Rachael Betschart is relishing the opportunity to compete again in the SailGP Inspire WASZP Grand Final Championship of Champions after qualifying for the prestigious regatta for a second successive time.

Competing in the SailGP WASZP Inspire Racing Series, as part of the SailGP Season 4 opener in Chicago last weekend, the 18-year-old sealed a fifth-place finish among the 16 competitors and ultimately prevailed as the top female.

As a result, Betschart booked her place in the showpiece final in San Francisco, which will run alongside the main SailGP Grand Final in July next year.

“I’m really pleased to get another chance to compete in the final in San Francisco,” said Betschart, who became the first female winner in the history of the Inspire Racing Series in last year’s Bermuda Sail Grand Prix. She went on to seal an impressive second-place finish in the WASZP Grand Final.

“After competing in last season’s final, I definitely had the ambition to try and qualify again, so we made a late decision to go to Chicago and compete. Unfortunately, I am going to miss the SailGP event in Bermuda so I knew this was one of the only realistic chances I had to try and qualify for the final again.

“After the first day of competition, I wasn’t really in contention, but on day two conditions shifted a bit and my confidence grew.

“I knew I had to push and challenge myself and it’s just amazing that I was able to finish as the top female and qualify for the final again, it’s really exciting.”

Having just missed out on overall victory in the Grand Final last time and the top prize of joining one of the SailGP Teams for Season 4, Betschart concedes she had added incentive to seal a return to the big event.

“I definitely had extra motivation to qualify for the Grand Final again,” added Betschart, who is keen to enjoy the experience without the added pressure of sitting her International Baccalaureate exams during the event, as she did in May.

“I just really wanted to have that experience again and be part of the SailGP final. I’m also glad I will have the chance to fully appreciate it without having to worry about sitting exams between races. I can just focus fully on the event.”

As well as earning a second shot at overall glory, the former Warwick Academy student will again have the opportunity share the same waters as the foiling F50 catamarans and rub shoulders with some of the sport’s biggest names.

Should she go one better and triumph in San Francisco, Betschart would take another step closer to fulfilling her ultimate aspiration of a professional career in sailing.

“I definitely want to try and be a part of SailGP in the future and so I’m just really excited I have the opportunity to experience it all again,” added the aspiring sailor, who has already set her sights on earning a place on SailGP’s Inspire Careers programme, which offers students and young professionals the chance to gain both onshore and offshore experience.

“Being on the WASZP is like having a small taste of what the F50 catamarans would be like. Not only is it exhilarating to race at high speed, but I also find the mechanics of how the boats fly out of the water really interesting too.

“Having seen all the big teams and being part of the season final was amazing. I definitely want to try to get on to the careers programme in the future, that would be amazing.”

With her omission from this season’s Bermuda Sail Grand Prix, scheduled to take place on May 4 and 5 next year, Betschart is also thrilled about the prospect of having three Bermudians qualify for the Grand Final, with two spots available for the top male and female finishers.

“We could have three Bermudians in the final and that would just be amazing,” said Betschart, who encouraged other aspiring sailors to apply for the programme.

“I would be so happy seeing two more local sailors qualify for San Francisco, and particularly to have another female in the final. If there was three of us, it would really help put Bermuda on the map.

“It’s a great opportunity to be involved. They’ve inspired me to pursue my goals, as well as having a chance to meet the best sailors in the world and learn from them.”