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13:20 Monday 6 Aug 2018 Sue Pelling/LCW1851 Trust full steam ahead

Sir Ben Ainslie joins in the fun at the 1851 Trust stand earlier today – photo Tom Gruitt/LCW

Sir Ben and Lady Georgie Ainslie were in Cowes today to help showcase the 1851 Trust – Lendy Cowes Week’s official charity – and meet young visitors to the regatta who are participating in the Trust’s activities on Charity Day.

For many youngsters taking part in today’s 1851 Trust workshop at the Lendy Lounge, meeting Ben Ainslie four-time Olympic gold medallist, and head of the INEOS British America's Cup team, was the highlight of the day.

On the 1851 Trust stand on The Parade, Ainslie and his wife Georgie chatted to Lendy Cowes Week visitors and explained the workings behind this dynamic and innovative educational charity. Ainslie was also on hand to give a bit of help about tactics on the Starting Sequence coding race game.

Chatting about his visit to Lendy Cowes Week today Ainslie commented: “I am very excited to be able to showcase what the 1851 Trust is doing. A lot of it is inspired from what we are doing in the America’s Cup. It is always great to see the kids coming through the base in Portsmouth – where we have the Tech Deck – really getting interested in the science and technology behind the America’s Cup and sailing.

“From the Trust’s perspective it is the educational side that is key. While the youngsters like a fun day out on the water getting wet, it is understanding the science and technology behind sailing and the America’s Cup, that is important.

“So far we have had 90,000 youngsters coming through since we started the Trust three or four years ago, so my message to schools out there, those who want to experience the 1851 Trust Tech Deck experience, is to apply online and come and see how America’s Cup technology fits into the educational programmes.” 

The 1851 Trust Treasure Hunt is also a huge success with crowds of youngsters pacing the streets of Cowes in search of the ‘next clue’. With so many prizes on offer including vouchers from Chatham footwear, Musto goodies, TNG goodies it is, not surprisingly, very popular. Ben Cartledge, CEO of the 1851 Trust commented: “Basically go round town and look out for the 1851 Trust questions in the windows of various shops, answer the questions and then head back to the 1851 stand to post your entry.”

Youngsters who attended today’s workshop were treated to some extra help by Ben and Georgie Ainslie, who assisted them design a wind turbine.  

Using corrugated plastic for the blades, the children created different designs for the blade shape and angle for the most effective turbine and therefore the highest voltage of electricity. They then measured the voltage of electricity created whilst using a fan to generate ‘wind’.

Bailey Smith (11) and Theo Knight (8) who attended today’s workshop said it was hard, but working with Ben was very helpful. Smith commented: I’ve always enjoyed science anyway, and I go to the Tech Deck quite a lot, but making electricity today was very enjoyable.”

Knight added: “Working with Ben Ainslie was good and we got his autograph.”