Ainslie gets back on the water for Cowes Week

When I interviewed Ben Ainslie recently for The Foil, he told me he rarely gets a chance to jump in a sailing boat these days. In fact, he couldn’t recall a time that he’s been sailing since the last race of the America’s Cup Match against Emirates Team New Zealand in Barcelona almost two years ago.

He’s too busy doing the work of running his SailGP and America’s Cup campaigns. As for going sailing again, “God, that’s a distant dream,” he told me. “I’d love nothing more than to get the wetsuit back on and go sailing again. I’m a sailor at heart.” When I offered him a go in my Musto Skiff at Stokes Bay, the Solent-based club where Ben and I used to race Lasers 30 years ago, he didn’t entirely laugh at the idea.

But anyway, for all those reasons, and all the pressure that Sir Ben has been under lately - particularly with that legal battle against Sir Jim Ratcliffe rumbling away in the background - it’s great to learn that Ben will indeed be back on the water soon, to compete on board Fargo, a Cape 31, at Cowes Week.

This is sort of a work trip for him, however, as Ben will be racing alongside members of his America’s Cup team, GB1, and from the Athena Pathway programme. Racing on board Fargo will be GB1 helm Ben Cornish as well as Emirates GBR reserve grinder Kai Hockley and a number of other development sailors from Athena Pathway.

There will also be an interactive fan zone at North Sails Cowes Week, which takes place from 1 to 7 August. The GB1 Fan Zone will give sailing fans and visitors the chance to immerse themselves in Britain's challenge for the America's Cup. Visitors can meet the sailors behind the campaign, get up close to the Louis Vuitton Cup and put their skills to the test on the GB1 AC40 Sailing Simulator. Fans are invited to beat the benchmark lap times set by Sir Ben Ainslie and helmsman Dylan Fletcher, with the fastest lap each day winning exclusive GB1 prizes. 

Where Sir Jim Ratcliffe doesn’t seem too bothered what sailing fans think about him, this kind of public-facing exercise is vital for Sir Ben to maintain his good standing with sailing fans. “The support we've received throughout our America's Cup journey has been incredible,” he said, “and we're looking forward to welcoming supporters into the GB1 Fan Zone all week. 

“Whether it's seeing the Louis Vuitton Cup, trying to beat our lap times on the simulator, meeting the team or picking up the latest GB1 kit, we hope it gives everyone a real taste of what Britain's challenge is all about as we build towards Naples.”

Below is a schedule of sessions where there’s a chance to hear from and even meet some of the GB1 team, including Sir Ben and primary helmsman Dylan Fletcher.

GB1 Fan Zone Signing Sessions 

Saturday 1 August – 16:00 
Sir Ben Ainslie (GB1 Team Principal) & Dylan Fletcher MBE (GB1 Helm)  

Sunday 2 August – 16:00 
Tom Cheney (GB1 Head of software and Data), Finn Dickinson & Kai Hockley (Athena Pathway Development Sailors)  

Monday 3 August – 16:00 
Ben Cornish (GB1 Helm) 

Tuesday 4 August – 16:00 
Dylan Fletcher MBE & Ben Cornish 

Wednesday 5 August – 16:00 
Ben Cornish & Finn Dickinson 

Thursday 6 August – 16:00 
Ben Cornish