Determined, technical and fiercely competitive, Hattie Rogers brings a unique blend of engineering expertise and high-performance sailing experience to the GB2 Women's America's Cup squad. Balancing life on the water as an AC40 trimmer with an important role in performance analysis, Rogers is helping drive the team forward as preparations continue for the next Women's America's Cup.
Engineering Performance On and Off the Water
Rogers has spent much of her time within the team wearing two hats. Alongside her responsibilities as a trimmer aboard the AC40, she also plays a key role in analysing performance data, helping identify opportunities for improvement and delivering valuable insights to the wider sailing team.
"So in the AC40, I've mostly been a trimmer and I've also taken on a role as a data analyst," Rogers explains. "I think that's helped improve understanding quite a lot."
Her work extends far beyond race days and training sessions on the water. From supporting the team's operational processes during sailing to reviewing and interpreting performance data afterwards, Rogers is often involved in every stage of the learning cycle.
"The data side takes on two sides," she says. "There's one operationally, running the session, and then there's the post-processing afterwards, feeding back to the team. Often in debriefs I'm feeding back all the key things that I've found and then putting those points into practice the next day on the water."
A Determined Approach
When asked to describe herself, Rogers doesn't hesitate.
"Competitive, technical, determined."
It's a mindset that has helped shape her journey through the sport.
"I've always been very determined from a very young age," she says. "That's always how I've been and I really carry that through into sport and sailing."
That determination was evident early on. While still at school, Rogers knew where her passion lay.
"I remember being at school actually, and all I wanted to do was go sailing on the water."
© Ian Roman / America's Cup
Ian Roman / America’s Cup
Turning Engineering Into a Competitive Advantage
Away from sailing, Rogers studied engineering at university, completing four years before taking those skills into her professional sporting career. Today, that analytical mindset helps her both on and off the water.
"I studied engineering at university for four years, and really now I'm just taking that through into my professional sailing career and trying to use that on the water as much as possible, and also off the water doing data analysis."
In a sport where marginal gains can make all the difference, the ability to understand, interpret and apply data has become an increasingly valuable asset, particularly in the high-performance foiling world of the AC40.
Inspired by Sailing's Best
Like many young British sailors, Rogers found inspiration in some of the sport's biggest names growing up. Among them was Olympic champion Hannah Mills, who remains one of her sailing heroes.
"Obviously Hannah Mills has to be a really big sailing hero," Rogers says. "I remember meeting her when I was about 12 or 13. I've got a little picture and I was absolutely tiny compared to her."
Today, Rogers is creating her own path in the sport while embracing one of the aspects she enjoys most: speed.
"I love the speed, particularly now with foiling," she explains. "Sailing is so varied, there's so many different types of sailing that you can do."
Eyes on the Women's America's Cup
While there has already been significant progress throughout the campaign, Rogers is clear about the ambition that drives both her and the team forward.
"The goal for this team and personally is to win the Women's America's Cup next year," she says. "We're just going to give it everything and push as hard as possible to make that happen."
It's a goal that perfectly reflects the qualities Rogers believes define her: determination, technical excellence and an unwavering competitive spirit. As GB2 continues its journey towards the next Women's America's Cup, Rogers will be helping ensure every lesson learned, every data point analysed and every hour on the water contributes towards that ultimate objective.