Hattie Rogers, 24, reigning National, European and World WASZP Female Champion, Moth Female National Champion and trimmer for the British Youth America’s Cup team.
AAS: You grew up sailing on the Solent; how did it all begin and when did you realise you wanted to make sailing your career?
HR: The Solent’s always been home. My family have sailed there for many years, and I think I first went on our family Contessa 32 and Scow when I was only a few months old. I have always known I wanted to be a professional sailor having grown up around the water. You just live and breathe it in Lymington.
AAS: You are a member of the Athena Pathway squad. Can you tell us about this?
HR: Athena Pathway is a programme led by Hannah Mills and Sir Ben Ainslie aimed at winning both the Puig Women’s and UniCredit Youth America’s Cup in Barcelona. It is an honour to represent your country at such a high-profile event.
AAS: It was a tough selection process for the British Youth America’s Cup squad. Can you tell us about it, and who was the first person you told after receiving the selection news?
HR: The selection process for the Athena Pathway squad was held over a six-month period and used the AC40 simulator whilst on the water sessions and racing was held in the ETF26 class (a foiling catamaran). I had a call from one of the Athena coaches, Chris Draper, last December with the news that I had made the squad; at the time I was taking a break in New Zealand having just finished the WASZP World Championships in Australia. I immediately called my parents, and my boyfriend was with me. It was the very best news, and I was just so excited to get going and move to Barcelona.
AAS: A lot of training has been on a simulator. What was it like to get onboard the AC40 in Barcelona?
HR: We started our simulator training back in July 2023 so after many months sat in front of a screen, I think we were all very excited to put all the simulator learning into real practice on the water. Nothing beats on the water sessions and the AC40 is just such a fantastic, exhilarating, fast boat. My sailing for the past six years has been foiling based, so coupled with the simulator work, nothing came as a great surprise but you just do not get that ‘feel’ until you actually sail the boat. Funnily enough, my Grandpa Giles, who has been a commercial pilot most of his life, gave me a flying lesson when I was 16 and I have now discovered just how many crossovers there are with aviation.
AAS: Who do you see as your biggest threats in the Youth America’s Cup?
HR: It is quite a tricky one to answer as it is such a new class and we have not properly lined up with any of the other teams due to the protocol not allowing any racing until early August. In the history of the Youth America’s Cup, the Kiwis have always been strong but who knows. I am looking forward to getting on the race track.
AAS: You also have a Ship Science Engineering Master’s; how does your engineering background help when sailing?
HR: Before going full time sailing, I decided I wanted to gain a better understanding of the mechanics behind the sport. The America’s Cup is the pinnacle of technological development in our sport, and I saw my Master’s degree as the opportunity to upskill myself. I also knew it was the arena I wanted to aim for along with SailGP as it was all centred around foiling. When I was younger, I remember the advice I was given by Olympians from all sporting disciplines – “you have time”. I felt as long as I could remain fit and competitive I could complete my Master’s first then go on to full time sailing.
AAS: As well as a number of championship titles you were awarded the YJA Yachtsman of the Year trophy for your 2022 season. Last year you were second in the Moth World Championships. After the America’s Cup is finished is Moth World Champion going to be your focus?
HR: Absolutely. I have a one week turn around in the UK at the end of the America’s Cup and then I am heading straight down to New Zealand to prepare for the Moth World Championships at the end of December, followed by the 2025 Moth Worlds in Lake Garda. The International Moth is a fantastically technical class and one of the most challenging boats I have sailed. It is probably one of the main reasons why you can gain so much respect amongst the professional sailors when you compete. Apart from this, I have various ideas for my main professional sailing direction of travel, but much may depend on the outcome of the next few months.
AAS: Some of your teammates also competed in the Olympic Games and you have an Olympian in your family (double silver Olympic medallist Nick Rogers in the 470 class). Is this something you would like to do in the future?
HR: Nothing is ever off the cards including the Olympics, however, for this Paris cycle, university ended halfway through and I was just loving my foiling with the WASZP and Moth classes. Engineering is also a tough degree and for me, I felt I would not be able to do two major targets justice and achieve my best results if I was aiming for the highest in both sailing and studies.
AAS: Who are your role models in the sailing world?
HR: I have quite a few different role models who I respect for different reasons. However, Hannah Mills has been particularly significant for me as a female coming through the sport, not only for her outstanding Olympic achievements but also her incredible contribution as one of the first females to compete on the SailGP circuit and now her huge contribution in the support of women participation in the America’s Cup arena. I also really look up to my dad and late grandpa Rogers. I just love hearing all their stories and their attitude towards the sport is amazing and always with such a calm, passionate, professional manner.
AAS: If you could go back to any period in history, what would it be and why?
HR: If I could go back to the 1980s I reckon that would be super cool. I guess 1983 specifically when the America’s Cup changed hands to the Aussies on Australia II. My grandpa was out that day watching, and I hear the stories from granny of that era of sailing. Sailing was massive as a sport and if we could win the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup for Great Britian, it would just be amazing.
www.americascup.com/youth-and-women
www.athenapathway.com
www.ineosbritannia.com
