New Zealand trip a “dream come true” for America’s Cup Endeavour Program students
Ask most people what they look forward to in January and the usual answer will be “February!”, but for two young Bermudian sailors, Christopher Raymond and Ahzai Smith, this January has given them the chance of a lifetime, travelling to New Zealand to take part in a number of regattas in one of the hotbeds of world sailing.
Christopher and Ahzai are graduates of the 2015 / 2016 America’s Cup Endeavour Program and were chosen to make the long journey down to New Zealand to compete in three O’pen BIC regattas in January because of their performances and attendance at the Bermuda Sailing Nationals. Christopher was top America’s Cup Endeavour Program performer in the Green Fleet and Ahzai was top performer in the Championship Fleet, performances that qualified both young sailors to enjoy the chance of a lifetime competing in New Zealand.
Both Christopher and Ahzai are embracing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and will return to Bermuda with new friends, improved sailing skills and a very different view of the world around them. While away, they are not just sailing, the boys have also been bungee jumping, bike riding, working on sailing clinics with expert sailors and, (most likely not their favourite part of their trip) they have a private tutor working with them on their school work so they are not missing a moment of their education whilst in New Zealand.
Ahzai and Christopher were asked how their trip is going so far. Ahzai says: “It’s all a bit unreal! We flew a long way to get here, and that was an experience in itself, but to be here in New Zealand, competing against such good sailors, it’s just amazing. I want to thank the America’s Cup and the America’s Cup Endeavour Program for making this dream come true, and to thank Leah for coming all this way with us to help.”
Echoing those words, Christopher says:“I feel really lucky to be here and thank you to everyone who made this all happen. I’ve learnt so much so quickly, not just about sailing but about how great travel is and although I’m loving my trip to New Zealand, I can’t wait to get home to Bermuda and put what I’ve learnt into practice, and tell everyone about what’s happened down here.”
This opportunity is yet another good news story from the America’s Cup Endeavour Program, an initiative set up to use sailing as a platform to inspire and educate young people in Bermuda and around the world. Giving two young Bermudian sailors the chance to travel to New Zealand to compete against their southern hemisphere peers is a good example of how the America’s Cup Endeavour Program is now reaching beyond its core focus areas and creating incredible chances for its participants and graduates to enjoy experiences they never thought possible. Christopher and Azhai may or may not one day take part in an America’s Cup themselves, but they will remember their trip to New Zealand for ever, and they provide the motivation and the proof of the rewards for the America’s Cup Endeavour Program Class of 2017 to push themselves further than they think possible. All the way to New Zealand, in fact!
