Ainslie keen to bring back BAR

Ben Ainslie is committed to racing his British syndicate at the next America's Cup but is hoping Team New Zealand don't move away from catamarans.

Ainslie's Land Rover BAR team made the semifinals of the qualifying series in Bermuda before losing to the eventual winners Team New Zealand.

Hours after completing a 7-1 victory over Oracle Team USA on Tuesday, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron accepted the challenge of Circolo della Vela Sicilia, which became the Challenger of Record for the 36th America's Cup. It means Team New Zealand and Italian syndicate Luna Rossa can together shape the rules for the next event, including where it will be raced and in which form of boat.

Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton on Tuesday said they would look at bringing in a nationality quota, while the current catamaran boats might not cope with the sailing conditions in Auckland as well as they have on Bermuda's Great Sound.

In a column for the Telegraph, Ainslie said his team were committed to competing at the next regatta but he had some concerns. Ainslie, who has previously raced for Team New Zealand and Oracle, said he backs nationality quotas but is not so keen on moving away from catamarans.

“There are a lot of rumours flying around that the Italians are keen on monohulls. I think going back now would be a mistake given where we have got to in these foiling multihulls,” Ainslie wrote.

“I will admit I was not a fan of the move to multihulls initially but I think we all have to applaud the vision of Larry Ellison and Sir Russell Coutts. The 35th America's Cup was a wonderful advert for the sport and produced some incredible moments.”

Ainslie admitted his surprise at how Team New Zealand dominated the America's Cup final.

“That was not quite the Cup matchup we anticipated. I really did think it would be a closely fought contest. I certainly did not envisage a 7-1 thumping of Oracle. I don't think anyone did, apart from perhaps the Kiwis themselves,” he wrote.

“New Zealand absolutely deserved to win. They were extremely aggressive with their boat design, taking big risks, and in the end they were rewarded for that. It was a ruthless display. Who dares, wins. You have to give them credit, particularly given the manner in which they lost in San Francisco four years ago, which was a body blow for the whole nation.

“To get back off the canvas like that and pull it all together so well; I am sure Grant Dalton had some dark days when he did not know whether he or the team would survive.”