Small island, big sailing ambitions. SSL Team Bermuda brings together a crew shaped by the ocean, competition and a long-standing maritime heritage. Known as The Privateers, the team combines international experience, determination and a natural ability to read the winds of opportunity.
Sailing is deeply rooted in Bermuda's culture. For many crew members, the journey began at just six years old, following in the footsteps of Olympian ancestors. Others discovered the sport through their own paths, but all share the same passion for competition. Their collective experience spans some of the biggest stages in sailing, including the America’s Cup, Volvo Ocean Race and numerous national and international championships.
Leading the crew as main trimmer and captain is Rockal Evans, whose sailing achievements include victories at the J/70 State Championships, Finn State Championships and the TP52 Gold Cup in Australia. For Evans, however, one of his greatest achievements is a little closer to home: marrying his wife, who spends her spare time supporting SSL Team Bermuda.
On the pit position is Emily Nagel, bringing extensive offshore and international racing experience. She finished fourth in the 2017–18 Volvo Ocean Race with Team AkzoNobel and won The Ocean Race Europe in 2021 with Racing for the Planet. Her achievements also include two second-place finishes at the Swan 50 World Championships in 2024 and 2025, as well as victory at the Swan 50 European Championships in 2025.
At the helm is Michael Wollman, whose background includes competing at the highest international level in the Nacra 17 class. Among his career highlights are the 2017 Nacra 17 World Championships in La Grande Motte, where he finished 23rd overall and fourth in the Under-23 category, and the 2018 World Sailing Championships in Aarhus, where he placed 40th overall and second among Under-23 competitors. He also represented Bermuda at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, finishing eighth overall and third among North American nations.
Together, the crew brings a combination of offshore experience, technical skills and competitive ambition to the SSL47.
At the inaugural SSL Gold Cup in Gran Canaria in 2023, Bermuda finished 31st. Now, The Privateers are back with another opportunity to make their mark on the world stage.
From 12–16 November 2026, SSL Team Bermuda will compete in the Pan-American Qualifiers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, fighting for one of the remaining places in the SSL Gold Cup Final Series. Drawn in Group I, they will face Mexico, Cuba and El Salvador in a battle where every race could make the difference.
For a team representing a small island with such a strong sailing tradition, the ambition is clear: turn experience into results and seize every opportunity on the water.
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