SailGP’s community, education and outreach initiative, Inspire, returns to Bermuda next week, ahead of the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix on May 4-5.
SailGP, the world’s most exciting racing on water, founded the Inspire initiative to help diversify the sport for young people, without any race, gender, or socioeconomic barriers. The program is oriented around three pillars: Learning, Careers and Racing, which aim to make a positive and lasting impact on young people and communities on the island.
To date 19,961 young people have taken part in the program since its inception – far exceeding the initial 10,000 target set – and the league has increased its ambition to 25,000 by the end of Season 5.
Inspire Learning will see hundreds of Bermudian school children undertake an exclusive behind the scenes SailGP tech tour at the SailGP Tech Site at Cross Island. Here they will get up close to the tech and innovation of the F50s, the high-speed flying catamarans that feature in the championship.
During the tour, the hosts will teach the science behind sailing, emphasizing how this sport is truly powered by nature. These sessions are coordinated with help of community partner, Endeavour. Additionally, the BF&M No Limits Sailing Programme, in partnership with Endeavour, will offer opportunities to students who are on the autism spectrum or who have developmental challenges to experience hands-on learning opportunities with SailGP Inspire.
The Inspire Careers program will provide 10 young Bermudians the opportunity to join key departments of the SailGP operation, ranging from technical roles in boat building to being broadcast runners in the communications team. Through first-hand experience, they will learn about the careers the marine industry has to offer. The young islanders selected for the program are:
Timothy Amias Lightbourne, Technical | Tech Dock Assistant
Osiris Buffonge Hunt, Technical | On-Water Operations
Laura Hupman, Shore Team France
Amelia Lewis, Shore Team Denmark
Ruth Mello-Cann, Shore Team Switzerland
Yann Pugi, Inspire Team Assistant
Christopher Rayomond, Broadcast
Nicole Stovell, Shore Team New Zealand
Antonio Wade, Technical | Boat building
William Welch, Technical | Hydraulics
For those already involved in the sport, Inspire Racing is hosting a foiling clinic and a WASZP - a single person hydrofoiling dinghy - racing program. 12 Bermudian sailors who have completed Endeavour’s programs will undergo a foiling clinic to give them a first time experience of the thrilling racing form. These sailors are:
Sam Dallas
Sanjay Fox-Romaine
Nahjae Rayner
Elijah Samuels
Kimon Lawrence
Osiris Buffonge-Hunt
Matai Phipps
James S. Rayner
Sivaja Perinchief
Jibril Taylor
Noah Astwood
Allayna Fox
A further eight Bermudian sailors, judged to be among the best of Bermuda’s on-island talent, will compete against junior overseas sailors in WASZP races for a chance to go to the Grand Final in San Francisco in July to race against other event winners. These sailors are:
Jack Adderley
Evan Davis
Eli Furbert
Nina Gotfredsen
Sebastian Kempe
Riley Lowe
Ahzai Smith
Oliver Soares
Each young person involved in the Inspire program will also receive tickets to see the heart-stopping, adrenaline-fueled action of the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix on May 4-5 at Morgan’s Point.
Inspire is made possible in association with Mubadala, the Global Partner for Season 4, local community partner, Endeavour, and location hosts, West End Development Corporation (Wedco).
Laura Hedley, SailGP Inspire Program Senior Manager, said: “We are so excited to bring back the SailGP Inspire program to Bermuda! We use the science behind these flying boats to inspire a new generation of thinkers, young engineers and leaders. SailGP’s F50 catamaran is a science lab on water, with the ability to teach youngsters about being energy efficient and get them thinking about solving real world problems and we look forward to sharing the science behind them with Bermuda’s youngsters.”
The Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix will take place on May 4-5, 2024 with tickets available for purchase at SailGP.com/Bermuda. The event’s festivities include a live concert by soca sensation, KES THE BAND, following the opening day of racing.
