America's Cup: Sir Ainslie brings in cat-skipper McMillan

Sir Ben Ainslie's British Cup team Land Rover BAR has announced its new second helmsman shortly before the third and final regatta of the America's Cup World Series off Bermuda. Leigh McMillan, perennial winner of the Extreme Sailing Series sailed on catamarans, is to be Ainslie's stand-in helmsman and sparring partner in internal regattas and comparative tests, while at the same time bringing his experience to the team of the strongest European challenger in the 35th Cup cycle to date.

Leigh McMillan said after announcing his new commitment: "I am more than ready for this role and will give my all to make a difference for the team." Jono MacBeth, the British team's Sailing Team Manager, who is highly regarded by team boss Sir Ben Ainslie, said of the new compatriot on the team: "Leigh's ability to consistently win on multihulls has made him a natural addition to our team."

With one exception in 1988, the America's Cup was first sailed on multihulls in 2010. The unequal duel five years ago between the American challenger BMW Oracle Racing and Ernesto Bertarelli's Swiss team Alinghi was won by the Americans on their trimaran. Since then, they have already defended the most important trophy in international sailing once on catamarans in 2013. They hope to achieve the feat again off Bermuda in 2017. The Brits are among a total of five challengers aiming to snatch the silverware from Larry Ellison's racing team Oracle Team USA in 2017.

McMillan has been dreaming of a job in the America's Cup since 2010. He grew up on the Isle of Wight, the legendary English sailing island in the south-west of England, where the trophy, later named "America" after the winner, was first sailed for in 1851. McMillan has twice competed in the Tornado catamaran discipline at the Olympic Games, narrowly missing out on the medal he had hoped for in 2008. He then made a name for himself as a subscription winner in the Extreme Sailing Series. McMillan describes the task ahead of him as follows: "I want to put Ben under as much pressure as I can. And I want to give the team and the designers the best possible input and feedback. I've watched Ben's successes over a long time and I want to be part of that over the next two years and help bring the America's Cup home."