This past Sunday the America’s Cup Endeavour graduate students participated in RS Feva Nationals.

The RS Feva is a double-handed (two person) plastic sailboat that uses three sails, a main, a jib and a spinnaker. The America’s Cup Endeavour Programme has been fortunate to work with the RS company as a marine partner with each programme (East and West) receiving four boats to develop our sailors’ skills.

Nationals were sailed at Ferry Reach in St George’s with eight boats participating; four from the East End and four boats representing the West End. All the boats were vying for a spot to represent the America’s Cup Endeavour Programme at the half-time show during the America’s Cup finals against RS Feva teams from all over the world.

Many of the America’s Cup Endeavour sailors began sailing through the Middle School programme and were chosen to continue with the programme based on their high scores over our five-key performance indicators; teamwork, attitude/sportsmanship, effort/diligence, willingness to learn, and improvement over the course of their one-week programme.

The sailors then move to our summer graduate programme and have developed their skills in the graduate programme from beginner sailors to basic knowledge of racing.

The sailors completed six windward leeward races improving each race with first and second place overall being determined by one point.

Ultimately the team of Joanna Santiago and Ruth Mello-Cann representing the East End just beat out their West End rivals, Lara Bakeberg and Tayla Horan by a single point.

“It is really impressive to see how far the sailors have come over the last year,” said Katrina Williams, America’s Cup Endeavour West End co-ordinator. “The racing was close and very competitive between both programmes.

“It really shows the quality of coaching staff the programme has as well as how hard the sailors have worked to improve and reach their goals! We are looking forward to watching Joanna and Ruth represent the America’s Cup Endeavour Programme during the half-time show.”

Results: 1. Joanna Santiago & Ruth Mello-Cann (East) 13pts; 2. Lara Bakeberg & Tayla Horan (West) 14; 3. Charlie Davis & Max Kermode (East) 16; 4. Kyle George & Will “Russell” Rossiter (West) 17; 5. Ziko Smith & Isaiah Hayward (West) 21; 6. Jade Smith & J’Kai Berkley (West) 22; 7. Riley Morbey & Jayden Robinson (East) 24; 8. Ajani Robinson & Alex Malpas (East) 34.