Ineos abandons America’s Cup challenge amid Ben Ainslie dispute
Ineos aimed a barb at at Ben Ainslie’s team in its statement. Image courtesy of Ian Roman/America’s Cup.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Britannia team has confirmed it will not compete in the 38th America’s Cup, following the conclusion of a ‘protracted negotiation’ with Athena Racing – the team of Ineos’ former skipper Sir Ben Ainslie.
Four-time Olympic champion Ben Ainslie led the British boat to its first final since 1964 in Barcelona last year before parting ways with Ineos in January, in a split that is becoming increasingly acrimonious.
The team, which ultimately lost 7-2 against Emirates Team New Zealand in the 37th edition in 2024, had intended to mount a third consecutive challenge but has now withdrawn its entry, claiming a six-month delay in reaching an agreement with Ainslie’s Athena Racing that ‘has impacted its ability to prepare effectively for the next event.’
The agreement in question would have allowed both parties to compete in the upcoming edition. In a statement, Ineos Britannia claims it agreed to the main terms ‘very quickly’, but ‘Athena failed to bring the agreement to a timely conclusion’.
Commenting on the situation, Ratcliffe, chairman of Ineos, says: “This was a very difficult decision to have taken following our challenge at the last two America’s Cups. We were the most successful British challenger in modern times with an exceptionally quick boat, and we felt, with the very effective input from the Mercedes F1 engineers, that we had a real chance to win the next cup. Unfortunately, the opportunity has slipped away.”
In separate news, the New Zealand central government has confirmed it will not back the next America’s Cup being hosted in Auckland, stating it has other priorities amid a tough economic climate.
Attention now turns to which cities may make a successful bid for the competition, which takes place every three to four years and is set to return in 2027. A decision is due by June of this year, if not sooner.
Perhaps it’s time for a big shake up of the Americas Cup. It’s got too expensive and elitist which sailing has worked hard to move away from… I propose an American Cup competition using the foiling 4 person boats supplied for the Youth and women’s events last time. They are identical so avoid an arms race and looked enormous fun for the skilled athletes. Hopefully a suitable host venue could emerge.
why not try a very simple rule such as the fully assembled yacht and its crew must fit. within a box eight metres long four metres wide and fifteen metres high in the configuration in which it is raced. the yacht may be in any orientation within the box. the yacht shall only be powered by the wind.