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 in 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 in 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. 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: “The same 24/7 grit, tenacity and talent is essential to win in yachting as a sport as well as a business. We see those worlds increasingly intersect, our clients love yachting, our team are accomplished sailors, and we already support youth sailing, and have done for many years, so it’s the most authentic and supportive partnership.
It’s also an incredibly fun sport to be involved in and really captures the hearts and minds of all who are involved. It’s no secret Sir Jim Ratcliffe calls my introduction to Sir Ben Ainslie his ‘most expensive gin and tonic’ ever as it resulted in INEOS backing for the 36th and 37th America’s Cup. However, I think he would agree now it’s given him some nail-biting entertainment!”
Cecil Wright is a boutique superyacht brokerage house formed in 2013 by Chris Cecil-Wright. The company was founded around a central desire not to be the biggest brokerage but the best.
