Betschart Embarks on WASZP Challenge Around Bermuda
IslandStats.com
Live at 4:30 pm Nineteen-year-old Rachael Betschart, a student of Engineering at the University of Exeter in the UK, is taking on a unique sailing challenge this weekend as she attempts to circumnavigate Bermuda in a WASZP foiling boat.
This ambitious endeavour is not Betschart's first time sailing around her home island; in fact, it marks her second attempt. She previously completed the challenge in 2019, sailing an Optimist Dinghy around Bermuda in just over 10 hours. This time, she is hoping to accomplish the feat in a third of that time, showcasing the speed of the WASZP and her own development as a sailor.
Betschart's challenge is also a fundraising effort, with proceeds going towards two important causes: the Next Generation Fund, a local scholarship fund providing financial assistance to young sailors at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, and The Magenta Project, an international organization dedicated to supporting and training women in sailing.
Betschart herself has been a beneficiary of The Magenta Project, having been part of their mentoring program for the past nine months. She describes the experience as "incredible," noting that it has "created so many more opportunities for herself and her sailing journey." The Magenta Project connects young women with experienced professionals in the sport of sailing, fostering their growth and development.
Ahead of her ambitious undertaking, Betschart will be live on islandstats.com at 4:30 pm today to discuss her project and the challenge she is facing. Sailing enthusiasts and supporters will be keen to follow her progress as she attempts this impressive feat around the island.
