Birmingham 470 sailor Alex Hughes, joins Athena Pathway's America's Cup Youth sailing squad after up-skilling period at INEOS Britannia
Alex's sailing journey began at a young age at Sutton Sailing Club in the Midlands, where his natural talent quickly shone through. By the age of 9, he earned a spot on the regional squad, marking the beginning of a promising sailing career. Progressing through the squad system into the youth levels, Alex transitioned into the 420 class, proudly representing Great Britain at World and European championships.
After excelling at the youth level, Alex made the leap to senior competition in the 470 class. As an early adopter of the new mixed format, he achieved significant success, winning the mixed national championships and securing victories in the mixed category at several international regattas. With the Tokyo Olympic Games delayed until 2021, Alex seized the opportunity to train with Martin Wrigley as a preparation partner for the Olympic representatives. During this period, they achieved a top 5 result at the 2021 European Championships.
Since then, Alex has explored sailing the 49er in various partnerships, briefly teaming up with fellow Athena Pathway sailor Nick Robbins before stepping away from Olympic sailing at the end of 2023.
Chris Draper, Head of Performance at Athena Pathway, said, “Alex’s dedication and adaptability in the team are a huge asset. His experience across different sailing formats and classes alongside his up-skilling period at INEOS Britannia, brings a versatile skill set to our team. We’re excited to have him on board as we continue to push the boundaries in training in preparation for the Youth America’s Cup.”
“It’s an honour to represent Great Britain and to be part of such an innovative and forward-thinking team,” Alex said. “Joining the Athena Pathway squad is an exciting step in my sailing career, and I look forward to contributing to the team's success and inspiring the next generation of sailors.”