Mustafa Ingham is now a qualified Volvo Ocean Race sailor.

Ingham, who competed for Team BDA at the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup last summer, became eligible to compete in the race around the world after attaining offshore yachtmaster status from the Volvo Ocean Race Academy this month.

“The experience has been completely different to anything else I’ve been used to,” Ingham said. “A couple of months ago I just learnt how to sail a GC32 and foil, so this is a big a change.

“It’s been a good learning experience and just getting the opportunity and going around the world is pretty cool.”

Ingham began his apprenticeship last October with Turn the Tide on Plastic, one of seven teams in the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race, which involved working with the syndicate’s shore team while sitting exams.

“I was putting in time studying when the boat left the dock and during stopovers as well,” Ingham said. “It’s been full on.”

Turn the Tide on Plastic is a mixed, youth-focused team led by British sailor Dee Caffari — the first woman to have sailed single-handedly and non-stop around the world in both directions. “Congratulations to our team member Mustafa Ingham who is now a qualified yachtmaster,” Caffari said. “We are very proud of you.”

In addition to completing his apprenticeship, Ingham has also served as a sports tourism ambassador through a partnership with the Bermuda Tourism Authority and XL Catlin.

“It’s a huge responsibility that I have been given,” he said. “It’s great to go out and represent my country every day. Everyone seems interested in Bermuda and we have a perfect place to sail.

“I don’t take it lightly but I’m quite happy with the opportunity that I’ve been given and willing to make the most of it.”

Kevin Dallas, the BTA chief executive, said: “Mustafa’s ambition to be a world-class sailor fits really neatly with our ambition for Bermuda to be a world-class sailing destination.

“The timing couldn’t have been better because post-America’s Cup there were opportunities for Mustafa and opportunities for Bermuda to pursue world-class events that we could host in Bermuda. So the timing is really perfect to have him as our ambassador and our Bermudian voice out in the world of sailing.”

Dallas added: “It’s accurate to say we took a risk on Mustafa. He’s a young guy without a lot of experience, but his passion and dedication have filled any gaps he has in experience.”