As Cowes Week celebrates its landmark 200th anniversary, Sir Ben Ainslie will return to the Solent to race alongside the Athena Pathway Youth Squad.
Competing across four days of the regatta, Ainslie, GB1 sailor Ben Cornish and Emirates GBR SailGP Team sailor Neil Hunter will race with members of the Athena Pathway Youth Squad.
The initiative forms part of Athena Pathway’s mission to fast-track Britain’s next generation of elite sailors by providing unrivalled opportunities to compete alongside world-class athletes in live racing conditions.
Joining the programme at Cowes Week are Youth sailors Finn Dickinson, Kai Hockley, Katy Jenkins and Kuba Staite, all part of Athena Pathway’s high-performance sailing development programme.
For the young sailors, the experience extends far beyond simply sharing a boat with Britain’s most decorated Olympic sailor.
Four days of racing will provide hands-on mentorship in real competition, allowing them to absorb race strategy, tactical decision-making, boat handling and communication from Ainslie, Cornish and Hunter in one of the world’s most competitive regattas.
Alongside racing, members of the Athena Pathway Youth Squad will host daily Q&A sessions in the Youth Sailing Zone on The Parade, giving aspiring young sailors and visitors the opportunity to hear about their journey into high-performance sailing and learn more about the opportunities available through Athena Pathway.
Youth Sailing Zone Q&A Schedul:
- Sunday | 16:30–17:30 – Finn Dickinson
- Monday | 16:30–17:30 – Katy Jenkins
- Tuesday | 16:30–17:30 – Kuba Staite
- Wednesday | 16:30–17:30 – Kai Hockley
While four members of the Youth Squad compete at Cowes Week, five further Youth Squad sailors are simultaneously training in Cagliari alongside the British Women’s America’s Cup Team aboard the AC40, continuing their progression towards future Women’s, Youth and America’s Cup campaigns.
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