Australian gold medalist, Iain ‘Goobs’ Jensen, re-joins INEOS Britannia for the 37th America’s Cup, his second consecutive campaign with the team.
“It is a great opportunity to work hard towards a common goal over the next couple of years, and hopefully make history in bringing the Cup back to Britain. It feels like we have some unfinished business.”
As announced last week, The America’s Cup is due to be held in Barcelona in September and October of 2024 and Goobs is excited at the prospect.
“Barcelona is a great venue; I’ve only ever sailed there once. The conditions are quite mixed, and it can get quite wavy, which makes it tricky to sail a foiling boat, but overcoming challenges is what the Cup is all about and it will make for an exciting and interesting cycle.”
Jensen learned to sail at the age of five at his local sailing club in New South Wales, Australia. It was the friends he met, and the enjoyment he found in the sport, that kept him coming back. By the age of 16, Jensen was representing Australia in the 420-boat class and won the World Championship. Nine years later, Jensen won an Olympic Gold Medal in the 420 with doubles partner, Nathan Outteridge at the London 2012 Summer Games. Jensen and Outteridge went on to win silver at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Jensen’s introduction into the America’s Cup was in 2013, straight after his first Olympic win when he joined Swedish team Artemis Racing for AC34 in San Francisco. He stayed with them for the next campaign in Bermuda before joining the British challenge for AC36.
“I really like how this team is being put together, where the focus is being laid, and the personnel on board. It feels very productive and we have a really good chance to put our best foot forward during the racing.”
Jensen also sees the Mercedes partnership as an exceptional resource “that could be a game changer in our challenge to bring the cup back to Britain for the first time in history”.
Over the last four years, Jensen has built a close racing relationship with Ben Ainslie both on the AC side but also sailing with him as part of the SailGP Great Britain Team.
Team Principal and skipper of INEOS Britannia, and Driver of SailGP GBR Team, Ben Ainslie comments on Jensen’s rejoining. “ Goobs is a huge natural talent. He has a great feel for a boat and is really good under pressure. He is the same for a win, or a super critical race in a series. I really enjoy sailing alongside him. He’s an incredibly nice guy, gets on with the job, day in and day out, all while doing his best for the team.
Jensen is “most looking forward to seeing all the designs and concepts that our team comes out with and figuring what s fastest. The journey and learnings along the way is what I am looking forward to most.”
We’re glad to have you back Goobs!