As we countdown to the 35th America’s Cup The Royal Gazette will bring you one fun fact a day about the boats, the sailors, the crew, or the history of this illustrious competition. There are now 44 days until the month-long sporting spectacle gets under way.

Brought together by America’s Cup Bermuda the island’s musicians took part in a series of auditions in January, in front of a panel of judges, which included Robert Edwards, the band’s musical director.

Eight were eventually selected to make up the group now known as 4-Forty-1, and they were: Dave Pitman — saxophone/guitar; Jesse Seymour — lead vocals; Torrey Tacklyn — bass guitar; Troy Washington Sr — drums; Raven Baksh — vocals/guitar; Leroy Francis — keyboard; Tony Hay — guitar; Robert Edwards — musical director/keyboard.

Four-Forty-1 will be performing throughout the America’s Cup event in May and June, both in the America’s Cup Village and other locations across Bermuda.

The band will headline the opening ceremony on Friday, May 26, which will be their first appearance as a group in public. They will play at various events during the 35th America’s Cup including Dock-Out shows, in the America’s Cup Village and at America’s Cup parties. They will learn each America’s Cup sailing team’s song as well as playing a mix of soca, reggae, Top 40 and traditional Bermuda-themed songs.

The opening ceremony will take place from 8.30pm on Friday, May 26, after the first day of racing, which begins at 5pm, has concluded. Tickets are still available for the opening ceremony and the first day of racing in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup qualifiers. Tickets can be bought via the website; americascup.com/tickets.