Ben Ainslie’s Athena Racing America’s Cup team has made a big appointment in Ian Walker, who comes in as the new CEO to the British America’s Cup challenger Ian Walker and Sir Ben Ainslie as Walker joins Athena RacingBig news from the British America\u2019s Cup team Athena Racing, which announced today that legendary sailor and team boss Ian Walker MBE has been appointed Chief Executive Officer.
\nWalker joins Sir Ben Ainslie\u2019s Athena Racing as CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of its America\u2019s Cup Challenge, reuniting two of Britain\u2019s most successful competitive sailors.
\nIt also sends a strong signal that the Brits \u2013 who have not revealed any major backers since splitting from INEOS in January 2025\u00a0\u2013 are gearing up for a full-power challenge for the 38th America\u2019s Cup.
\nSince entries closed for the 38th America\u2019s Cup, to be held in 2027 in Naples, there have been no announcements of confirmed entries, only the news that American Magic will not take part.
\nAthena Racing, representing the Royal Yacht Squadron, remains the Challenger of Record.
\nAinslie at the helm of INEOS Britannia in AC37 (no word yet on what the Team Principal\u2019s full role will be, nor on backers for the British Challenge).
\nAthena Racing\u2019s new CEO
\nAinslie welcomed his new CEO today, saying: \u201cIan is an exceptional leader with a proven track record of success with high-performance campaigns across the very top of our sport, there are very few people as qualified, both on and off the water.
\n\u201cHe also understands the complexity of running teams that need to be at the forefront of innovation and performance while meeting both budget and timeline demands. For AC38, that timeline is tight, and we needed a CEO who could hit the ground running and Ian can do that, he understands how to drive teams forward and the importance of continuity in achieving the ultimate goal.\u201d
\nIan Walker also spoke about his enthusiasm for returning to the America\u2019s Cup arena: \u201cThe Cup has evolved enormously since I was last involved in terms of the boats, the technology, and even the balance between sailors and designers.
\n\u201cBut at its core, it remains unchanged, it\u2019s about managing your resources, getting the best out of your people, and making every second count, in a race against time, and the clock is ticking.\u201d
\nThe 2000 Team GBR sailing team, including Ian Walker (left), Ben Ainslie (3rd from left) at the Olympic Games in Sydney Harbour. Photo: AFP\/Torsten BLACKWOOD via Getty Images
\nBritish talent reunited
\nWalker and Ainslie were both part of the hugely successful British Olympic sailing team, and competed at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games (Ainslie famously took silver at Atlanta, then Gold at Sydney, while Walker won silver at both \u2013 in the 470 with the late John Merricks in 1996, then the Star with Mark Covell four years later).
\nSince then, while Team Principal Ainslie went on to score four more Olympic golds and compete in multiple America\u2019s Cups, Walker\u2019s career has spanned ocean and inshore racing, America\u2019s Cup campaigns, and high-performance team management roles.
\nHe skippered Britain\u2019s Wight Lightning for Peter Harrison\u2019s GBR Challenge in the 31st America\u2019s Cup in 2003, which Ainslie was also a member of. In 2007 Walker joined the Italian 39+ Cup team with fellow British Olympian Iain Percy.
\nThe British Americas Cup boat GBR Challenge racing in the Solent during the Round the Island Race. Photo: Clive Mason\/ALLSPORT
\nIan Walker: a winning leader
\nIan Walker also achieved major success in offshore racing, skippering three Volvo Ocean Race entries, which culminated in becoming the first British skipper to win in 2015 with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, having come back from a dismasting in the previous edition.
\nHis coaching and performance roles have included coaching Shirley Robertson to her second gold in 2004, and serving as Performance Director for the British Sailing Team. He oversaw the British team\u2019s last truly dominant Games, with GBR sailors topping the medal table at Tokyo 2020, winning five medals, including three golds after a challenging, covid-disrupted build up.
\nSince Tokyo, Ian Walker has been at North Sails, leading the UK sailmaking team for the past three years.
\nIan Walker, skipper of the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team, celebrates during the winners ceremony in Gothenburg at the end of the Volvo Ocean Race. Photo: Jonathan Nackstrand\/AFP via Getty Images
\nUnusually, Walker brings experience at a high level in both commercial and performance spheres, combined with personal sailing achievement and experience.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s an exciting moment to return to the America\u2019s Cup with a British challenge that has the continuity of the last three campaigns, alongside the recent creation of the America\u2019s Cup Partnership (ACP),\u201d Walker explained.
\n\u201cThat was a big part of my decision to take this on, because I believe in what the ACP is trying to achieve \u2013 creating a sustainable, viable commercial business model for the competition. I\u2019ve also worked with several members of the team previously, which gives me real confidence in what we\u2019re building together.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe America\u2019s Cup transcends the sport of sailing and has so much untapped potential, Walker concluded. \u201cI am excited about what lies ahead, just imagine how cool it would be for the team to win\u202fit for\u202fBritain.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Ben Ainslie’s Athena Racing America’s Cup team has made a big appointment in Ian Walker, who comes in as the new CEO to the British America’s Cup challenger Ian Walker and Sir Ben Ainslie as Walker joins Athena RacingBig news … <\/p>\n