Land Rover BAR Academy Squad for Red Bull Youth America’s Cup. (c) Harry KH / Land Rover BAR

Seven talented, young America’s Cup sailors – with an average age of just 22– have been chosen to represent Great Britain at the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup.

Taking place in Bermuda, the host venue for the 35th America’s Cup, the Land Rover BAR Academy team will compete against 11 other national youth teams.

Inspired by four time Olympic gold medallist and 34th America’s Cup winner, Sir Ben Ainslie, the mission of the Academy is to find and support talented young British sailors into professional sailing and the America’s Cup.

The Land Rover BAR Academy have already competed in the 2016 Extreme Sailing Series™, coming fifth in the professional stadium racing series, supported and mentored by the Land Rover BAR Senior Sailing team. They recently placed second in Act 2 of the 2017 Extreme Sailing Series™ in Qingdao, China.

One remarkable story is the progress of Neil Hunter who – after just ten months with the Academy – was promoted to the senior sailing team. Neil has now been in Bermuda for the last five months, training with the team ahead of the America’s Cup.

The selected squad for Bermuda is Rob Bunce (skipper), Chris Taylor, Annabel Vose, Elliot Hansen, Sam Batten, Adam Kay and Neil Hunter.

Neil Hunter said: “It has been an awesome learning experience to be part of the senior team out in Bermuda training for the America’s Cup. Being part of such a talented and professional group of sailors has been invaluable to the progression of my sailing career and seeing the work that goes on behind the scenes has really opened my eyes up to the world that is the America’s Cup. I hope to put that to good use for the Land Rover BAR Academy.”

The teams, all comprising of sailors aged 19 – 24, will race the foiling, wingsail AC45F used throughout the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series 2015 and 2016. The Land Rover BAR Academy will compete in Pool B during the Qualifier events over the two-day race period on 12 – 13 June.

June 12 – June 13: Qualifier 1 racing *
June 15 – June 16: Qualifier 2 racing *
June 20 – June 21: Red Bull Youth America’s Cup Final Series*
* all race events include a third day of scheduled racing, held in reserve should any issues prevent racing being completed on scheduled dates
www.landroverbar.com/academy
red-bull-youth.americascup.com

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