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Final call for Red Bull hopefuls

Life’s a grind: Kelsey Durham, 21, on the winch test at the first Red Bull Youth America’s Cup trial in Dockyard(Photograph by Akil Simmons)

Less than 36 hours remain to sign-up ahead of the second try out for Team Bermuda’s entry in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup.

So far, 22 athletes have submitted expressions of interest for Saturday’s combine. In the first casting call last month, 50 young athletes were put through the paces.

“In the first try out we were very pleased to see candidates with diverse athletic backgrounds – about 60 per cent were non-sailors,” Glenn Jones, the team’s spokesman, said. “And on top of that it was clear all the athletes showed up with a hunger to win – the high level of effort on display was very apparent to our Youth America’s Cup committee.

“This Saturday we hope for a repeat of what we saw last month – athletes of all backgrounds. We know we haven’t reached all the potential candidates yet and that’s our goal.”

To be eligible for Bermuda’s Red Bull Youth America’s Cup team athletes must be at least 19 years-old and under 25 years-old on December 31, 2017, and have been born in Bermuda or possess a Bermuda passport.

By early 2016 the selection committee hopes to identify a squad of 18 of the best sailors and athletes who, with intensive training and coaching, will be equipped to compete with the world’s best young sailors in foiling high performance catamarans.

The final racing team will consist of six Red Bull Youth America’s Cup squad members, with others supporting as training partners and a shore team.

Team Bermuda will be training and racing in the Great Sound before a hometown crowd as they face other youth teams from around the world in June 2017.

The Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in Bermuda will take place on one-design foiling AC45 catamarans – the same boats the professionals will use in next month’s Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series.

Expressions of interest will be accepted online until 11:59pm tomorrow at www.acbda.bm. The combine will take place in Dockyard.

Additional details on the Team BDA Red Bull Youth America’s Cup campaign are also available on the ACBDA website.