Tom Herbert Evans has resigned as the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Sailing Academy director, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

Somers Kempe, the RBYC commodore, confirmed yesterday that the Welshman has stood down from the post he had served in for the past several years.

“Tom is no longer an employee of the RBYC,” Kempe said. “While we are sad to see him go, we know he will be an asset in his new job.”

Evans could not be reached for comment.

It is understood that the certified sailing instructor and avid sailor has all but secured a job with the America’s Cup Event Authority that could see him play a leading role with the running of the organisation’s ambitious Community Sailing Project.

When contacted by this newspaper the ACEA declined to comment.

In a press release the ACEA announced that the Community Sailing Project will be overseen by a Community Sailing Manager employed by them.

The Community Sailing Project will see participants aged 8-12 engage in an educational initiative, enjoy the experience of boating and tour Oracle Team USA’s base in Dockyard to observe all the technology the team utilises.

Another component of the programme will involve a training/internship programme where the top five male and female college sailors in the United States will be brought in to train with and learn from Oracle Team USA.

Three of the top intercollegiate coaches will also be invited to Bermuda to work with the team and share coaching technology.

The Community Sailing Project is due to commence this month when the first boats arrive in Bermuda where they will be assembled and tested. By the end of the summer, the first phases of the project will be running with bases and teaching facilities established at both ends of the Island.

The Bermuda Community Sailing project is expected to serve as a blueprint for similar programmes in other cities and countries to be rolled out over the coming years.

“This is an exciting project that builds on something we started during the last America’s Cup,” Sir Russell Coutts, the America’s Cup Event Authority CEO, said.

“We’ve enlisted the support and assistance of some of the great players in our industry who share our view that it is important to give back and create a positive legacy not just from events like the America’s Cup but the marine industry in general.

“The sailing community has thrown its support behind this project in a major way. We’re very appreciative that so many share our vision to encourage education and provide opportunities for young people to get engaged with our sport.”