Athena Foiling Pathway – UK
Athena Foiling Pathway
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Athena Pathway, led by Hannah Mills OBE, works with the Performance Academy to deliver the Athena Foiling Pathway, with support from WASZP.
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The programme creates a pathway for young sailors into the America’s Cup, SailGP and professional foiling racing.
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Launched in 2023 at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, it now runs U18, U21 and Women’s WASZP squads.
The Athena Foiling Pathway is delivered by the Andrew Simpson Foundation’s Performance Academy, with support from WASZP.
Since launching in 2023 it has grown into dedicated U18, U21 and Women’s WASZP squads, taster sessions for first-time foilers and the annual AFP Foiling Festival at WPNSA – plus a Train Alongside scheme that removes barriers for young people from diverse backgrounds.
Partnering with the Andrew Simpson Performance Academy to deliver the Athena Foiling Pathway is a huge step towards retaining more young people in our sport and delivering a pathway for female and youth sailors to develop a career at the top end of our sport.”
Hannah Mills OBE
As a key part of the new programme for female and youth athletes headed by Hannah, the partnership directly aligns with our aims and objectives as an organisation, to inspire and provide more opportunities, experience, and skill development for young people on the water.”
Richard Percy, CEO, Andrew Simpson Group
We are thrilled to partner with the UK’s Athena Pathway. The WASZP is a diverse class, with strong female participation that fits beautifully with the AP values. To us at WASZP, it is the perfect fit.“
Marc Ablett, WASZP
About Athena
Levelling the playing field.
Founded in 2022 by double Olympic gold medallist Hannah Mills OBE and Sir Ben Ainslie, Athena Pathway is Britain’s leading development programme for high-performance foiling sailors – and the talent pathway into the British America’s Cup and SailGP teams.
In 2026 its Women’s and Youth America’s Cup team became Cobham-Ultra GB2, with Athena Pathway remaining the programme that finds and develops the next generation.
Its ethos is People, Planet and Purpose, with sustainability and diversity at its core.
Why it matters
More stories like Hattie’s.
Hattie Rogers, the 2022 SailGP x WASZP Champion, was one of Athena’s first recruits. Today she trims the AC40 for Britain’s GB2 Women’s America’s Cup squad.
In Barcelona in 2024, Athena finished runners-up in the inaugural Women’s America’s Cup and third in the Youth America’s Cup.
The Foiling Pathway aims to create more success stories like Hattie’s – inspiring young sailors and producing athletes for the America’s Cup and professional foiling.
© L.GOLDMAN/INEOS BRITANNIA
Who’s involved
The right people, the right place.
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Performance Academy – world-class coaching and expertise
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WASZP – an accessible one-design foiler and a path to the global WASZP circuit
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WPNSA – Britain’s hub of high-performance sailing
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Sailingfast – the UK WASZP distributor, keeping boats race-ready
The programme
How the pathway runs.
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Taster sessions
First-time foilers try the WASZP
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Foiling Festival
The AFP Foiling Festival at WPNSA – ages 14–21, all abilities
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WASZP squads
U18, U21 and Women’s squads coached by the Performance Academy
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WASZP circuit
Racing at international WASZP events
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The top level
The Youth & Women’s America’s Cup and SailGP
Want to get involved?
Find out more about the Athena Foiling Pathway and upcoming squads, tasters and festivals.