Ben Ainslie is the most successful Olympic sailor of all time. At his first ever Olympic Games Ben won an Olympic silver medal, which would be his last time coming second. Ben established himself as the world’s best after going on to win consecutive gold medals. Following his historic Olympic achievement, Ben had the honour of being nominated as Team GB’s flag bearer for the London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony – ‘a really proud moment’ for Ben. He has now switched his intention to compete in the America’s Cup.
Andrew Pindar OBE DL
Andrew’s involvement with sailing started over thirty six years ago when he sponsored the North Sea Race from his home town of Scarborough to Ijmuiden (Holland). Since then, the Pindar name has become synonymous with some of the most notable sailing campaigns of recent years from dinghy classes to ocean racing yachts. Having sailed round the world no fewer than six times, GAC Pindar is proud to deliver the logistics for the Extreme Sailing Series, the Volvo Ocean Race, Oman Sail, the M32’s series and the World Match Racing Tour.
Dee Caffari MBE
Dee started her career as a secondary school PE teacher before moving into the world of sailing, joining the Global Challenge Round the World Race in 2004/5. In 2006, Dee became the first solo female to circumnavigate the globe, non-stop, against the prevailing winds and currents.
In 2009, Dee became the first woman to circumnavigate the globe, single handed, non stop both ways. Later that year, Dee and her all-female crew broke the world record for sailing around the Britain and Ireland. Then in 2011, Dee completed the Barcelona World Race. She remains the only woman to have circumnavigated the globe, non-stop, three times.
Franz Klammer
Franz Klammer remains the most successful downhill World Cup skier of all time, having won the downhill World Cup a record five times. Of his 26 World Cup victories, 25 came in the downhill discipline with another in the combined race of 1976. To add to his World Cup and World Championship titles, Franz added the Olympic downhill title in 1976. Later on his career in 1984, Franz won the downhill at Kitzbühel on the legendary Hahnenkammrennen for a record fourth time, after three consecutive wins from 1975 to 1977.
Sue Stockdale
Sue Stockdale became the first British woman to ski to the Magnetic North Pole, a feat she achieved in 1996. Since then, Sue has taken part in expeditions to Antarctica and the Geographical North Pole. She has also skied across the Greenland Ice Cap with a select international team. The former senior Executive at British Gas and Scottish 3,000m runner also appeared in Channel 4’s Superhuman series where contestants were subjected to some of the toughest tests ever seen on TV.
Rhys Jones
An ambitious skier and mountaineer, Rhys stood on the summit of Mount Everest on his 20th Birthday becoming the youngest person in the world to complete the Seven Summits Challenge – which includes the highest peaks on each of the world’s continents. Rhys spends most of his life in the mountain environment. He now runs the mountain expedition company RJSeven Expeditions, organising treks, climbs and challenges around the world.
Chemmy Alcott
Chemmy Alcott is a former British World Cup alpine ski racer. She competed in all five disciplines: Downhill, Super G, Giant Slalom, Slalom and Combined. Chemmy competed in four Winter Olympic Games and seven FIS World Championships. She was also the Senior British National Champion five times (2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008). She retired from international competition following the 2015 season. Chemmy took part in the 2014 Arctic Circle Race in support of Ski 4 Cancer raising some £15,000 for the charity.
Graham Bell
Five time Olympic skier turned TV presenter, adventurer and journalist, Graham Bell is the face of the BBC’s Ski Sunday as well as a successful commentator and sporting pundit. Until recently Graham held the prestigious title of International Performance Director for The Ski & Snowboard Federation and is a patron of The British Ski Academy. Graham was also a significant member of the board of SnowsportGB and the Olympic committee.
Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards
Michael Edwards, better known as Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards, was an international ski racer who then became the first competitor to represent Great Britain in ski jumping at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. At the time, he was the British ski jumping record holder and the world number nine in amateur speed skiing (171.9 km/h). Eddie became famous for his perseverance and achievement without funding. In 2013, Eddie competed in and won the ITV celebrity diving programme ‘Splash!’ Eddie also commentates on the Channel 4 TV programme ‘The Jump’.
The former Chief of Defence Staff and First Sea Lord was Sail 4 Cancer’s first appointed Patron in 2001. After a distinguished career in the Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence, Lord Boyce helped Sail 4 Cancer by raising the profile of the charity as well as hosting events. Mike served as the charity’s principal patron from 2001 to 2022. Very sadly Mike died in late 2022. His help, guidance and support were invaluable and he will be sorely missed.
