Ben Ainslie
Encyclopedia
Charles Benedict Ainslie, CBE
(born 5 February 1977 in Macclesfield
) is an English
sailor
and three-times Olympic gold medalist. He started sailing at the age of 8 and first competed at the age of 10. Ainslie's first international competition was the 1989 Optimist
world championships held in Japan where he placed 37th.
and Truro School
in Cornwall
.
after his success in Sydney, and was promoted to Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2005 New Year Honours following the Athens Games. He was again promoted, to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours, following the Beijing Games.
He won the International Sailing Federation
top Award more times than anyone else being named ISAF World Sailor of the Year
in 1998, 2002 and 2008. He was also nominated 2004 and 2011.
He was awarded the title of British Yachtsman of the Year in 1995, 1999, 2000 and 2002.
in the Laser
class. He put on 40 pounds (18 kg) and moved to the larger Finn
class for the 2004 Summer Olympics
, where he won gold, a feat he repeated in the 2008 competition.
Other World Results
37th 1989 Optimist
World Championships held in Japan
2nd 1994 IYRU Youth Sailing World Championships
in Marathon
43rd 1994 Laser
World Championship
21st 1995 Laser
World Championship
3rd 1996 Laser
World Championship
3rd 1997 Laser
World Championship
3rd 2000 Laser
World Championship
3rd 2009 Etchells
World Championships
- TP52
Audi Medcup
1st 1993 Laser Radial
European Championship, Greece
based Team New Zealand
who were preparing to compete in the challenger selection process to win the right to Challenge for the 32nd America's Cup
.
In May 2005 Ainslie took the decision to relinquish the role of tactician and focus on improving his Match Racing skills as helmsman of the 'B' boat used to practice and tune the race boat helmed by Dean Barker.
Ainslie figure headed a British challenge for the Cup alongside Sir Keith Mills the team was named Team Origin
. However this challenge withdraw without competing following a period of discussion regarding the future format of the event.
, and is the 2010 ISAF Match Racing Champion.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 5 February 1977 in Macclesfield
Macclesfield
Macclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
sailor
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
and three-times Olympic gold medalist. He started sailing at the age of 8 and first competed at the age of 10. Ainslie's first international competition was the 1989 Optimist
Optimist (dinghy)
The Optimist is a small, single-handed sailing dinghy intended for use by children up to the age of 15. Nowadays boats are usually made of fiber reinforced plastic, although wooden boats are still built....
world championships held in Japan where he placed 37th.
Early life
The son of Roderick 'Roddy' Ainslie, who captained a boat that took part in the first Whitbread Round The World Race in 1973. Ainslie attended Pennington Infant School, Peter Symonds CollegePeter Symonds College
Peter Symonds College is a sixth form college in Winchester, Hampshire, in the south of England. It is one of the largest sixth form colleges in Britain.-Admissions:...
and Truro School
Truro School
Truro School is a mixed independent school located in the city of Truro, Cornwall, UK. The current Headmaster is Paul Smith. Deputy Headteachers are Nick Fisher and Anita Firth . Phil Brewer is Assistant Head and Head of Sixth Form...
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
.
Awards and Honours
He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2001 New Year HonoursNew Year Honours
The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the New Year annually in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II...
after his success in Sydney, and was promoted to Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2005 New Year Honours following the Athens Games. He was again promoted, to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours, following the Beijing Games.
He won the International Sailing Federation
International Sailing Federation
The International Sailing Federation is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the world governing body for the sport of sailing....
top Award more times than anyone else being named ISAF World Sailor of the Year
ISAF World Sailor of the Year Awards
-Background:The ISAF World Sailor of the Year Awards were launched in 1994 by the International Sailing Federation. The awards are recognised as the pinnacle award a sailor can receive in recognition of his/her outstanding achievements by the world of sailing....
in 1998, 2002 and 2008. He was also nominated 2004 and 2011.
He was awarded the title of British Yachtsman of the Year in 1995, 1999, 2000 and 2002.
