel and her Miripuri team-mates until SailGP gets to England.

“Between now and the Plymouth event in July, I will be competing in The Ocean Race Europe with the Miripuri Foundation Race Team and whenever I’m not on the water with them I will be training hard in the Moth,” she said.

“Very much hoping the summer weather comes to the UK soon. I’ve been sailing the past couple weeks in a drysuit, as it’s still below 10C and there has been plenty of hail, which isn’t particularly pleasant when you’re foiling around at 25 knots. Missing Bermuda weather a lot!”

The inaugural Ocean Race Europe will commence on May 29 from Lorient, France, and finish in Genoa, Italy, in June, with stops in Cascais, Portugal, and Alicante, Spain.