Four-time Olympic champion Ben Ainslie has parted ways with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Britannia America’s Cup sailing team.
Ainslie, 47, apparently, external had a tense relationship with Manchester United co-owner Ratcliffe over plans for the next America’s Cup, prompting them to part ways.
Ainslie was the boss and captain of the Ineos Britannia team gained Ratcliffe’s support in 2018 hoping to give Britain its first victory in the yacht race since it began in 1851.
Ineos said in a statement that it was “unable to reach an agreement” with Ainslie on “terms of further action” after last year’s event in Barcelona, ​​which was held New Zealand won.
Ineos plan to take part in the next America’s Cup under the name Britannia.
In response, Ainslie’s team said it was “baffled” by Ineos’ future plans for the America’s Cup and it “creates significant legal and practical obstacles for them.”
Following the split, Ainslie’s America’s Cup team will be known as Athena Racing.
Ratcliffe did not directly address the split from Ainslie in the Ineos statement, but said he was “extremely proud” of “developing a British boat that was truly competitive for the first time in decades.”
Ainslie won medals at five consecutive Olympics starting in 1996, including gold at four consecutive Games from 2000 to 2012.
Since winning gold in London in 2012, Ainslie’s goal has been to win the America’s Cup for Great Britain, but all his attempts in a British boat, including those backed by Ineos, have ended in disappointment.
