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In the wake of an intensive one-week training camp, 27 hopefuls will advance in the journey to become a part of Team BDA in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup.
There were 46 vying for a spot on the team at the start of the camp on December 27, 2015.
Additionally, three candidates with pre-approved excused absences from the December camp are still viable and will be evaluated at the next training camp expected in March. That leaves 30 candidates alive in the selection process.
The group to advance to this point are an almost equal mix of sailors with competition experience and athletes who have met a series of demanding physical tests to advance in the process. The final team will be a mix or both sailors and athletes which is consistent with the composition of the modern-day America’s Cup teams.
“Without a doubt any of these young people show promise of being able to make the team,” said Team BDA spokesperson Glenn Jones. “Those who survived the one-week training camp have come a long way considering more than 100 young people registered their intent to try out for the team last year. However, it’s also true that the remaining candidates still have a very long way to go.”
In the next few months, the selection committee plans to identify a squad of no more than 18 of the best sailors and athletes who, with intensive training and coaching, will be equipped to compete with the world’s best young sailors in foiling high performance catamarans.
The final racing team will consist of six Red Bull Youth America’s Cup squad members, with others supporting as training partners and a shore team.
Team BDA will train and race in the Great Sound before a hometown crowd as they face other youth teams from around the world in June 2017. The Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in Bermuda will take place on one-design foiling AC45 catamarans – the same boats the professionals use in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series.
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