THE GOOD LIFE MIDAS Sir Ben Ainslie
they are. I’m very much about looking forward, not really about what happened in the past.
And what is something you are looking forward to right now? A big thing for us is building up to the America’s Cup in Naples in 2027. There’s also the Sail GP season. The professional side of sailing has been turbocharged in the last five years. With the advent of foiling technology, the boats are now going at an insane speed [up to 60mph], and the sport is now much more commercial.
How was it going from being in the water to your role as CEO of the Athena Racing and Great Britain SailGP teams? It’s been quite natural. I’ve been moving away from the fun bit on the water and more to the management side of things. But it’s been a fascinating transition, learning more about business, fundraising, finances and, of course, the commercial element of putting all these teams together.
The sailing legend has moved into management, but his
Interview LIVIA GIANNOTTI Illustration RUSS TUDOR
How much is an ounce of gold? I know the gold price has gone through the roof lately, it’s up at something like three and a half thousand, but what amount of gold is that? I have absolutely no idea.
How did you earn your first pay cheque? When I was a kid growing up in Cornwall with my father, loading bricks on to the back of a lorry.
And do you remember what you did with the money? I remember it was £5, so we went and bought ourselves some ice cream.
Are you a saver or a spender? I’ve always been about investing, mostly in business, but now that I have a family I obviously invest in that a lot.
How did you get into sailing? My parents were both keen sailors. My dad actually took part in the first Whitbread Round the World Race, so I grew up listening to stories about sailing around the world. We moved to Cornwall when I was eight, and that’s really when I got into it because it was so accessible.
When did you realise it was going to become your career? Probably when I was 18 and I qualified for the Olympics. It was a passion and it still is. I guess I’m one of those people that’s fortunate to say I’m doing my passion as my profession.
Where do you keep your five Olympic medals? Honestly, they are just tucked away somewhere, I actually don’t know where
What is your proudest achievement? The London 2012 Olympics were such a huge moment for British sport and for any proud Brit, which I am. I was really honoured to be asked to carry the flag into the closing ceremony, which was a real pinch-yourself moment. The atmosphere walking into that stadium, it was just electric and unbelievable.
You are involved in several projects dedicated to helping the next generation of athletes. What do you hope to achieve for them? It’s all about creating opportunities. In professional sailing, we are certainly seeing the growth of the female side of the sport and the opportunities that come with it. We need to go and find the next star sailor – and do it quick and organically, because that’s a much more efficient way of doing it. But it’s not just sailors. It’s also shore team engineers, the commercial and management team; we are trying to create a pathway across the board.
What’s your most prized possession? The thing I most enjoy to try and get away from some of the pressures is running. So I would probably say my trainers.
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