Herald on Sunday

Ainslie wants more equitable Cup

- Michael Burgess

Sir Ben Ainslie is calling for an overhaul of the America’s Cup, to make it more equitable.

On the eve of the 36th edition of the Cup match, the Ineos Team UK skipper hopes the next battle for the Auld Mug — wherever it is — can have a different structure in place.

Ainslie wants a more level playing field, dissipatin­g some of the traditiona­l advantages afforded to the defender, and to a lesser extent the Challenger of Record, along with a governing body to oversee the event.

Like every America’s Cup, the regatta in Auckland has been marked by many off-the-water controvers­ies.

There were disputes over fair use of different courses, the ability to use the pre-start delay card and the “yellow card” incurred by Ineos in the Prada Cup round robin.

There were also battles over the wind limits, debates over the software provided by Team New Zealand for some design components and a public spat about the rescheduli­ng of the Prada Cup final.

There was also, at different times, marked tension between Luna Rossa and the other two challenger­s, American Magic and Ineos.

“A lot of the shenanigan­s and bluster that we have seen in this Cup, which we were frustrated about as a team, don’t really need to happen,” Ainslie told the Herald on Sunday.

“If the America’s Cup has more of a neutral management, in terms of who is running the event, that takes away a lot of the pressures on the teams, who understand­ably have their own best interests at heart.

“There is a great saying that ‘in the America’s Cup, nothing beats selfintere­st’ and that is so true. You need to have a neutral management to make it fair and equitable for all the teams in a competitio­n at this level.”

Ainslie indicated change could be critical in ensuring the ongoing involvemen­t of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the head of the Ineos corporatio­n and one of Britain’s richest men.

“That is what we would like to see, [and] I know that what’s Jim has found frustratin­g about this Cup experience,” said Ainslie.

“If we can create more of a level playing field for all of the teams, I know he has really enjoyed his time here, he has loved these boats and he would like to continue if that was the case.”

There is ongoing speculatio­n that the British syndicate are already earmarked as the next Challenger of Record — in the case of a successful defence — which would put them in a superior bargaining position.

Ainslie scotched suggestion­s of a deal already being done but said whatever unfolds, the Cup has to evolve.

“We are a long way off on any agreement on whether we would consider being a Challenger of Record, or if whoever won would want us to be a Challenger of Record.

“But it’s fair to say that if we — and certainly if Jim and Ineos are going to continue being in the Cup, they would like to see more of a neutral, level playing field whereby there is a real effort to cut the costs, get more teams involved and there is continuity in a class of boat so we can take this to a wider audience and grow the sport.

“The AC75 class has been a fantastic showcase for the sport.

“There are a lot of positives out of this event but we need to grow from here and get some continuity.”

On the subject of the upcoming match between Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa, Ainslie tipped a “fascinatin­g” contest which starts on Wednesday.

“They will need to race bloody well, that’s for sure,” said Ainslie of the Italians. “I expect Team New Zealand to be very fast but [Luna Rossa] have proven they can sail well, they can deal with it and they’ll be match fit, so it will be fascinatin­g.”

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