Emily Nagel This experience so far has been incredible, not only have we had the opportunity to sail boats such as the GC32, but I have begun to discover just how far I can push myself both physically and mentally and this is just the beginning. Training together as a team has been a very rewarding experience, it is great to see the progress that we have all made over the past few months; I look forward to seeing how much more we grow over the next year.
Mustafa Ingham The experience is like none other! I wake up every morning to go chase my dream of winning the 2017 Red Bull Youth America s Cup and give 110% in whatever we do as a team. Also I m finding things out about myself when it comes to pushing the limits of being comfortable. Overall this is a life changing experience that has granted me positive opportunities and I m looking forward to 2017.
Connor Astwood My favorite experience has been foiling on the GC32 - I remember the first time we went up I was absolutely stoked. I am looking forward to the racing in June and the opportunity to compete against the world s best youth sailors.
Philip Hagen I have always been involved in team sports and love the feeling that not only have I accomplished something for myself, but that I have also been part of something bigger. Being a part of this incredible team is truly an honour and I hope that together we can achieve sailing history for Bermuda and leave a positive legacy for generations of young Bermudians to come.
Mackenzie Cooper This experience is once in a lifetime. Every time we go out on the water we are learning so much, as well as creating great chemistry between our teammates. I have found the gym plus long days of sailing tough, but the more training we do the easier it will get. The first day we went out in the GC32 is a day I will never forget because it was my first time foiling and going that fast in a boat, and even more special because it was in the Great Sound where I grew up sailing.
Ceci Wollmann Foiling for the first time on a GC32 was awesome. I have really enjoyed learning about how to sail fast catamarans. Being part of Team BDA has taught me a lot about team work and how important it is to have good communications on a large foiling catamaran. I look forward to the challenges ahead.
Dimitri Stevens I am most looking forward to representing Bermuda on home waters against some of the best youth sailors from around the world. The biggest challenge for me so far is physically getting strong enough to sail the GC32 and eventually the AC45 boats.
Peter Dill This is more than a once in a lifetime opportunity, it will become a well-defined moment in all of our lives, and allows us to take our passion for sailing to the next level. Who knows where this leads. I just hope we can perform when we get to the starting line in June 2017, and that we leave a lasting legacy for the next generation of youth sailors.
Owen Siese My favourite experience so far was the rush that I felt when we first went faster than 30 knots on the GC32. What I look forward to the most is when we do our first complete downwind without coming off of the foils!
Shomari Warner To me this experience is a new world of opportunity that not everyone has the privilege to be a part of so I am taking every bit of information I can to better myself and ultimately better my team. It is a chance to make history for my country and my family.
Danny Pell It has been a rigorous, year long process to be selected for TeamBDA requiring intense commitment both on and off the water. I am extremely excited to begin training full time as a team in January, and cannot wait to represent my country on the world stage.