While many people were praying for wind to speed the America’s Cup sailing crews on Saturday morning Nuno Da Silva had other things racing through his mind.

Amid the frenetic preparations for the World Series in the heart of the America’s Cup village in Hamilton Mr DeSilva was preparing to ask his girlfriend, Stephanie Ferraz, to marry him.

He had chosen Pier 6 as the venue where he would pop the question, her birthday as the perfect date to do so and had orchestrated an elaborate plan with the help of friends and family to ensure Ms Ferraz did not suspect a thing.

Ms Ferraz, an auditor for Deloitte, told The Royal Gazette: “The night before I was told that I had been invited to Pier 6 in the morning to meet the sponsors for the America’s Cup.

“So I was really excited when I woke up on Saturday. It was my birthday and I thought I was going to meet Mr Louis Vuitton and Mrs BMW.

“When I arrived at around 7.30am there were not many people there and I was shown around by the owner. I noticed there was a man sat down with his back to me, but I did not really take it in. I was more interested in meeting Mr Louis Vuitton and Mrs BMW.

“Then I realised it was Nuno. I just could not work out what he was doing there. I noticed he was dressed all sharp and was holding a red velvet cup cake with a ring on top.

“There were just a million things going through my mind as he told me he loved me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. Of course I said ‘yes’.”

Mr Da Silva and Ms Ferraz were both raised in Bermuda, but met for the first time ten years ago at a festival in the Azores when they were just 16 and 13 respectively.

They had remained close friends throughout school when Mr Da Silva would always wait outside Mount St Agnes for Ms Ferraz to finish.

“I had a feeling it was coming,” said Ms Ferraz. “But I had no idea he was going to do it on my birthday. It was the perfect time and place. We have not had time to set a date yet, but we are looking to get married next year.

“It really was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. A girl waits forever for this day and I am so happy to have been able to experience such a special moment with the man that I love.”