How Great Britain became an Olympic sailing powerhouse
Episode 1 – The legacy that shaped British Olympic sailing
How did Great Britain become the world’s most successful Olympic sailing nation?
In our first episode, three influential figures reflect on the passion, setbacks and turning points that shaped British achievement on the water over the decades.
Keith Musto OBE explains how he broke new ground in the 1960s by applying an innovative approach to Olympic training — doubling down on fitness preparation to the derision of his competitors. But it was an approach that paid off, resulting in an unlikely silver medal in 1964 alongside Tony Morgan.
Rod Carr CBE – former coach, Performance Director and erstwhile CEO of the 911ÖÆƷ– looks back on the challenges and opportunities of steering the sport through periods of seismic change, from volunteer-driven campaigns to the evolution of a more professional structure.
Former Olympic Manager Stephen ‘Sparky’ Park CBE takes us inside the transformation brought about by National Lottery funding, pivoting from part-time campaigns and borrowed boats to full-time athletes, world-class coaching and training bases that have powered Britain’s golden era, including at a once-in-a-generation home Olympics in 2012.
Together, they reveal how resilience, determination and targeted resource and innovation carried British sailors from the days of amateur campaigns to consistent podium-topping performances.
They also highlight the importance of investment, pathways for young talent and why sailing’s place at the heart of the Olympic movement matters to the wider sport.
Episode 2 – Racing the future. Britain’s modern Olympic sailing champions
What does it take to reach the very top – and stay there?
In this inspiring episode, three of Britain’s finest sailors from recent Games reflect on their journeys to Olympic and Paralympic gold, the challenges along the way and the legacy they’re building for the next generation.
Ellie Aldridge MBE made history at Paris 2024 as the first ever Olympic kiteboarding champion, navigating a brand-new discipline and proving that fast learning and bold ambition can pay off in spectacular style.
Hannah Mills OBE, Britain’s most successful female Olympic sailor, shares how she transformed setbacks into triumphs – from a silver medal in London to back-to-back golds – and why she’s now determined to open doors for other women in elite sailing.
Helena Lucas MBE, Paralympic sailing gold and bronze medallist, explains why her passion for the sport continues through coaching, mentoring and pushing for sailing’s reinstatement in the Paralympics.
Together, they reveal what makes Britain such a sailing powerhouse: knowledge passed down the generations, fierce but supportive rivalries, and an unrelenting eye for detail.
Honest, inspiring and full of hard-won lessons, this is a rare insight into life at the top of the podium.
Episode 3 – The GOAT of sailing: Sir Ben Ainslie
Sir Ben Ainslie is not only the most decorated Olympic sailor in history, but also one of Britain’s greatest sporting figures. In this episode, he reflects on the fierce competitiveness, resilience and attention to detail that carried him from teenage prodigy to four-time Olympic champion.
From his breakthrough as the youngest-ever British sailing medallist at Atlanta 1996 to his record run of consecutive golds in the four Olympics that followed, Ben charts the highs, lows and pivotal moments that defined his career.
He shares how near misses fuelled his determination, why small details often make the biggest difference, and what it feels like to carry the weight of national expectation on the start line.
Beyond the results, we dig into the human side of a champion – the pressure, the doubts and the drive that kept him pushing forward.
He also considers the evolution of sailing — from the changing Olympic arena to the cutting-edge world of the America’s Cup and the fast-paced spectacle of SailGP – and how together they represent not just the future of sailing, but a pathway to inspire the next generation.
Keep listening…
Episode 4: The storm that changed sailing
The Fastnet Race is meant to be a test of skill and endurance – a prestigious offshore race on one of the sport’s toughest courses. To this day, it remains a bucket list challenge for many.
In 1979, it became a tragedy that reshaped safety at sea. We hear first-hand accounts from one of the darkest events in sailing history, and explore how its legacy lives on in the ensuing safety changes that we still practise today.
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