A new chapter
As Sir Ben Ainslie hands the Emirates GBR SailGP Team helm to Giles Scott, he reflects on his time with the team and looks forward to a successful AC37
“We’ve had some challenging moments but it’s the best sailing I’ve ever done in my career – it’s just so much fun”
My decision to step back from the driver spot for the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team was a tough one, but it’s undoubtedly the right thing to do. My time has become very stretched; I’m the CEO of both Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team and the INEOS Britannia America’s Cup Team and, most importantly, I’m a husband and father. At some point you’ve got to realise that you can’t do everything.
I’ve loved every minute of SailGP. We’ve had some great moments and some challenging moments, but it’s the best sailing I’ve ever done in my career – it’s just so much fun. We’ve got a great squad of sailors and brilliant support from our title partner Emirates, which means we have a fantastic future, and I’m excited to be leading the team as its CEO.
My vision for the team is about bringing in the next generation and supporting them in taking their place on the circuit. In Giles Scott we have an incredible talent who has more than earned his right to become a SailGP driver. Giles hasn’t had many chances to race in the last few years, following on from the Cup in 2021. The only racing opportunities he’s had are in the AC40 warm-up events. This is a great chance for him to get on the water and hone those racing skills.
With regard to the America’s Cup, I have certainly got a responsibility to Jim Ratcliffe, INEOS and the whole team at INEOS Britannia to make sure that I am 100 per cent focused on the Cup, and doing the best possible job on and off the water. When you look at the investment of time and money, we have some incredible opportunities, going all the way back to founding the team ten years ago as a new organisation.
I’m proud of what we have developed over the last three campaigns, building the partnership with INEOS and, through that, the partnership with the Mercedes F1 team. It’s been a huge amount of effort from so many people over a long period of time. I am well aware of the precious chance that we have to grasp. I must make sure that I am at the top of my game, along with Giles and the rest of the team, ahead of what will be a huge event next summer.
At INEOS Britannia we are fully focused on and excited about our AC75 race boat launching this summer. It is one of the amazing things about the Cup that you put in three or four years of huge effort, and then it all comes down to two months of racing. This is the key period where we put the boat in the water and get to line up against the other teams. And then we see if we are going to be in the competition or not. So there is a huge amount of expectation, and within a period of a few days racing we will work out whether we are going to have an enjoyable summer or a difficult one – but that is the game!