BEN AINSLIE ALL SET FOR AUCKLAND

After beating a hasty retreat from their winter training base in Cagliari, Sardinia, in March 2020, Sir Ben Ainslie and the rest of INEOS Team UK found themselves in uncertain times. With New Zealand appearing to quickly control the virus, the Cup seemed set to go ahead as planned, but the road map for getting there was suddenly thrown up in the air.

“Since returning to the UK from Cagliari, Sardinia, our focus has very much been on the development of our second boat, which will ultimately be our America’s Cup race boat, Britannia II,” says Ainslie. “As part of that development process, however, we have had a great summer of sailing in the Solent on Britannia I. It’s been