England's sailing superstar Sir Ben Ainslie is reaching for the most important trophy in international sailing. The four-time gold medallist and most successful Olympic sailor in sporting history has capitalised on his fame and formed a strong campaign for the 35th America's Cup.
He still doesn't have his dream budget of almost 100 million euros. But many British celebrities are fighting alongside him for the United Kingdom's oldest sporting dream, including the Duchess of Cambridge, who is a keen sailor herself and added royal glamour to Ainslie's presentation in London on Tuesday with her presence at the Royal Museums Greenwich. Born Catherine Elizabeth "Kate" Middleton, she is the wife of the heir to the British throne, Prince William. Duran Duran singer and sailor Simon Le Bon also came to support Ainslie's team "BAR" (Ben Ainslie Racing). Plus the America's Cup itself in a classy Louis Vuitton suitcase, if it was the real thing and not a replica...
Although the America's Cup was born in England, no British team has ever won it since the first edition in 1851. Not even the famous tea baron Sir Thomas Lipton, who unsuccessfully reached for the jug five times and is still regarded as one of the fairest challengers in Cup history. "Big Ben" Ainslie and his team now want to change that. Ainslie is certain: "We can bring the America's Cup home."
Ainslie and his team-mates have spent three years preparing for the first official presentation of their Cup campaign. During this time, Ben Ainslie has won his fourth gold medal in his home waters off Weymouth and the America's Cup as a tactician in the American Oracle Team USA. Now the defender has become a challenger.
Ainslie himself felt that Tuesday's presentation was first and foremost "liberating" because he could finally talk publicly about his team "BAR" (Ben Ainslie Racing) and his plans. "I must have been asked a thousand times about my plans with a British team since winning with Oracle Team USA. It's been a complicated time, working behind the scenes on funding and putting the team together, but not wanting to discuss our commercial and strategic progress publicly." Among the best-known team members are New Zealand Sailing Manager and sailor Jono Macbeth, Technical Director Andy Claughton from England, Dutch designer Dirk Kramers, designer Clay Oliver from the USA and designer Jason Ker from Great Britain.
Ainslie also admitted that "the wait for the publication of the protocol for the 35th America's Cup has been a frustrating time and thanked all those who have supported and inspired him during this time. His fellow campaigners Sir Charles Dunstone, Sir Keith Mills and Chris Bake, who are very well known in England, had built up a private group of investors behind the scenes. "Without their passion, we wouldn't be where we are today." In the meantime, other investors Lord Irvine Laidlaw, Ian Taylor, Jon Wood and Peter Dubens have joined Ainslie's Cup boat, which is now rapidly gaining momentum. "I can only say that there are some real heavyweights from business, sport and society here who are supporting the team in an impressive way." The home club is Yacht Squadron Racing, a club associated with the legendary Royal Yacht Squadron. Should the British team win the Cup, it would indeed return to its roots on the Isle of Wight in the south of England.
Ainslie commented on the new protocol with a smile and a tear in his eye, saying that the Cup rules are "historically complex". Ainslie cited the 62-foot catamarans, eight crew members and the tighter design concept as important key data. According to Ainslie, the defenders want to keep costs down in this configuration. At the same time, however, the experienced British Cup sailor is under no illusions: "It is quite likely that costs will rise in other areas and that the total budget will be around the same level as the last Cup: just under 100 million euros." According to Ainslie, the team has collected around 40 per cent of the target total. "I wouldn't take on the challenge," says Ainslie, "if we didn't have a chance of winning the America's Cup. Our country has a great maritime history. The time is right, the Cup has to come home, we have to do it."
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
