Britain's richest person Jim Ratcliffe (left) is pumping $141 million into Ben Ainslie's quest to win the 36th America's Cup in New Zealand in 2021.
Britain's richest person Jim Ratcliffe (left) is pumping $141 million into Ben Ainslie's quest to win the 36th America's Cup in New Zealand in 2021.
Lloyd Images/Getty Images
The team is known as Ineos Team UK, named after the Ineos petrochemical company which has made Ratcliffe a $26.9 billion fortune. The outfit has launched a radical test boat based on the 75-foot foiling monohull that will be used in Auckland.
The team is known as Ineos Team UK, named after the Ineos petrochemical company which has made Ratcliffe a $26.9 billion fortune. The outfit has launched a radical test boat based on the 75-foot foiling monohull that will be used in Auckland.
Harry KH/INEOS TEAM UK
That's because defender Team New Zealand scrapped the multihulls from Bermuda 2017 and opted for an unproven foiling monohull, to be known as an AC75.
That's because defender Team New Zealand scrapped the multihulls from Bermuda 2017 and opted for an unproven foiling monohull, to be known as an AC75.
Ineos Team UK
Britain has not won the America's Cup in its 167-year history but four-time Olympic gold medalist Ainslie is determined to put that right. Ineos is the first of the four competing teams to have launched a prototype.
Britain has not won the America's Cup in its 167-year history but four-time Olympic gold medalist Ainslie is determined to put that right. Ineos is the first of the four competing teams to have launched a prototype.
Harry KH/INEOS TEAM UK
Ainslie says early trials in the T5 test boat have been "fun" and "full on" and says there has been "a lot of swimming" as he and his team get to grips with its unique foiling properties.
Ainslie says early trials in the T5 test boat have been "fun" and "full on" and says there has been "a lot of swimming" as he and his team get to grips with its unique foiling properties.
Harry KH/INEOS TEAM UK
Ratcliffe and Ainslie met for the first time over a beer in March and the billionaire was quickly hooked on the concept, provided Ineos could be the sole sponsor in return for full funding.
Ratcliffe and Ainslie met for the first time over a beer in March and the billionaire was quickly hooked on the concept, provided Ineos could be the sole sponsor in return for full funding.
Lloyd Images
Ainslie, Britain's most successful Olympic sailor, won the America's Cup with Oracle Team USA in 2013 before launching his own Ben Ainslie Racing syndicate to compete in Bermuda last time around.
Ainslie, Britain's most successful Olympic sailor, won the America's Cup with Oracle Team USA in 2013 before launching his own Ben Ainslie Racing syndicate to compete in Bermuda last time around.
HARRY KH
Winning the America's Cup would be "immense," Ratcliffe tells CNN Sport. "I'd love it. Also for Britain. We've been having a crack for one and half centuries, which describes the size of the challenge, so it would be a fabulous achievement."
Winning the America's Cup would be "immense," Ratcliffe tells CNN Sport. "I'd love it. Also for Britain. We've been having a crack for one and half centuries, which describes the size of the challenge, so it would be a fabulous achievement."
HARRY KH