Kate Middleton: Prince George to Learn How to Sail in '7 or 8 Years'

By Sami K. Martin, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Duchess Kate Middleton is hopeful that son Prince George will soon grow his sea legs and be able to join her and Prince William on the open sea. Middleton told a crowd gathered to celebrate the America's Cup that she hoped her son would be interested in the sport of sailing and wants to get him on the open water as soon as possible.

Middleton met British sailor Sir Ben Ainslie on Tuesday; he offered to take her and George out on the water and give lessons to the 10-month-old baby boy. Anise said he would teach George how to sail and start him out in a small, single-handed sailboat called an Optimist dinghy.

"The Duchess was very keen, but not for a couple of years yet – when he's about 7 or 8," Ainslie told People. "But we'd love to get the Duchess sailing sooner. She's very keen and of course we'd love to get her out on the water – she doesn't get to do it much now."

Middleton has been a sailing enthusiast for quite some time. She and William took part in a race while in New Zealand. She actually won the race, much to the chagrin of William, who claimed that his team was "sabotaged." Three years ago, the couple engaged in another nautical race by participating in a Dragon Boat race in Canada; Prince William won that one.

"She's a keen sailor," Lord Grade, a board member of Britain's bid to win the America's Cup, told the Mirror. "She loves her sailing clearly, you can just tell. You can see it in her eyes. It's great for everybody [that] she's got behind it and supporting it."

"We want to bring it home," Ainslie said. "It would be an amazing thing for this country. I had this burning desire and ambition to be a part of a winning America's Cup team and ultimately a winning British America's Cup team and so was fortunate to be involved with Oracle last time."

Middleton's support is important to Ainslie and the country as a whole. It's the first solo engagement Middleton has been at since returning from Australia and New Zealand.