The 34-year-old Briton, speaking here at a press event to launch his own racing team in the America's Cup World Series and to outline his plans to join ORACLE Racing in defence of the 34th America's Cup, made it clear that he may yet compete in what would be his sixth Games if circumstances are favourable.

Asked if his forthcoming America's Cup commitments would mean calling his Olympic career to a close, he responded: "In Olympic terms I'm not getting any younger, but I wouldn't say so, necessarily.

"A lot depends on the classes of 2016 and what is eventually selected and, a little bit, how things go in the summer.

"Racing in the 2012-13 World Series doesn't get underway until late August, so there will be absolutely no impingement on my Olympic plans.

"I remain 100 per cent focused and committed on that.

"This will kick in post-Olympics.

"It great to have something in place so that once the Olympics is over you move on with the next stage of your career."


Ainslie is awaiting the judgement of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) following the controversial actions which led to him being disqualified from last month's World Championships in Perth, Australia, where he was seeking what would have been his sixth title in the finn class.

The Briton jumped out of his boat at the end of a race and boarded a television crew boat to voice his objections to the course they had steered, which he felt had created a wash which hampered his own progress.

After a heated exchange during which he appeared to shove one of the boat's occupants to one side, he jumped back into the water to return to his boat.

He was subsequently disqualified by the international jury for "a breach of good manners" and also for "bringing the sport into disrepute".

Ainslie admitted: "It certainly wasn't the greatest moment of my sailing career.

"It was a very regrettable incident.

"The issue is in the hands of the RYA and it's up to them now to decide what the next step is with the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).

"So it's hard for me to comment too much about it.

"I will say that I obviously regret hugely what happened.

"It was an incredibly frustrating situation, and at the end of the day I think people seem to forget that the result was I lost the world championship after an incredibly tough series and that was absolutely gut-wrenching. "

Ainslie's World Series campaign, which he estimates will require a budget of around €3 million ($3.8 million/£2.5 million), has been underwritten by ORACLE, for whom he will be racing in the America's Cup once it concludes.


Russell Coutts (pictured left), the former Olympic gold medallist and four-time America's Cup winner who is chief executive of ORACLE Racing, explained how the new arrangement had come about.

"I approached Ben to try and get him in involved in the Cup defence," he said.

"He came back to me and said 'I really want to do my own team and set that side of it up'.

"That's how we began discussions.

"He got what he wanted – he gets to get his own team in the World Series, but we get the use of his sailing ability for the America's Cup and then he obviously gets to learn from that technology to apply to his own team in the future.

"Frankly it was a no-brainer on our side.

"We'd rather have him on our side for this particular Cup than racing against us."

Ainslie added: "Growing up, my two goals I wanted to try and achieve were the Olympics0 and the America's Cup.

"I've had some great experiences in the America's Cup with other teams but I very much wanted to be with a winning team one day.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to be involved with a top team.

"I have the opportunity to learn from the best, and will do whatever I can to help them retain the America's Cup.

"But we very much hope to be a challenger in the future for the 35th America's Cup with Ben Ainslie Racing.

"I hope that though the World Series we can bring together some commercial partners.

"It's a fantastic  opportunity for them to get a taste of what the America's Cup is all about and hopefully we can  then build the brand and the team to be a full-on challenger for the Cup.

"We are a British team but this is a global event and we are looking globally for partners to come in to World Series racing and, as it were, test the waters for the America's Cup."

Coutts added: "The new format of the America's Cup is suited to the younger, more athletic Olympic sailors.

"British sailing is very strong, and in a fantastic position in the next few years to mount a very, very strong America's Cup challenge."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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