Ben Cornish

23 years of age

Member of the British Sailing Team campaigning towards Olympic Gold.

Thanks for taking the time to view my project. I would like to share my adventure along the Olympic Pathway with each and every one of you. I aim to give you an insight into what it takes to become an Olympic hopeful and take you through the highs and the lows along my journey to the top.

I am hoping to raise funds to assist with my winter training. I have been invited to train in the Olympic venue, Rio De Janeiro over the next couple of months. An opportunity which simply cannot be missed however it comes with a huge price tag. I am hoping that this PledgeSports campaign will help me raise the funds to enable me to take part in my upcoming training. Here is my story…

At the age of 7  I was introduced to the sport of sailing by my mum and dad at our local sailing club in Exmouth. I still recall the first time I went out in a boat, how much I hated it! I made such a fuss I got out at the end of the seafront and walked home in my wetsuit. Things have changed a bit since then, I spend almost everyday of the week out on the water and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

I began sailing the junior Cadet class. With the help from kind local club members, they taught me the basics of sailing and racing. I loved it and was hungry to progress. With the help of my parents, we began to travel around the country with my boat on the trailer attending numerous events. I slowly started to get the feel for it and progressed up the ranks. By the time I was a teenager I was dreaming of becoming a future Olympic Sailor. I grew up aspiring to my fellow Sailing Club peers the likes of Joe Glandfield, Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes. As I grew up these guys were being selected for the Olympic Games and winning World Championships. Their success gave me a real desire to follow in their footsteps.

I finished my A-levels and by this point I had become more passionate about sailing and knew that I had to concentrate on it full time at this stage of my life. I began full time sailing after being selected for the British Sailing Team at the age of 19. Racing the Laser class, I began to experience what it took to become an Athlete. I was given the opportunity to attend events abroad and be part of a Team.  It was at this point I felt like I was making progress towards that pipeline dream which all began as a youngster drifting around on the River Exe.

I have recently made the transition from the Laser Class into the Mens Heavy weight class, The Finn. Made Famous by British Sailing Legend, Ben Ainslie. This transition came with confidence, the British Finn fleet have been so dominant over the past number of Olympic Games and I knew that I would be greeted with an opportunity which would develop my sailing more than I could have done in any other way. I am now in a position where I am training alongside the Worlds best and learning a huge amount every day.

The financial restraints which come with the sport make it extremely challenging. Having to pay for equipment/travel and boat transportation is very expensive. Without external support it is simply not possible to reach the top. I am looking for support to help me fund the coming period.

I am confident that with the position I am in I will be able to progress towards the top of the Finn fleet over the coming years and help continue the legacy of British success. I hope I can take your support with me to the top and share my exciting progression with you!