America’s Cup: Britain gets rebranded

by Tom Cary, The Telegraph
Sir Ben Ainslie has announced a radical shake-up of his America’s Cup team, with INEOS, one of the world’s largest manufacturing companies, ploughing £110 million into his challenge to bring sport’s oldest international trophy back to Britain.

As part of its investment – the biggest ever British America’s Cup investment – INEOS will take over naming rights, with Ainslie’s name no longer forming part of the official team title.

The Portsmouth-based team will henceforth be known as INEOS Team GB, as opposed to Land Rover BAR [the BAR having stood for Ben Ainslie Racing].

Existing sponsors Land Rover and 11th Hour Racing have left with INEOS’ £110m investment contingent on the team making a completely fresh start. New sponsors Belstaff, Limewood and Projekt Grenadier are part of the INEOS stable. The management/ownership structure has also changed with Sir Keith Mills and Carphone Warehouse founder Charles Dunstone stepping aside.

The deal, which was announced on Thursday morning at the Prospect of Whitby pub in Wapping, one of London’s oldest maritime pubs, will effectively see INEOS ‘hire’ Ainslie’s race team lock-stock, with most of the key players remaining in situ. Ainslie will stay on as team principal, Grant Simmer as CEO, Nick Holroyd as Chief Designer, Jono Macbeth as sailing team manager and Giles Scott as tactician.

The massive injection of cash will allow Ainslie and his team to properly fund a two-boat challenge for the 36th America’s Cup, which will take place in New Zealand in 2021.

“This is an amazing boost for British sport,” Ainslie commented. “With this significant commitment from INEOS to fully fund a two-boat challenge, Britain now has its best opportunity to bring the America’s Cup back home to Britain where it belongs.”

The America’s Cup was first held off the Isle of Wight in 1851. It was won by the US yacht ‘America’ and has never returned to Great Britain.

Ainslie was part of the American team that won the Cup in San Francisco in 2013. The four-time Olympic dinghy champion then formed BAR, who were knocked out of the 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda at the semi-final stage by eventual winners New Zealand.

INEOS Team GB will continue to represent the Royal Yacht Squadron’s affiliated club, Royal Yacht Squadron Racing.

James Sheldon, the Royal Yacht Squadron Commodore said: “The America’s Cup is undoubtedly the most important yachting trophy in the world and we are delighted that Royal Yacht Squadron Racing is supporting INEOS Team GB in its attempt to bring it back home.”

Jim Ratcliffe, the founder and chairman of INEOS, added: “With the resources of INEOS, the skill of Sir Ben Ainslie and his team and the experience of the Royal Yacht Squadron, I think INEOS Team GB has a great chance of success in 2021 and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Team details – Facebook

Key dates:
✔ September 28, 2017: 36th America’s Cup Protocol released
✔ November 30, 2017: AC75 Class concepts released to key stakeholders
✔ January 1, 2018: Entries for Challengers open
✔ March 31, 2018: AC75 Class Rule published
June 30, 2018: Entries for Challengers close
August 31, 2018: Location of the America’s Cup Match and The PRADA Cup confirmed
August 31, 2018: Specific race course area confirmed
December 31, 2018: Late entries deadline
March 31, 2019: Boat 1 can be launched
2nd half of 2019: 2 x America’s Cup World Series Preliminary Events
February 1, 2020: Boat 2 can be launched
During 2020: 3 x America’s Cup World Series Preliminary Events
December 10-20, 2020: America’s Cup Christmas Race
January and February 2021: The PRADA Cup Challenger Selection Series
March 2021: The America’s Cup Match

Protocol of the 36th America’s Cup
Key Points of the Protocol
Deed of Gift
AC75 Class Rule (v1.0)