A lifelong dinghy sailor and former world No. 1 in the Finn class championships, Ben Cornish now represents Great Britain as co-skipper of GB1, the British America’s Cup team, and as a reserve sailor for the Emirates GB SailGP Team.
The 38th edition of the America’s Cup, which will be held next year in Naples, marks his third campaign in the competition. With changes in boat design over the years, Cornish has shown that versatility pays off: he started out as a grinder, then moved on to using his leg strength as a cyclor, and finally made the leap to the helm.
During a rare break at his home in Devon, on the south coast of England, between training sessions for the America’s Cup and SailGP, Ben talked about his career so far, his preparations for Naples, and what it’s like to sail at speeds of up to 100 km/h.
Let’s start at the beginning. How did you get into sailing?
I grew up here, on the Exe River, where I learned to sail when I was seven. At first, I hated everything about it. The first time I went out on a boat, I had them drop me off at Exmouth Beach and walked about 2 km back to the yacht club. I don’t know what changed, but when I was 10, I started sailing in a small boat, and it was the exact opposite of what I used to hate: it was the feeling of freedom—of leaving the shore knowing you’re on your own and have to figure things out for yourself.
I was lucky that the Exmouth Yacht Club was a hotbed of talent. We were living through a golden age, with people who had competed in the Olympics—friends, but also teammates whom I admired. Without them, it wouldn’t even have crossed my mind just how far you can go in sailing.
Then you won the gold medal in the Finn World Cup Final (a single-handed dinghy) in Santander in 2017. How did you start competing in the Finn class?
I progressed through the Laser class in the junior and youth categories, and then moved on to the national team, where I started to get decent results—nothing to write home about. Then I had the opportunity to train alongside [four-time Finn Cup winner] Giles Scott in the Finn class.
I remember my coach brought it up when all I could think about was how to make a name for myself in the Laser class. But the truth is, I was probably too big for the Laser and the perfect size for the Finn. It was one of the greatest opportunities I could have had.
Ben Ainslie had just retired [the British sailor left the Finn class after the 2012 Olympic Games], so Giles was now the top Finn sailor, and I had the opportunity to be his apprentice. We had a very strong working relationship, and he went on to win two Olympic gold medals, in Rio and in Tokyo.
During the Tokyo Olympic cycle, it was announced that the Finn class would be excluded from future Olympic Games, which must have been a blow. What did you do then?
It was a shame, because I was on the right track and my ultimate goal slipped away. But it was also the springboard to the Copa América. I’d already had my first contact with the British Copa América team, and Ben was very welcoming in opening the door for me. The first season I joined Ineos Britannia was in 2018, for the 2021 Copa.
What was your role on board during the Copa América?
I was a grinder [who uses arm strength to turn the windlasses]. We had a pretty large crew—about 15 or 16 sailors—and there was a strong emphasis on physical training, which I loved. Giles was the tactician on that campaign, but he was still very focused on his Olympic cycle, so when he wasn’t available, I filled in for him. But, much to my frustration, he was also very involved with the simulator.
Why was it frustrating?
We were putting the America’s Cup boat’s design through a series of tests. All I wanted was to be on the water and make progress in the role I was there to fill, but, in reality, looking at the big picture, it was incredible to be learning the helmsman’s role on the simulator so early on. Looking back, I was learning much more than just turning my arms as a grinder.
Then you switched to pedal power when cyclors were reintroduced on the America’s Cup boats before Barcelona. How did you experience that change?
The New Zealand team [defending Copa América champions] decided that they could be more efficient and generate more power with their legs than with their arms, so they brought in many Olympic rowers to train them.
It was hard work, although all the training I did on the Finn really paid off: it really relies on quadriceps strength, because you’re basically hanging off your legs all day.
We also had the AC40s (smaller versions of the America’s Cup foiling boats) and raced against each other at home, with [British Olympic gold medalist] Dylan Fletcher and me as co-skippers. So I had the best of both worlds: I was in the trenches with the guys training as a crew member, but then they’d let me loose to race.
