Charles Cullen works with SailGP's Inspired careers
Charles Cullen, Waszp European Champion, has recently embarked on the opportunity of a lifetime working with Sail GP on their Inspire careers programme. He began his journey first working with Waszp Inspire Racing and heard of his next opportunity while on this programme. Sail GP is an international sailing league using high performance F50 foiling catamarans, teams compete across a season of multiple grands prix around the world for the years title. Sail GP then run the Inspire Careers program to offer students and young professionals work experience within SailGP. It is a prestigious and dynamic, multifaceted global sports property where sailors account for only 10 percent of the organisation, they work as a team and are constantly encouraging people to join them in this journey whether it be on or off the water.
Charlie was carefully selected to work as part of the Team GBR shore crew on the Sail GP one-design F50 Catamarans. He started of his Inspire experience in St Tropez at the 5th event of the 2022/23 season.
“It was an incredible privilege to work with such a tenacious team and I couldn’t wait for my next experience with SailGP. Luckily, someone upstairs must have been listening as I received the call up by Sir Ben Ainslie himself to join the team for another event this season.”
Charlie then returned for the second time to the 7th event in the Sail GP calendar in Dubai.
“A day in the life of Sail GP GBR intern starts at 8am. The shore crew all meet in the tent and set a plan out of the jobs to do for the day. From there, we get to work on prepping the boat, doing checks and general tasks around the tent – we all muck in and that’s what makes you feel even closer to the group. The Dubai heat made it a bit more challenging but, a team who sweats together has success together!
"The group’s professionalism and how they approach the various aspects of the sport has taught me a lot. They set themselves a high bar and are incredibly critical of themselves constantly striving to be better. And I am thankful to have been a part of it even in a small way”.
Charlie has balanced this incredible experience along with his own degree studying engineering in Trinity College Dublin and his own sailing of a Waszp in Dun Laoghaire. Both of which fed into his ability to make the most of this experience. And safe to say he will definitely be taking home some of the drive and work ethic he picked up from the likes of Sir Ben Ainslie while working in this environment.
Charlie is quick to point out that the Sail GP programme is not only for sailors; they offer a range of career opportunities within this industry including tech team: boatbuilding, hydraulics, on-water operations, wing department or ropes and rigging; hospitality; broadcast; media operations; photography and videography; sustainability.
To find out more SEE HERE: