Sailing: Ainslie and Ineos in America’s Cup Split
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
It has been reported that the four-times Olympic champion, Ben Ainsley, has split from Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Britannia America’s Cup sailing team.
Ainslie joined the team in 2018 as principal and skipper, with a view to delivering a first win for Great Britain in the famous yacht race since it began in 1851.
The team reached their first final in 2024 but were beaten by the team from New Zealand.
Ineos plan to complete in the next America’s Cup, to be held in 2028, under the Britannia name.
Whereas Ainslie’s America’s Cup team will be known as Athena Racing.
Since winning gold at the 2012 London Olympics, Ainslie has failed in all his attempts, including those backed by Ineos, to win the race in a British boat.
He is reported as being “astounded” by the split with Ineos and their future plans for the America’s Cup. No explanations for the split have been reported.
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