Sir Ben Ainslie joins Portsmouth pupils for STEM event

Sir Ben Ainslie has taken part in the 1851 Trust’s STEM Crew Live event in Portsmouth, ahead of the Emirates Great Britain SailGP, which heads to the city from 25-26 July 2026.

Across Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, 656 students from four schools took part in four days of practical STEM activities designed to demonstrate science, technology, engineering and maths through sailing. More than 200 students also spent time on the water aboard RS Venture dinghies at the Andrew Simpson Centre, where they explored how STEM principles relate to sailing performance.

The 1851 Trust, which was founded by Ainslie, uses sailing to introduce young people to STEM subjects and the careers connected with them.

During the programme, held from 29 June to 2 July, students also met sailors, engineers and technology specialists, learned about the technology behind SailGP and took part in activities focused on teamwork and problem-solving.

Reflecting on his own journey, Ainslie explains why the trust was created: “I didn’t find STEM subjects easy at school. What I didn’t realise was that every time I stepped onto a boat, I was using maths and science in everything I did. Once I saw science in action and how it worked beyond the textbook, I understood it. That’s why we set up the 1851 Trust.

“Portsmouth is where our story began, and bringing young people back onto the water here is incredibly important to us. You can’t become what you can’t imagine, and we want every young person to have the chance to step into the world behind the sport, discover that science is already theirs and realise what they’re capable of.”

For many participants, the programme was their first experience on the water despite living on the south coast. Sailing aboard RS Venture dinghies gave students the chance to apply scientific concepts through practical activities on the Solent rather than in a classroom.

Emily Johnson, a teacher at St Edmund’s Catholic School, says: “We are an inner-city school although some children will have gone to the beach but never been on the water so important to show them what is on their doorstep.

“It shows them what is out there, it brings it to life for them making connections to taking options at GCSE and A-level and finding opportunities that are available to them. There is so much talent sat in classroom not fulfilling its full potential, and often it is because they don’t realise they have these transferable skills or they haven’t found their passion yet because they simply haven’t been presented with an opportunity to discover it.

“Programmes like the 1851 Trust STEM Crew Live allows them to discover their ‘I can’ moment and meet inspiring role models like Sir Ben Ainslie that can show them what is possible to achieve”.

The 1851 Trust also reflected on the programme in a LinkedIn post:

“You can’t become what you can’t imagine. That’s why this week matters. We’re particularly proud to be working with schools serving communities where opportunities like these aren’t always a given. Because talent is everywhere. Opportunity isn’t always.”

RS Venture dinghies at the Andrew Simpson Centre were used throughout the programme. The training dinghy is designed for adventure sailing and instruction, providing a stable platform for teaching.

Alex Newton-Southon, managing director of RS Sailing, adds: “It’s super inspiring to see these young people to discover the connection between sailing and future careers. Initiatives such as STEM Crew Live help build curiosity, confidence and opportunities both on and off the water.”