Kate Middleton Gets ‘Technical’ During Sailing Event, Shares Boating Experience With Kids

Kate Middleton showed off her nautical prowess and know-how, imparting her love for sailing to children at the Ben Ainslie Racing Center in Portsmouth, England. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the America’s Cup World Series there Sunday to cheer for Britain’s team, People reported.

The race was canceled due to rain, but the royal couple still made the most of the visit, greeting the teams and their families. Middleton also took the time to talk with the children and regaled them with stories about sailing and how to operate a boat.

Claire Ansell, from the children's charity Motiv8, told People how the duchess shared her experience on boats with the children. “Kate told us that she really liked sailing and actually got quite technical about things -- talking about tacking and other different things that you can do with a boat. The children understood what she meant, and it was really lovely for them. They were all very excited," Ansell said.

The duchess is known to be very athletic and loves tennis and hockey. Middleton is also an experienced sailor and beat husband Prince William in a friendly boat race in Auckland, New Zealand, in April 2014. Prince William’s other half piloted the yacht with Dean Barker, skipper of Team New Zealand, while the second-in-line to the throne joined forces with Grant Dalton, the Team New Zealand manager.

Hello!Magazine reported in April 2014 the Duchess of Cambridge gained her nautical expertise through many hours sailing with her family in the Solent , as well as having worked as a deckhand.

Aside from meeting the crew and families at the Ben Ainslie Racing center, the royal couple visited the 1851 Trust, of which Middleton is a patron.