Bermuda’s top young athletes are being offered the chance to compete in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in 2017.

In an announcement posted on YouTube, Team Bermuda officially launched the Island’s intention to compete in the race and called for the best and brightest to try out for the squad.

Some have already expressed an interest, with cricketer Greg Maybury, the Bermuda and Somerset Cup Match bowler, confirming his intention to take part in the first trials on August 8.

“I’m excited to be considered for this opportunity as representing Bermuda is always special,” Maybury said. “I’m looking forward to a new challenge and hopefully my strengths and skills from my sporting experiences thus far will be valuable to the team if I am chosen.”

Maybury was initially approached about being involved by Craig Brown, who is vice-chairman of the committee tasked with forming the team, and will take charge of the team’s athletic training and conditioning. Athletes from other sports have also been approached, and the hope is that many of the Island’s top athletes will consider trying their hand at a sport that has been described as “Formula One on water.”

Brown is one of several people on the committee without a sailing background, with Devarr Boyles, the former Bermuda Football Association technical director, taking charge of Athletic performance, and Major Martin Wyer, a former training officer at Bermuda Regiment, responsible for team building and leadership training.

There will be representatives from the sailing world too, with Blythe Walker and Glenn Astwood tasked with the sailor training element of the project.

Officials hope the team will be something that the whole Island can rally around.

“In a way we think the team can really bridge some gaps if we get a real cross section of the community and abilities to come to the tryouts,” Glenn Jones, the Team Bermuda spokesman, said.

By early next year the selection committee hopes to identify a squad of 18 of the best sailors and athletes who, with intensive training and coaching, will be equipped to compete with the world’s best young sailors in foiling high performance catamarans.

The final racing team will consist of six Red Bull Youth America’s Cup squad members, with others supporting as training partners and a shore team.

“What we want are the most physically fit, focused, hard working young athletes we can find,” Jane Correia, the committee chairperson, said. “Our plan is to find the best athletes in the country and match them with the best sailors in the country to build the best youth sailing team Bermuda has ever known.

“It’s a big task so we’ll be asking for the whole country’s support to make it happen.”

The possibility of Bermuda entering a team into the Red Bull competition had been discussed for several months, and Mackenzie Cooper, one of the Island’s top young sailors had said he was “very excited” by the prospect.

Cooper has two teammates at St Mary’s College, Jake LaDow and John Wallace, who competed for the United States in the inaugural Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in 2013.

“They [LaDow and Wallace] say it’s one of the best sailing experiences they’ve had,” Mackenzie said. “Sailing in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup is something I would really like to do.”

Learning to sail AC45s is tough for the most competent sailor, for non-sailors it will be something of a challenge, Mackenzie said he was confident the Island’s squad would be up to the task.

“They [AC45] look really tough to sail being so fast,” he said. “But having the Oracle guys showing us the way will be really helpful. They are the best there is right now so there’s nobody you would rather get taught by.”

To be eligible for the team athletes must be between 19 and 24 years old and be born in Bermuda or possess a Bermuda passport.Any athletes interested in taking part in the trials can fill out a form on the America’s Cup website and must do so by August 4. Those sailors who are interested in taking part have until July 24.