A team of world-class big wave surfers has been in Bermuda taking a highly technical life-saving and freediving course that could become part of Team Oracle’s safety training ahead of the America’s Cup.

Oracle skipper Jimmy Spithill took the eight-day Red Bull high performance programme alongside the surfers and it could help him to save lives if there are any major mishaps during racing and training.

Having completed the course, the Australian yachtsman, who is sponsored by Red Bull, now wants his whole team to follow suit.

Seven of the world’s top big wave surfers also took the course which was led by Andy Walshe, director of Red Bull’s high performance programme, and project-managed by the programme’s Sean Hayes.

Among the instructors were former Green Beret tactical medic trainer Marc De Pasquale, former Navy Seal master chief (Seal Team Five) Pete Naschak teaching military-style communication and mindset, as well as Performance Freediving International’s Kirk Krack.

Also on the instructor’s team were twin life savers Shaun and DK Walsh teaching open water safety, Craig Gentry working with Mr Krack, and Red Bull high performance’s Steve Reska, Brandon Larson and Daniel Turner.

The course came about when Mr Spithill expressed a desire to participate. Mr Walshe had previously worked with Team Oracle in San Francisco before the catamaran crashed during training. The team made a miraculous sporting comeback after the accident resulting in it clinching the America’s Cup title.

The Red Bull team made connections with Mr Krack who had been brought to the Island previously by Bermudian businessman Tom Steinhoff to teach a number of freediving courses.

Mr Krack put them in touch with Mr Steinhoff who, along with the Bermuda Tourism Authority, worked to facilitate getting them on the Island.

During its stay, the team built up freediving techniques and learnt about extreme surf rescue scenarios including massive bleeding and hyperthermia.

The courses were filmed and will be the subject of Red Bull TV films in the future. Bermudian John Singleton was brought on board to shoot aerial footage of the team at work while Bermudian photographer Chris Burville took stills.

Sean P Hayes, a former big wave surfer and athlete who worked with Mr Walshe on formulating the course, told The Royal Gazette: “If Jimmy [Spithill] gets thrown from the boat he will use what he has learnt and now he wants his whole team to go through it.

“This is phase two of a [three phase] safety programme — the collaboration of freedive and breath hold training, surf survival, wipeout simulations, hold down scenarios, communications and scenarios for standard operation plans, boat transfers ... It is a mock-up of how to save a life and get someone to a higher echelon of care.

“Then we are looking at the physiology behind that. We have worked with some of the best subject matter experts in the world and when we finish off with the physiology and this level of biometrics on the athletes is a first.”

The next phase of the course is due to take place in Hawaii where the athletes will practise their techniques in the open ocean with big waves.

Andrew Cotton, a top big wave surfer who has been pushing the boundaries of big wave surfing in the UK and Europe, said the course has made him a more confident athlete. He said: “Everyone is pushing themselves and performance is going up to the next level. Having those skills and that mindset that you can dive 100 feet deep and hold your breath for five minutes brings your confidence up as well.

“Alongside that is the safety aspect like rescue techniques, first aid. You may have only five seconds to breathe after a wipeout and you have to work out how to do that.

“Psychologically for me it has really built my confidence and helped me to surf more efficiently.

“Not only can I surf huge waves, this will help me surf more waves and cope with bigger wipeouts.”

Red Bull, which is also supporting the Youth Sailing Programme, is also making a film featuring Mr Spithill’s small catamaran nicknamed the Moth.

Mr Hayes says plans are in place for another course to take place in Bermuda though details are scant at present.

“We are already talking about the schedule. Performance Freediving International we certainly want to bring back before the America’s Cup.”