From schoolboy to World Champion!

He and his sailing partner Tom have won six National Sailing Championships and have been crowned World Champions three times.

Ben, who lives in Anglesey, didn’t even enjoy sailing at first. As an eight-year-old he found the whole experience a little too wet and cold, but his dad (another serious sailing talent) persevered and Ben started enjoying himself and soon found out he was pretty good at it.

His family do a lot of sailing from Port Dinorwic Sailing Club, and Ben was soon on the GB Youth Sailing Team sailing RS Tera-a youth sailing dinghy and then a RS Feva 29er a two-man boat.

“I am very competitive and I’m quite good at the tactical side of things when Tom and I race,” said Ben.

“I work out what the wind is doing and we come up with a strategy as the conditions are never the same, we can get up to 22 knots which is pretty fast.”

Ben and Tom most recent win was in Welsh waters off Pwllheli, during  the second event of the UK 29er Allen Grand Prix Series 2026/27.  Twenty two teams headed to Plas Heli for a weekend of challenging conditions, close racing and a complete change of pace between the two days. Ben and Tom took the overall win and are ranked first for arguably the UK’s best youth class. They are currently ranked no 8 in the world.

“What sailing has taught me is to be more confident, and better under pressure,” said Ben.

“Everyday the conditions are different on a boat so you have to try different things.”

Ben, who has been at St David’s College for five years, is studying A’levels in Maths, Physics and Design & Technology, and hopes to go to Exeter University to study engineering.

You’re a credit to your school Ben, we wish all the success for future adventures on the high seas.