A local and an international youth sailing programme will benefit from investment by the America’s Cup and the International Sailing Federation.

The organisations are supporting the America’s Cup youth sailing programme in Bermuda and the International Sailing Federation’s (ISAF) international youth sailing charity by splitting the 35th America’s Cup sanction fee equally between them.

“A real positive to come out of our relationship is the shared desire to invest the sanction fee into something that both ISAF and the America’s Cup believe strongly in: the next generation,” ISAF CEO Peter Sowrey said in a statement.

Regatta director Iain Murray added: “All of our teams wanted to contribute to the growth of our sport at grass roots level so it was critical for us that the sanction fee should be wholly reinvested in youth development initiatives — both locally in Bermuda, the home of the 35th America’s Cup, and internationally across the global sailing community.

“This is good for everybody: having ISAF officials and rules for the America’s Cup helps to ensure a fair competition for the competitors. And investing in the next generation means we can do more than inspire kids to start sailing; we can actually contribute to making it happen.”

Mr Sowrey said the ISAF is pleased to continue its association with the America’s Cup, and they look forward to watching the teams battle to win the oldest trophy in international sport.

As the international governing body for the sport of sailing, ISAF will continue to sanction the America’s Cup and its constituent events.

It will administer an anti-doping programme as well as approving the race officers, the umpires and the racing rules.