British Challenge for the America’s Cup

Sir Ben Ainslie’s British campaign for the 36th America’s Cup got a much-needed shot in the arm last week when British petrochemical giant INEOS was announced as the team’s sole new sponsor. With the commitment to more than $150 million in funding toward the next America’s Cup, Ainslie has put forth an ambitious two-boat campaign that hopes to return the America’s Cup to the UK for the first time since the Brits lost it in the inaugural edition in 1851. The syndicate has been fully restructured under its new sponsor and is now known as INEOS Team GB.

In addition to the new fully funded British effort, three other teams are confirmed for AC 36, to be sailed in 75-ft foiling monohulls. Emirates Team New Zealand is the defender, while Luna Rossa Challenge (Italy) is the official challenger. Also jumping into the fray is a new syndicate from the New York Yacht Club — American Magic — which will be skippered by Terry Hutchinson and helmed by Kiwi Dean Barker.

Many American sailing fans, including this writer, have expressed disappointment with the selection of a Kiwi to drive the American boat in the next America’s Cup. To that effect, there is a serious effort by a group of professional sailors, industry leaders and financial backers who are working to put together an all-American challenge for the 2021 America’s Cup. Currently skippered by match-racing wünderkind Taylor Canfield, the team got a needed boost in momentum when their core group defeated American Magic and its Kiwi skipper Dean Barker 3-1 in the prestigious Congressional Cup sailed off Long Beach just over a week ago.

We’ll have periodic updates during the lead-up to America’s Cup 36. Also see www.americascup.com.