INEOS TEAM UK - The challenge of a lifetime
Ben Ainslie takes on the challenge of a lifetime by competing in the 36th America’s Cup in New Zealand.
INEOS TEAM UK, Winners Sail GP Sydney
INEOS joins as Presenting Partner, alongside Belstaff, Grenadier which serve as Supporting Partners of the new-look Great Britain SailGP Team. Ben Ainslie and his British team wasted no time establishing themselves on the SailGP circuit with impressive performances throughout Sydney SailGP to claim their first event title.
Henri-Lloyd partnership and relaunch of brand
In September 2018 it was announced that clothier Henri Lloyd will continue its long partnership with Sir Ben by supplying the kit for INEOS Team UK in the pursuit of the 36th challenge of the America’s Cup in 2021.
November, Rolex partnership
“I have been aware of Rolex’s involvement in sailing for many, many years and it is an honour to be involved. Sailing is a technical sport. Precision and excellence are core to the overall performance in sailing from a sporting perspective and this is a common link with what Rolex stands for.”
October, Belstaff announcement
Belstaff announces a partnership with Olympic sailing star Sir Ben Ainslie. Ben joins a long line of adventurous spirits who were not afraid to take the road less travelled, among them TE Lawrence, Che Guevara, Amelia Earhart and Steve McQueen.
Oct, Ben and Georgie become ambassadors Ocean Conservation Trust
As a global Ocean conservation charity, we are acting now towards our vision of a healthy Ocean. As Ocean Ambassadors, Ben and Georgie work with us to connect young people and their families with our Ocean and promote pro-Ocean behaviour.
Announcement of INEOS TEAM UK
In 2017 INEOS TEAM UK officially challenge for the Auld Mug, better known as the 36th America’s Cup. In 2018 the team is publicly announced as INEOS TEAM UK, the British Challenge to bring the America’s Cup home to Britain.
35th America’s Cup
Land Rover BAR compete in the 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda. The team are knocked out at the semi-final stage of the Louis Vuitton Challenger series by 5-2 against the eventual America’s Cup winners, ETNZ, Ben Ainslie’s start-up team Land Rover BAR did much that was right. Ainslie, flanked by backers Sir Keith Mills and Sir Charles Dunstone, built a superb new base in Portsmouth and assembled an almost fully British team of some of the world’s best sailors.
Birth of Bellatrix Ainslie
Ben and Georgie welcome their daughter Bellatrix into the world.
“Becoming a parent with Georgie was the best day of my life. It was so emotional; I was very proud.”
Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series winner
British America’s Cup Challenger, Land Rover BAR, crowned 2015-2016 Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series champions.
“It was an amazing day for the team because our core goal was to win the overall series, that is what we came here to do. To achieve that and come out on top in the final event to get four regatta wins in the overall series, that is a huge achievement from a completely new team.”
Ben Ainslie announced as Laureus Ambassador
October 2015. Ben is announced as Laureus ambassador and kicked off his new role as Laureus Ambassador by inviting a group of youngsters from local Havant project Big World Impact to meet the team and sail with the 1851 Trust and the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation.
Married Georgie Thompson
Ben Ainslie and Georgie Thompson enjoyed a wonderful wedding at Hampton Court Palace. Georgie Ainslie better known as Georgie Thompson, is a British broadcast journalist. She spent 10 years at Sky Sports News before moving to cover Sky Sports Formula 1 in 2013 and presented a daily sports talk show alongside Regis Philbin in New York.
Ben announced as patron of 1851 trust
Sir Keith Mills and four-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Ben Ainslie launched the 1851 Trust in 2014. The 1851 Trust is a dynamic and innovative education charity committed to working with teachers to inspire young people nationwide. We believe in encouraging young people from all backgrounds to imagine their futures differently. By harnessing the power of professional sport, we challenge perceptions and engage with students to share the opportunities science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) have to offer.
Ben Ainslie Racing Launches America’s Cup Challenge 2014
On The 10th June, Ben Ainslie Racing launched its campaign for the 35th America’s Cup, as they aim to bring the Cup home to Britain. In 2015 the team became known as Land Rover BAR.
Announced as Trustee and ambassador for the Andrew Simpson Foundation
Sir Ben Ainslie is a Founding trustee of the Andrew Simpson Foundation (ASF) and was a life-long friend of Andrew “Bart” Simpson, the British Olympic and Americas Cup Sailor.
Ben wins 34th America’s Cup with ORACLE TEAM USA
On the 25th September 2013, Ben fulfilled a childhood ambition winning the 34th America’s Cup sailing with ORACLE TEAM USA. In one of the biggest comebacks in sporting history, the defenders ORACLE TEAM USA, fought back against the odds to win the 34th America’s Cup 9-8 in a winner takes all race against the challenger Emirates Team New Zealand.
Ben awarded Knighthood
Ben visits Buckingham Palace to collect his knighthood from Her Princess Royal.
