Maria Bento is full of praise for the America’s Cup Endeavour programme which her ten-year-old son Josiah “absolutely adored”.

“It was so fun for him,” she said. “When he started he was like ‘but I cannot swim, what happens if I fall in the water’? He was a bit dramatic, but he loved the programme.

“Katrina Williams, who helps to run the scheme, was phenomenal with him and made him feel really comfortable. I was floored. At the end of it, they called all the parents to come and look and I saw my son swimming like a fish!

“Each child received a certificate and Josiah got his for being brave and he was desperate to do it again. He now wants to carry on sailing more and is very eager to do that. I didn’t think he would enjoy it.”

Bento is the property manager at the West End Development Corporation and is very busy with the residential side, helping to accommodate America’s Cup team members and their families.

“I’ve met a couple of the Oracle Team USA and Artemis Racing team members and they are really wonderful people, super friendly.”