Ben Ainslie sulks: there is only one team representing the Royal Yacht Squadron for the America’s Cup

The war in the British house, on the America’s Cup front, still seems far from a complete resolution. In fact, rumors, half-sentences, a few updates from the websites of those directly involved are still arriving, testifying to how much the affairs of the British team, or teams, are in flux.

We had anticipated it in the last news item on the subject of Ben Ainslie’s dismissal, the crux of the conflict between the Baronet and his former patron Jim Ratcliffe is in the role of the Challenge of Record. As known Ineos Britannia was the first syndicate to present the challenge and thus become Challenge of Record for the next edition. In the America’s Cup the challenge is presented by the club representing the syndicate, in this case the Royal Yacht Squadron of Cowes.

In the very real possibility that two separate British teams will be born, as the protagonists have already anticipated, which will be the Challenger of Record, i.e., with whom will Cowes’ Royal Yacht Squadron line up ? The answer comes from the Athena Racing website: “Athena Racing is the representative of the Challenger of Record for 38th America’s Cup, Royal Yacht Squadron Racing Ltd.”

It seems clear, therefore, which side the Yacht Club was on, which evidently had a direct link to the sporting side of the team, namely Ben Ainslie. The legitimate question is, who had paid the money for the entry? Presumably it was the sponsors, namely Ineos and Ratcliffe. And most likely there will be a legal dispute between the two factions.

According to British media, a meeting between the challengers was held in London in recent days, with Ben Ainslie also present; it is unclear, however, whether a representative of Ineos Britannia also attended. The British double challenge, however, now seems to be a reality.

Mauro Giuffrè