The Bermuda Power Boat Association has come up with an ambitious initiative in a continuing effort to enhance its junior programme.

If all goes according to plan, the association hopes to have its adult members play a key role in a mentorship scheme to aid in the development of juniors at the grassroots level.

“With the junior programme, we are asking our seniors to assist with the mentoring and coaching of the juniors,” Robert Cardwell, the BPBA commodore, said.

“What we are planning to do is give each senior team a junior team so that will be their baby and they will do the coaching and mentoring.”

Cardwell said the idea has been met by a positive response from his fellow members.

“They are all pretty excited about getting involved with that,” he added.

“Obviously, it’s something we know that the future of the club rests in our junior programme, so everybody is pretty keen on that.

“It has definitely driven up energy, and we are looking forward to a really good season.”

Cardwell is delighted to see all of the hard work that has gone into the association’s junior programme starting to bear fruit.

“We have been working on it for the last three years and now it’s finally going to get off the ground,” he said. “It’s going to be really, really exciting for the children.”

The junior programme involves competitors aged 10 to 15 that compete in the European-designed GT-15.

The 13-foot monohull is a strict one-design driven by a 15 horsepower engine.

Meanwhile, the BPBA has announced a nine-race day schedule for the 2021 season to be staged from April to September.

The 2021 season is due to commence on April 18, with the BPBA’s junior competitors taking centre stage at Ferry Reach.

“We are really excited because our junior programme is kicking off on the first race day,” said Cardwell, who is serving a fifth successive term as BPBA commodore.

“We have three boats ready to go and six juniors already signed up that are interested in participating.”

A spike in the number of positive Covid-19 cases on the island led to a government shutdown of sporting activities on the island early last month.

However, the BPBA hopes the restrictions will be lifted in time to enable the 2021 season to start as originally planned.