Rockal Evans has been forced to scuttle plans of competing in the 2018 World Cup Series.

The Bermuda sailor had planned on using the series to gain valuable experience against the world’s elite as he continues his 2020 Tokyo Games qualifying bid in the Olympic class Finn dinghy. However, he was forced to withdraw because of a lack of funding.

“Due to funding constraints I’ve been selective in my decisions regarding regatta entry for 2018 and withdrawn from the World Cup Series,” Evans, who is based in Sydney said.

The World Cup Series is for elite and professional sailors, offering a definitive guide to the best-of-the-best in the Olympic sailing world. The ongoing series started in October in Gamagori, Japan, and finishes in Marseilles, France, in June.

Evans, who topped the international fleet and was sixth overall the Ronstan Australian International Finn Championships in Brisbane this month, has made steady progress on the water but continues to struggle for funding.

“I’m recognised as a C athlete by the Bermuda Olympic Association, which means I’m supported for one international event only,” he said.

Evans, who is 51st in the Finn world rankings, has reached out to the Bermuda Sailing Association for help in securing more funding. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of his late grandfather Howard Lee, who competed at the 1976 Montreal Games in the Finn.

“I submitted a request to the Bermuda Sailing Association asking them for their support in submitting an application requesting a status upgrade to either A or B class,” Evans said. “I also made enquiries with the Bermuda Sailing Association as to how I can apply for a scholarship through the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Solidarity programme and what the eligibility criteria is.”

Cecilia Wollmann, who competed in the Laser Radial at the 2016 Rio Games, is one of five local elite athletes to have received an Olympic Scholarship through the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Solidarity programme.

Each athlete will receive $1,000 per month up until 2020 — to be paid on a quarterly basis — to support them as they train at approved training facilities, as well as up to an additional $5,000 in funding to cover their transportation costs for participation in qualification competitions.

Triathlete Flora Duffy, long jumper Tyrone Smith, sprinter Tre Houston and high jumper Jah-Nhai Perinchief are the other beneficiaries.