“This is an incredible honour. When I set out Olympic sailing twenty years ago, I never would have dreamt this would happen,” he said. “I couldn’t have achieved this honour without the support of all the people who have helped me throughout my career and so I hope they can also take some pride in this moment.”
Ben announces Olympic retirement
“Stepping away from the Olympics was not an easy decision to make and I wanted to take some time after London to think about the future and what the next challenge would be. I’ve had an amazing Olympic sailing career and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the countless number of people who have been involved in my sailing career to date. Their support enabled me to achieve my dreams and I could not have done it without them.”
Rolex World Sailor of the year, 4th award
Ben is named as the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year 2012, this is a record fourth time he has received this award.
London 2012 closing Ceremony
Ben carries the Union Jack flag during the Closing Ceremony is London 2012 Olympic Games.
London Olympics 2012 – Gold
Ben takes victory on home waters in the Finn, securing his forth consecutive gold medal and fifth Olympic medal, the result makes Ben the most successful Olympic sailor of all time.
“My heart was in my mouth all the way round the racecourse. It was a difficult course to decide what would work. When it is that shifty and puffy it’s pretty hard to predict.”
Ben starts Olympic Torch Relay
Ben is the first Olympic Torch bearer for the London 2012 Games.
“It was something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life, a once in a lifetime experience and I’m just very proud to be a part of it.”
Finn Gold Cup Falmouth
Ben was presented with the Finn Gold Cup for a record sixth time. He previously won the Finn crown in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2008.
“Winning this year is the most special [of all six titles] for me personally because it’s where I grew up and learnt to sail and I have so much history here. And with the Olympics just around the corner it’s a great time to go out and win a world championship.”
Sail for Gold
12 months ahead of the London Games, Ben wins the Sail for Gold regatta in Weymouth securing his subsequent place as GBR representative for the 2012 London Olympics.
“I sealed the regatta win and it worked out OK. It’s always quite tense with those match races, it’s never easy and Giles (Scott) sailed very well and put up a good fight. It’s a tough situation that we only have one spot per class.”
Beijing Olympic Games – Gold
Ben takes his third gold medal in the Finn class at the Beijing Games taking and showed no signs of slowing down as he looked ahead to what was next.
“I’ve always enjoyed competing and to do so again on home waters would be a dream.”
Team Origin announcement
In 2005 Ben signed with Team New Zealand for a two-year stint with the team. Following his time with Team New Zealand, Ben’s ambitions to bring the America’s Cup back to Britain were reignited and he was named as skipper for Team Origin, the British America’s Cup challenge
John Merricks Sailing Trust
Ben is announced as patron of the John Merricks Sailing Trust in memory of Olympic Sailor John Merricks.
“I am honoured to be the first patron of the John Merricks Sailing Trust and delighted to have been asked to support a charity that helps young sailors in the UK. John was not only a great sailor but his attitude to the sport was a terrific example to all young sailors of the future.”
Finn World Champion
Continuing his winning streak, Ben competes and wins the Finn World Championships in Russia 2005. Moscow, Ainslie has made his own record, winning the Finn Gold Cup – arguably one of dinghy sailing’s hardest and most coveted trophies, for the fourth time in a row.
Olympic Games 2004 Athens – Gold
After a securing a win in the Finn world championships in Cadiz, Spain in 2002. Ben goes on to dominate in the Finn class and takes his third Olympic medal in Athens 2004. Ainslie needed to finish within 14 places of his nearest rival, Spain’s Rafael Trujillo, to win the gold. He did so with ease, tracking his rival the entire way round the Olympic course to finish only one place back.
Olympic Games 2000
One of Ben’s favourite sailing venues, he competed in the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, winning his first ever Gold medal in the Laser class.
“Every day of my life over the last three years has been involved in trying to win this gold medal.Sydney proved to myself that I could handle big pressure situations, which is something that has helped me a lot and gave me a lot of confidence going forward.”
Olympic Games 1996
Ben’s first Olympic Games in Atlanta 1996. At 19 years old Ben came away with a Silver medal in the Laser Class.
“Someone I respected a lot said to me after the silver in ’96 that it may be the best thing that ever happened to me. If I had won a gold medal at 19, maybe everything that goes with being a gold medallist at such a young would have distracted me and I would have lost a bit of focus. Instead, I was really fired up to try and set the record straight in Sydney and from there I had the confidence to go and do it again and again.”
Ben aged 8 learning to sail
Ben was eight when he first got into a boat at the Restronguet sailing club, just down the Cornish coast. Sailing was a family affair, his father, Roddy, skippering the yacht, Second Life, in the first Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973-74.
“It was a bit of a Swallows and Amazons spot, a beautiful coastline, lots of little inlets, rivers “I had friends on the other side of the creek so quite often the only way to meet was sailing or rowing over to one another.”