International superyacht brokerage, Cecil Wright has today announced their partnership with Athena Pathway, the British Challenger for the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup in 2024.
The world's oldest sporting trophy, the America’s Cup, is holding the first ever Women’s and Youth America’s Cup regatta in Barcelona 2024. Britain's bid for this progressive new regatta is called Athena Pathway, led by Hannah Mills OBE, the world's most accomplished female Olympic sailor.
Athena Pathway Programme aims to fast track the development of female and youth athletes into high performance sailing and increase diversity into the professional sport both on and off the water, including into the America’s Cup and SailGP.
Two-time Rolex World Sailor of the Year Hannah Mills OBE commented. “I’ve always felt passionate about winning, but closing the gender gap in this sport and leaving a legacy for the next generation of sailors is equally as important to me. The long-term vision is not only to win the Women’s and Youth America’s Cup but also to create equal opportunity on and off the water in professional sailing, leaving a lasting, positive impact on our sport. And we couldn’t do this without our partners, like Cecil Wright, who understand the world of competitive sailing and have been on this journey with us from the start.”
Athena Pathway was set up by Sir Ben Ainslie, for female and youth sailors to level the playing field in high-performance foiling sailing and the Women’s and Youth team representing Britain in Barcelona will be led by the most decorated female sailor of all time.
Chris Cecil Wright commented:
“This partnership is a perfect fit for us. We already support two youth Olympic sailors bidding for the Olympics in 2024, Ryan Orr and Vita Heathcote, and have done for many years. Many of our team are accomplished sailors competing in events like the Rolex Fastnet Race and we already know many of the America’s Cup team having introduced Sir Ben Ainslie to Sir Jim Ratcliffe which resulted in INEOS backing for the 36th and 37th America’s Cup. Cecil Wright and Athena Pathway both operate at the very pinnacle of the yachting world and recognise the drive and tenacity it takes to compete for the America’s Cup which will be exhilarating for us to witness as a partner.”