In the past, you had to have an Olympic medal to even have a chance to compete in the Copa América, but it seems there are now more ways to get into the sport.
Yes, of course, although I would still consider myself an exception as a helmsman. If you look at the helmsmen in the America’s Cup and SailGP, there are many successful Olympians. In a broader sense (trimmer positions and others involved in the Cup), there are many more paths to entry.
How are you finding it to be at the helm with Dylan?
I love it. It’s been the most intense thing I’ve ever been involved in, but also the most rewarding. I’ve always had what I call a “goalkeeper’s role”: you have to do your job well, but you don’t get any praise until you make a mistake—and then you certainly hear about it. As the helmsman, you’re a little more exposed.
How important do you think it is to be able to adapt to different positions?
If you’re purely a positional player, it’s not that important. If you asked Dylan, he certainly wouldn’t be thinking about improving his skills to become a trimmer. But for me and for my career development, it’s been important. I was always aware that I’d entered the Copa América as a grinder, but I didn’t want to be typecast as “that’s Ben Cornish—yeah, a phenomenal grinder.”
Have you taken proactive steps to do things differently?
Yes, and simply by raising your hand when opportunities arise, making sure to take advantage of them. I think of some campaigns where, at the time, it seemed tedious to spend 50 hours a week in the simulator. But without that, you’re not next in line when one day someone doesn’t show up for work and they say, “Well, we know Ben can do it.” Then you step in to take the helm, and there’s your chance. Suddenly you do well, and they think, “Why wouldn’t this be a viable option?”
What do you think of the latest changes to the rules and governance structure of the Copa América aimed at modernizing a 175-year-old tournament?
I think it will be very positive for the sport as a whole: shortening the cycles and having more events is exactly what it needs. What excites me is the future of what a sailboat is capable of doing. When I was growing up here and learning to sail, I couldn’t even have imagined that these boats existed. I hope the Cup can keep this development going and continue to push the technology as far as possible.
What has it been like to juggle training for the Copa América and SailGP?
My roles complement each other. In SailGP, I work in the coaches’ booth, which is like the pit wall in Formula 1. We’re in real-time communication with the boats, so we talk to them while they’re racing.
That gives you a perfect bird’s-eye view of how the race unfolds, and you can help with strategy and decision-making—which is often difficult because the races are short, intense, and there’s a lot of tension on board. Then, when I get on the boat with that same group, I know what kind of communication works for that team.
There’s a lot of work involved [training for both], and it’s constantly changing. In between, I try to get my handicap down to single digits. That’s definitely how I unwind: playing golf and seeing that my yard has recovered from the weeks I’ve been away.
What is the most fascinating thing about sailing at the level you’re at now?
Just how capable these boats are, their speed, and their efficiency. I still remind myself how lucky I am—not only to be able to go out and sail on one of them, but to do so regularly and for a living. The direction the competition is taking and the momentum behind it all is incredible, both in SailGP and in the Cup.
What is it really like to sail on one of these boats?
There’s a lot of G-force, you know, when you’re turning. The boat has great grip and is extremely smooth in most conditions (even in choppy seas, you’re gliding over the waves on the foils, so it’s a smooth ride—unless you crash, and then it’s not anymore).
You’re very aware of your speed. Every now and then, you skim the surface of the water and get splashed with a little foam, which reminds you of just how fast you’re going.
What are you most excited about regarding the upcoming Copa América?
With each passing cycle using the same class of boat, we see the teams getting closer in performance. We came out of the last America’s Cup having reached the final, and we’ve seen what the winning team is capable of. I have a feeling that this time, that gap can be easily bridged. In previous cycles, one team has been far ahead.
Beyond the Cup, what are your long-term dreams?
I think I was really drawn to The Ocean Race back when it was at its peak. Not so much now, because they’re sailing these semi-foil boats, and I really liked the idea of the team aspect—everyone pulling together through some really tough miles. It’s still very tough—just different. But maybe someday I’ll be tempted.
