SailGP: Sir Ainslie steps down - "Time for the breakthrough of the next generation"

A change of guard in the British SailGP team: Sir Ben Ainslie, one of the most prominent players in international sailing, stepped down as helmsman at the start of the year. Ainslie will retain his role as CEO of SailGP Team Emirates GBR, but has handed over the helm to two-time Olympic champion and America's Cup team-mate Giles Scott. After his last SailGP event as a driver in Dubai, Ainslie said it was "time for the next generation to come through".

Probably the most difficult decision of my career" (Sir Ben Ainslie)

Commenting on his decision to hand over the wheel to younger hands, Ainslie said: "It's probably the most difficult decision I've had to make in my sporting career. As with any big decision, there are many factors that play a role." As CEO of Emirates GBR and the ambitious America's Cup team Ineos Britannia, as well as a husband and father, Ainslie said that at some point you have to realise "that you can't do everything".

"I've come to the point where it's time to give the next generation their chance. We have a great talent in Giles Scott. He is one of the best in the sport, perfectly suited to this style of racing. He's an incredible sailor, one of the best I've ever sailed with. But he is also a very mature, level-headed person. That's why I think he'll do a fantastic job in the SailGP."

Change of helm at SailGP: The journeyman is a master himself

Ainslie and Scott, who is ten years younger, have a long history with many overlaps. They first competed against each other to represent Great Britain at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Scott, the heir to the throne, attacked Ainslie hard. But by the end of the elimination, the more experienced Ainslie had once again prevailed. With his fourth gold medal, the exceptional sailor impressively demonstrated his Olympic class one last time in his home waters off Weymouth.

Only then did he pass the Olympic torch to Scott, who won gold in the Finn class at the Rio 2016 Games before doing the double in Tokyo 2020 at the Finn sailors' Olympic farewell gala. Commenting on his promotion to the British SailGP team, Scott said that taking over the role of driver for Emirates GBR from Ainslie was "a big moment".

I have to step up now and do my best to fill the big old boots that Ben has left behind" (Giles Scott)

Giles Scott continued: "The SailGP is an incredible league, there is nothing like it. The fact that Ben has called me up is incredible. I still have some catching up to do, but the Emirates GBR team is a great crew, everyone involved is very experienced and top class sailors. I have to step up now and do my best to fill the big old boots that Ben has left behind."

Scott will join the Emirates GBR SailGP team as a driver, just like Sir Ainslie, together with the proven strategist and double Olympic champion Hannah Mills. The formidable British crew also includes Iain Jensen as wing trimmer, Luke Parkinson as flight controller, Matt Gotrel, Neil Hunter and Nick Hutton as grinder and Hannah Diamond as reserve sailor.

Promotion in the SailGP: Double Olympic champion Hannah Mills wants to become the first female helmswoman in the Formula 1 of sailing

In his role as CEO of SailGP Team Emirates GBR, Ainslie will continue to lead the team's overall performance both on and off the water. In parallel, strategist Hannah Mills will continue her intensive training as helmswoman on the F50 bullets. The 35-year-old is working hard towards her goal of becoming the first female driver in a SailGP team in the future.

This development will continue next week in Abu Dhabi, where Emirates Team GBR has organised a training day for women on its F50. Mills will lead the training, which will also include female athletes from other SailGP teams. The aim is to give female SailGP members the opportunity to gain more experience and develop in different crew roles.

I don't think it will be long before we see Hannah driving an F50" (Sir Ben Ainslie)

Ben Ainslie said: "Hannah is an incredible talent. It's been really impressive to see her find her way around these boats. We fully support her in her goal to become the first female SailGP racer. We will give her even more training time on the water from Abu Dhabi onwards. I don't think it will be long before we see her driving an F50."

Ainslie first took the SailGP helm for Emirates GBR ahead of the second season in 2019. Later in the season, he won the SailGP in Sydney and took over majority ownership of the British team in October 2021 - a first in the league. The SailGP is currently halfway through Season 4, which has already seen Emirates Team GBR take two consecutive victories at European regattas.

I loved every minute of sailing in the league" (Sir Ben Ainslie)

At the last Sail Grand Prix in Dubai last December, the British team missed out on the podium after being disqualified by the umpires. The next SailGP summit will take place on 13 and 14 January in Abu Dhabi. This will be Giles Scott's debut as a driver.

Speaking about his time in the SailGP, predecessor Ainslie said on his wistful farewell to the active role: "I loved every minute of sailing in the league. We've had some great moments and some challenging moments, but I've just loved it. It's the best sailing I've ever done in my career. It's so much fun. We have a great team with a really exciting future. I will be a part of it for many years to come."

Take That provides the musical highlight at the SailGP in Abu Dhabi

This will also be the case in the upcoming test of strength in Abu Dhabi at the seventh of 13 regattas in the fourth SailGP season. Here, the new Germany SailGP team with helmsman Erik Heil also wants to attack again and work its way up from tenth and last place in the season rankings.

In addition to exciting sailing action, the organisers of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix SailGP will be serving their teams and fans a top-class musical interlude: on 13 January, the superstars of Take That will be performing in Abu Dhabi. The trio will come to the United Arab Emirates and perform some of their hits on Saturday after the end of the SailGP race at Mina Zayed.

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Sir Ainslie and Giles Scott on the changing of the guard in the British SailGP team:

Golden times! In 2012, Sir Ainslie won his fourth Olympic gold medal in his home waters off Weymouth and became the most successful Olympic sailor in sporting history:

Will Ainslies finally achieve the longed-for America's Cup coup at the third attempt under the British flag? Just a few weeks ago, the Brits launched their AC40 B in Barcelona: