How Ainslie and Scott went from heated rivals to America’s Cup brothers in arms
Stunning revival is being driven by partnership of two Olympic champions who had fierce duels on the water
There was a time when Ben Ainslie and Giles Scott had a frosty relationship. Ten years ago, when they were competing for the Finn dinghy spot in the Great Britain team at the London 2012 Olympics, their rivalry threatened to spill over. “Absolutely, it got heated,” Scott admitted in an interview with The Telegraph a few years ago. “On the water, there was certain dislike. But the good thing was it never seemed to go on shore. Or if it did, it would only be for 15 minutes.”
Fast forward a decade and these two formidable British sailors – Ainslie won that selection battle and his fourth consecutive Olympic gold, Scott succeeded him as Finn champion in Rio – are masterminding Ineos Team UK’S America’s Cup challenge. They are doing a fine job, too. From no-hopers before Christmas, when they lost six races on the trot in a warm-up regatta, Ineos have proved unbeatable in the Prada Cup, winning four races out of four in the series which will determine who out of GB, Italy and the United States take on defenders New Zealand in the America’s Cup in March.
One more win in either of their races against Luna Rossa this weekend will take Ineos into the Prada Cup final, leaving the Italians to face the US in the semi-final next week.
Scott and Ainslie’s relationship has been crucial to the stunning turnaround. Partly that is down to the way Scott is deployed in a free role, able to move about the boat and read the shifts and the race.
But it is also to do with their shared dinghy backgrounds and their mutual respect and understanding which has built over the years. “There are few people whose tactical advice Ben would take on the water, but Giles is one” noted Shirley Robertson, the double Olympic champion.
Scott earned that trust a decade ago with his refusal to be cowed by the star of the GB sailing team. “I know why he does it,” Scott said of Ainslie’s verbal volleys on the water. “To assert himself. And I do it to show that I won’t back down.”
Scott’s coach Matt Howard believes his charge’s self-belief was a major reason Ainslie recruited him when he started up his America’s Cup team seven years ago. “Giles is one of the few I’ve seen who gave Ben a proper run for his money, with no quarter asked or given.”