VITAL STATISTICS
Name: Ben Ainslie
Date of birth: 05 February 1977
Star sign: Aquarius
Place of birth: Macclesfield, UK
Weymouth links: Lived in Coombe Valley Road, Weymouth, while preparing for the 1996 Olympics.
Current hometown: Lymington
Nickname: Beano
First boat sailed and where? Folkboat, Holyhead
Who got you into sailing? My parents
Favourite boat? Finn
Biggest influence in your career to date? My father
Your worst moement in sailing? Losing the Laser European Championships by doing the wrong course 1997
Your best moment in sailing? Winning Gold in the Sydney 2000 Olympics
Best sailing venue in the UK? Falmouth
Best sailing venue in the world? Sydney Harbour
Most annoying rule in the sailing rule book? Rule 42 - pumping rule
If you weren't a professional sailor what else would you be? F1 driver, in my dreams!
How do you progress from a club sailor to an Olympic class sailor? Train hard, focus and have a plan
What are your greatest passions outside of sailing? Golf, movies, reading.
Most expensive sailing accident? Smashing two 100ft super Maxis together and doing over 100000 USD worth of damage.
What Football club you support? Chelsea
Do you follow any other sports? F1, golf and tennis
Any heroes? Russell Coutts, Paul Elvstrom.
What other sports do you play? Football, Golf
What would you love to do but never have the time or money for it? Golf
Worst habit? Being late for meetings!
What word or phrase most depicts your personality? Focused
Do you have any lucky charms or rituals? Yes
What's your greatest fear or phobia? Air crashes
Name 3 things that are always in your shopping trolley? Milk, eggs, wine
What was the last book you read? New York by Edward Rutherford
What makes you angry? Queuing
Dream holiday? Being at home
What's better about football than sailing? The money
Where do you keep your Olympic medals? Good question...
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article