Skip to content

A Selfless Spirit: What It Takes to Make It in the America's Cup

The America’s Cup is often seen as the pinnacle of sailing—a glamorous world where only the best of the best get to compete for one of the sport's most coveted trophies. The boats are cutting-edge, the athletes are elite, and the stakes are sky-high.

Image © Ian Roman / America's Cup

But behind the scenes of every America’s Cup campaign is something just as essential to success: a sense of teamwork, a willingness to sacrifice personal ambitions for the good of the group, and the grit to endure long hours, endless pressure, and personal sacrifices.

This is the true nature of the America's Cup experience, a side of the competition that aspiring team members need to embrace if they are to succeed.

Tom Burnham, an American professional sailor and coach with extensive experience in the world of top-tier sailing, offers valuable insights into what it really takes to thrive as a part of an America's Cup team. His wisdom, forged through years of elite-level competition and coaching, underscores the importance of a selfless attitude and team-first mentality. Burnham’s advice for anyone joining an America’s Cup team—whether as a sailor, coach, or shore crew—is clear: to succeed, you need to put the team’s needs above your own.

This post is for Paid Subscribers.

SUBSCRIBE

Already have an account? Sign In

Latest

Flight controller Andy Maloney completes new Artemis line up

Flight controller Andy Maloney completes new Artemis line up

The final piece of the Artemis SailGP jigsaw slotted neatly into place today with the confirmation that Kiwi sailor Andy Maloney has joined the new team as flight controller ahead of Season 6 of SailGP, which kicks off in Perth, Australia in a month’s time.

Free Members Public
Athena Pathway back on the water in Barcelona

Athena Pathway back on the water in Barcelona

Fresh from securing the 2025 SailGP Season Championship with Emirates GBR, one of the world's most decorated female Olympic sailors, Hannah Mills OBE, is back on the water in Barcelona to begin the next phase of her mission with Athena Pathway, the British Youth and Women's America's Cup Team.

Free Members Public