By Nick Butler

Sir Ben Ainslie was alongside the Duchess of Cambridge and LOCOG deputy chairman Sir Keith Mills at the unveiling ©Ben Ainslie RacingA historic attempt to produce the first British winner of the America's Cup has taken another step with the unveiling of a team headed by one of Great Britain's greatest ever sailors, Sir Ben Ainslie.


After a glittering Olympic career which culminated in gold medals at the last four Games, following a silver aged 19 at Atlanta 1996, Sir Ben retired from the Olympic classes to focus on competing in the America's Cup.

The 37-year-old duly played a crucial role in helping Oracle Team USA recover from 8-1 down to defeat Team New Zealand 9-8 at the 2013 edition in San Francisco Bay. 

Now Sir Ben is determined to go one better by spearheading the first British winner 
of the 163-year old trophy, with the final of the next event due to be held in 2017. 

His Ben Ainslie Racing team was unveiled in a Ceremony today at the Royal Museum in Greenwich, also attended by another sailing enthusiast in the Duchess of Cambridge, as well as Board chairman Sir Charles Dunstone, and Sir Keith Mills, the former deputy chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee.

"This is the last great historic sporting prize never won by Great Britain," said Sir Ben following the launch.

"It has always been my ambition to mount a home challenge.

"The time is right and I am hugely encouraged by the support we are getting, not least from the Duchess of Cambridge.

"I learned a great deal aboard Oracle in San Francisco and I would not be challenging if I did not believe we have a real chance of winning this time."



Following the first mooting of the idea in 2011, meetings have been held since October to bring the plan into realisation, which according to Sir Charles Dunstone, is "about righting a wrong".

"We have an amazing maritime history but we have never won it," the Board chairman added.

"The Cup has to come home, we have to do that."

It has already been confirmed the team manager will be the highly experienced New Zealander and three-times America's Cup winner, Jono Macbeth, who sailed alongside Sir Ben in both the 2007 and 2013 America's Cups.

Other signings at this early stage include Britain's David Carr and Nick Hutton, who both raced with Luna Rossa in the 34th America's Cup, as well as another New Zealander in Andy McLean, who was part of the Artemis Racing team in 2013, and former match race world champion Matt Cornwell. 

The rest of the management team is made up of team manager James Stagg, chief operating officer Andy Hindley, and commercial, marketing, communications and events head Jo Grindley. 

The opening round of the America's Cup will begin next year, and will feature a number of teams to be whittled down to a final four.

These four will then go on to another series of races to decide which one gets to challenge existing champions Oracle Team USA in 2017.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
September 2013: Olympic great Sir Ben helps Oracle Team USA complete amazing comeback to win America's Cup
November 2012: Ainslie retires from Olympics to concentrate on America's Cup
November 2012: Mike Rowbottom: Olympic farewell to Ben Ainslie – Mr Competitive