Olympic
Ainslie won silver at the 1996 Olympic Games and gold in the 2000 Summer OlympicsSailing at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad . With the exception of 1904 and possible 1916 sailing was always a part of the Olympic program....
in the Laser
Laser (dinghy)
The International Laser Class sailboat, also called Laser Standard and the Laser One is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy. According the Laser Class Rules the boat may be sailed by either one or two people, though it is rarely sailed by two. The design, by Bruce Kirby, emphasizes...
class. He put on 40 pounds (18 kg) and moved to the larger Finn
Finn (dinghy)
The Finn dinghy is the men's single-handed, cat-rigged Olympic class for sailing. It was designed by Swedish canoe designer, Rickard Sarby, in 1949 for the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki...
class for the 2004 Summer Olympics
Sailing at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Sailing at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre with eleven events being contested.The events were split into four classes for men, four for women, and three mixed classes that were open to both men and women...
, where he won gold, a feat he repeated in the 2008 competition.
World Championship
He has won the following the following World Championships titles- 1st 1993 Laser RadialLaser RadialThe Laser Radial is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy, originally built by Laser Performance. It is a singlehanded boat, meaning that it is sailed by one person. The Laser Radial is a variant of the Laser Standard, with shorter mast and reduced sail area, allowing light sailors to...
World Championship - 1st 1995 IYRU Youth Sailing World ChampionshipsISAF Youth Sailing World ChampionshipsThe ISAF Youth Sailing World Championhips was first held in Sweden in 1971 it has been held ever year since. It is one of the key events of the federation to help promote top level youth participation.-Venues:-Links:*...
in HamiltonHamilton, BermudaHamilton is the capital of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. It is the territory's financial centre and a major port and tourist destination.-Geography:...
, BermudaBermudaBermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida... - 1st 1998 LaserLaser (dinghy)The International Laser Class sailboat, also called Laser Standard and the Laser One is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy. According the Laser Class Rules the boat may be sailed by either one or two people, though it is rarely sailed by two. The design, by Bruce Kirby, emphasizes...
World Championship - 1st 1999 LaserLaser (dinghy)The International Laser Class sailboat, also called Laser Standard and the Laser One is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy. According the Laser Class Rules the boat may be sailed by either one or two people, though it is rarely sailed by two. The design, by Bruce Kirby, emphasizes...
World Championship - 1st 2002 FinnFinn (dinghy)The Finn dinghy is the men's single-handed, cat-rigged Olympic class for sailing. It was designed by Swedish canoe designer, Rickard Sarby, in 1949 for the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki...
World Championship - 1st 2003 ISAF Sailing World ChampionshipsISAF Sailing World ChampionshipsThe ISAF Sailing World Championships are held every four years since 2003 and are used as the primary event to qualify countries for the Sailing at the Summer Olympics...
which effectively is the FinnFinn (dinghy)The Finn dinghy is the men's single-handed, cat-rigged Olympic class for sailing. It was designed by Swedish canoe designer, Rickard Sarby, in 1949 for the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki...
World Championship - 1st 2004 FinnFinn (dinghy)The Finn dinghy is the men's single-handed, cat-rigged Olympic class for sailing. It was designed by Swedish canoe designer, Rickard Sarby, in 1949 for the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki...
World Championship - 1st 2005 FinnFinn (dinghy)The Finn dinghy is the men's single-handed, cat-rigged Olympic class for sailing. It was designed by Swedish canoe designer, Rickard Sarby, in 1949 for the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki...
World Championship - 1st 2008 FinnFinn (dinghy)The Finn dinghy is the men's single-handed, cat-rigged Olympic class for sailing. It was designed by Swedish canoe designer, Rickard Sarby, in 1949 for the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki...
World Championship - 1st 2010 ISAF Open Match Racing World Chamionship
Other World Results
37th 1989 Optimist
Optimist (dinghy)
The Optimist is a small, single-handed sailing dinghy intended for use by children up to the age of 15. Nowadays boats are usually made of fiber reinforced plastic, although wooden boats are still built....
