Sir Ben Ainslie Inspires the Next Generation aboard RS Ventures at STEM Crew Live
by RS Sailing 6 Jul 09:00 PDT
29 June - 2 July 2026
Sir Ben Ainslie Inspires the Next Generation aboard RS Ventures at STEM Crew Live © Jackson Green / Emirates Great Britain
Sir Ben Ainslie returned to Portsmouth to inspire the next generation for 1851 Trust's STEM Crew Live event, held from 29 June to 2 July, ahead of the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix.
Across Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, 656 students from four schools took part in four days of hands-on STEM learning - designed to bring science, technology, engineering and maths to life through the world of sailing. More than 200 students also took to the water on RS Ventures at the Andrew Simpson Centre, discovering first-hand how the principles of STEM underpin performance in sailing.
Founded by Sir Ben Ainslie, the 1851 Trust uses the excitement of sailing to inspire young people and open doors to future careers they may never have considered. Throughout the week, students met sailors, engineers and innovators, explored the technology behind SailGP and experienced the teamwork and problem-solving that drives success in the sport.
Reflecting on his own journey, Sir Ben Ainslie explained 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 students, the experience marked their first time on the water despite living on the south coast. Sailing aboard RS Ventures transformed the Solent into an outdoor classroom where students tested ideas, solved problems and experienced the science of sailing through practical learning rather than textbooks.
Emily Johnson from St Edmund's Catholic School said:
"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".
As the 1851 Trust put it on their 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 Sailing is proud to see the RS Ventures at Andrew Simpson Centre used to make these experiences possible. A benchmark in our adventure and training range, the RS Venture is an award-winning dinghy that provides a safe, stable and accessible platform for teaching.
Our Managing Director, Alex Newton-Southon, commented on the event: "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."