Peter Burling believes that Bermuda entering the next Red Bull Youth America’s Cup will be a wonderful opportunity for the Island’s young sailors.

“It’s obviously a great opportunity for the young sailors here and it’s really cool to see them getting that opportunity,” Burling, the Emirates Team New Zealand helmsman, said.

More than a hundred candidates have expressed an interest in joining Team Bermuda with 64 so far having attended gruelling fitness combines.

“It’s a really tough selection process to get through the final round,” Burling said. “I’m sure they will be putting in a few hours and making the most of the opportunity like everyone has.”

The Olympic silver-medal winner and multiple world champion won the inaugural Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in San Francisco in 2013 with New Zealand Sailing Team, who beat Full Metal Jacket Racing also from New Zealand.

“It was kind of weird at the event for me because I had actually sailed a couple of World Series events with Team Korea earlier,” said Burling, who competed against local siblings Jesse and Zander Kirkland in the 49er skiff at the 2012 London Olympics.

“It was just really awesome to be able to get a group of lads together who had grown up sailing together and being given the opportunity to take one of these things (AC45) for a spin.

“It was a really fun time and a really great experience and we really made the most of it.”

The Red Bull Youth America’s Cup features ten national teams with sailors aged 19 to 24 in 2017.

The young sailors fortunate enough to make the team will race the foiling version of AC45 wing-sailed catamarans, taking flight above the water just like the America’s Cup crews they hope to one day join.