Ben Ainslie - a madforsailing profile

Where did you grow up?
I grew up on Restronguet Creek, Cornwall.

What job do you do?
Sailing is my full-time occupation.

What other sports do you do outside sailing?
I enjoy playing football, cricket and golf (when I can hit the ball).

Any other hobbies or interests?
I would love to learn to fly, but have never found the time.

Favourite method of relaxing?
To relax I enjoy watching a good movie or going out and having a good evening with my friends.

Favourite bar or pub?
My favourite pub is my local, the Chequers in Lymington.

What inspired you to take up sailing?
I just started sailing with my parents for fun.

Where was your first sailing club?
Restronguet Sailing Club.

Which class did you first race in?
I started sailing Optimists.

How did you buy your first boat?
My first boat was a Christmas present from my parents.

Have you ever used a coach and who where they?
Phil Slater coached me in Optimists. Jim Saltonstall coached me when I was in the Youth Squad and John Derbyshire has coached me through my last two Olympic campaigns.

What professional links do you have to the sport?
In the future I hope to be involved with the America's Cup, which is a very professional side to sailing.

What’s your most memorable moment in sailing?
Right now my most memorable moment is the last race of the 2000 Olympics.

What’s your biggest remaining goal in sailing?
My goal now is to help win the America's Cup for Britain.

How much time do you spend on the water each week?
I spent six months sailing solidly for Sydney 2000, now I am having a rest.

Do you have a sponsor, and if so, who?
My sponsors are Winterthur Life, Audi and Henri-Lloyd.

Who are your Sailing heroes and why?
My main hero is Russell Coutts as he has won the Youth Worlds, Olympics and the America's Cup.

What is the best excuse you’ve ever made for a poor performance in a race?
I try not to make excuses as I think you have to take the good with the bad and learn from it.

What’s your favourite sailing venue?
My favourite sailing venue is Airlie Beach in Australia.

What’s the single thing that could most improve the running of championship regattas?
Sydney proved that you can hold races close to the shore and still have good racing. I don't see the need for races to be held miles offshore where no one can see.

What’s your greatest strength in sailing?
My greatest strength is that I never give up.

What's your biggest weakness in sailing?
My biggest weakness is a lack of technical knowledge on how to make boats - other than a one-design Laser - go fast.

What’s the single most important piece of advice you could give to younger sailors?
To enjoy it and try to work out areas where they need to improve. Sailing is as much a mind game as anything else.

Would you rather sail with your friends - or with Russell Coutts?
One of my best friends is Iain Percy, so I have a lot of respect for him. I would love to sail with Russell Coutts as I could learn a lot from him.

Who’s the best sailor in Britain?
It is really hard to say who is the best in England. We have had some great results in dinghies and on the Olympic circuit, but people like Ellen MacArthur and Adrian Stead in offshore and keelboat racing have also done very well.

Who’s the best sailor in the world?
In my opinion Russell Coutts is the best sailor in the world, but I think he has a big challenge to take the Swiss team to the top of the America's Cup.

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