World Championships held in Japan
2nd 1994 IYRU Youth Sailing World Championships
ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships
The ISAF Youth Sailing World Championhips was first held in Sweden in 1971 it has been held ever year since. It is one of the key events of the federation to help promote top level youth participation.-Venues:-Links:*...
in Marathon
Marathon, Greece
Marathon is a town in Greece, the site of the battle of Marathon in 490 BC, in which the heavily outnumbered Athenian army defeated the Persians. The tumulus or burial mound for the 192 Athenian dead that was erected near the battlefield remains a feature of the coastal plain...
43rd 1994 Laser
Laser (dinghy)
The International Laser Class sailboat, also called Laser Standard and the Laser One is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy. According the Laser Class Rules the boat may be sailed by either one or two people, though it is rarely sailed by two. The design, by Bruce Kirby, emphasizes...
World Championship
21st 1995 Laser
Laser (dinghy)
The International Laser Class sailboat, also called Laser Standard and the Laser One is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy. According the Laser Class Rules the boat may be sailed by either one or two people, though it is rarely sailed by two. The design, by Bruce Kirby, emphasizes...
World Championship
3rd 1996 Laser
Laser (dinghy)
The International Laser Class sailboat, also called Laser Standard and the Laser One is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy. According the Laser Class Rules the boat may be sailed by either one or two people, though it is rarely sailed by two. The design, by Bruce Kirby, emphasizes...
World Championship
3rd 1997 Laser
Laser (dinghy)
The International Laser Class sailboat, also called Laser Standard and the Laser One is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy. According the Laser Class Rules the boat may be sailed by either one or two people, though it is rarely sailed by two. The design, by Bruce Kirby, emphasizes...
World Championship
3rd 2000 Laser
Laser (dinghy)
The International Laser Class sailboat, also called Laser Standard and the Laser One is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy. According the Laser Class Rules the boat may be sailed by either one or two people, though it is rarely sailed by two. The design, by Bruce Kirby, emphasizes...
World Championship
3rd 2009 Etchells
Etchells
The International Etchells Class is a racing class of one-design sailing boats.-History:In 1965, Yachting Magazine launched a competition to select a new three man Olympic keelboat. E. W. "Skip" Etchells, a boat designer, builder and sailor, was interested in the competition, but refrained from...
World Championships
Other Signifcant Results
4th 2010 - Team OriginTeam Origin
Team Origin is Great Britain's bid to compete in the 33rd and 34th America's Cups. The syndicate was founded by Sir Keith Mills, the man behind London's successful 2012 Olympic bid...
- TP52
TP 52 (yacht)
The Transpac 52 is a class of yacht used for competitive yacht racing. The class is recognised by the International Sailing Federation which entitles the class to hold an Official World Championships.-History:...
Audi Medcup
1st 1993 Laser Radial
Laser Radial
The Laser Radial is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy, originally built by Laser Performance. It is a singlehanded boat, meaning that it is sailed by one person. The Laser Radial is a variant of the Laser Standard, with shorter mast and reduced sail area, allowing light sailors to...
European Championship, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
America's Cup
At the beginning of 2005 he worked in the role of Tactician in the New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
based Team New Zealand
Team New Zealand
Team New Zealand is a sailing team based in Auckland, New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.Team New Zealand has become a household name in their home country following their consecutive wins in the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000...
who were preparing to compete in the challenger selection process to win the right to Challenge for the 32nd America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
.
In May 2005 Ainslie took the decision to relinquish the role of tactician and focus on improving his Match Racing skills as helmsman of the 'B' boat used to practice and tune the race boat helmed by Dean Barker.
Ainslie figure headed a British challenge for the Cup alongside Sir Keith Mills the team was named Team Origin
Team Origin
Team Origin is Great Britain's bid to compete in the 33rd and 34th America's Cups. The syndicate was founded by Sir Keith Mills, the man behind London's successful 2012 Olympic bid...
. However this challenge withdraw without competing following a period of discussion regarding the future format of the event.
World Match Racing Tour
In December 2010, Ainslie finished in first place in the World Match Racing TourWorld Match Racing Tour
The World Match Racing Tour is a professional sailing series, featuring 9 World Championship events across the globe, sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation with “Special Event” status...
, and is the 2010 ISAF Match Racing Champion.