Ben Ainslie: Jim Ratcliffe legal battle could ruin America’s Cup bid

Sir Ben Ainslie is concerned his court case with Sir Jim Ratcliffe could derail his bid to win the America’s Cup for Great Britain.

Ainslie, the team principal of GB1, who will challenge for the cup in Naples next year, said the legal squabble over who owns the boat that raced in Barcelona in 2024 “feels personal” and could act as a distraction to the team.

Ineos Racing, who put £174million into the attempt to win the America’s Cup, maintain that the yacht is legally theirs and, after the acrimonious split with Ainslie’s Athena Racing, have lodged a legal claim to take possession of it.

The AC75 racing yacht is being adapted for use in the next America’s Cup. Were Ratcliffe to win the case, GB1 would be left high and dry.

“Potentially that could happen,” Ainslie admitted. “I think it’s pretty unlikely. That’s what I have been told.

“We’re obviously focused on what we’re doing, running the team trying to win the America’s Cup, but it is a distraction. One of my jobs, if not my key role for this cup, is making sure that doesn’t affect the rest of the team. So I manage that with our legal advisers.

“There are times in your life where you have to stand up and fight your corner.”

The comparison has been made to a football club sponsor wanting to take possession of a stadium after their deal had expired but Ineos Racing maintain their investment in the design, construction and testing of the yacht make it theirs legally.

The case is set to be heard in the Admiralty Court — a division of the High Court — although no date has yet been set.

“It feels like it is personal,” Ainslie said. “Not from my side. I’ve always been very grateful for Jim’s support and I stand by that. I’m not going to slag the guy off.

“But if he feels differently, then, I can’t really do that much about that other than defend my position.

“Honestly, it doesn’t make any sense, but it is what it is. What can I say? It is unfortunate, it’s disappointing.”

The private equity firm Oakley Capital, which has brought in the former Red Bull F1 team principal Christian Horner as an adviser, has replaced Ineos as GB1’s backers — albeit on a reduced budget that will place Great Britain in the mid-range in the financial league table of challengers to New Zealand in Naples.

Ainslie, who was co-helm alongside Dylan Fletcher in Barcelona, does not intend to race this time but remains an option as an emergency super-sub if needed.

“It’s not my intention [to race],” he said. “I am flat-out doing what I’m doing at the moment.

“I don’t want to be that guy who says, ‘Oh, you know, I’ve retired from sailing and I’ll make a big song and dance about it,’ and then six months later go, ‘Oh, I’m back now.’ That’s not really my style.

“Ben [Cornish], who has come in alongside Dylan on the steering side of things, is really stepping up nicely.

“If for whatever reason something doesn’t work out, it would be a team decision. They would decide, not me. And if they did say that, then bloody hell I’d have to put some time in, which I’m not necessarily sure I’ve got.”

The countdown to the 38th America’s Cup begins on Friday in the Sardinian capital of Cagliari, in smaller AC40s, with five of the seven nations who will compete on the Italian mainland next year doing battle in the first preliminary regatta.

Each team have the option of racing a second boat containing a mix of women and youth sailors, with double Olympic gold medallist Hannah Mills leading GB’s Athena Pathway team.

The Athena boat capsized in practice on Wednesday but is ready to race on Friday.

Click here to read article