Ben Ainslie steps down

[@mr.workingclassag4066]

Ben gave his all to the team Enjoy the R&R Ben

[@steveburton5825]

Canadian here... I will miss Sir Ben on the SailGP front as I love his aggression even with the occasional mistakes. He's the epitome of go big or go home. Best of luck in the AC75's with INEOS in 2024.

[@dap777754]

Please, just stop with the "Sir" foolishness. Has nothing to do with sailing or the America's Cup - or anything useful, actually.

[@Chris.Davies]

We will no longer have to put up with Shirley shrieking endlessly about how great Sir Ben is. PHEW! Good luck against the Kiwis, Ben - you gonna need it, mate!

[@adrianwindo]

In my lifetime (I'm 65) there have been very few properly funded UK attempts to win the America's Cup. It must be right that Sir Ben has this fantastic opportunity as his focus. To date, the cup campaign doesn't seem to have been going well with poor performances in the two AC40 events. The competition is incredibly tough so let's hope the smarts in the LEQ12 are going to differentiate the cup boat when it emerges in the summer.

[@noone-ld7pt]

I wouldn't be putting to much stock in the AC40 results as they are all competing in wildly different boats than the actual AC75s. I guess it is a very general indicator of foiling technique but with how incredibly different boats like these respond with just minor tweeks it seems like the AC40s are mostly a publicity stunt imo. The real work is done behind the scenes in the LEQ12 as you mentioned and then we'll get the first real indicators when the Big Boats finally come out to play! God damn I'm excited!

[@bradclifton5248]

It really comes down to the catch up. We can assume this next generation AC75s will be much more similar and closer over all. Biggest question is whether anyone can come up with something that gives them the edge.

[@tristankiddie1710]

The ineos leq12 doesn't look very fast unfortunately. Even with the new team co-op, them seem to lack something. I hope their big boat proves this wrong!

[@RT-np5ws]

Lesst talk. More sailing

[@bradclifton5248]

Indeed but, I'm not sure now but, NZ has never matched other teams for funding. When they won in Burmuda, Dalton was spending most of his time hunting for more money. It's about the team first.

[@ChrisPlow]

He’s a great single handed sailor in Lasers and Finn class, but he’s just not a big boat team leader (that’s just my opinion don’t shoot me) ⛵💨

[@istra70]

100 % correct. I keep saying this nearly since he become a Sir.

[@pierangelocangialosi3540]

Ah ah now he is the main skipper of Ineos Britannia

[@JafetRamirez1974]

thanks Ben!

[@istra70]

Need to say : " Thanks God Ben ".

[@kevinoshea9125]

I enjoy your coverage, AC and otherwise, what are the boat speed to wind speed multiples for the AC75s?? 4x or higher? Thx

[@shinybaldy]

Should have happened 2 cycles ago - but finally making the right choice to move on.

[@blinkybagger8342]

There's not enough content talking about the relationship between the 2 competitions, which are in competition with each other. Given the origin & significant overlap in terms of tech & personnel, I'd guess those on the inside may spend significant amounts of time in contemplation of the differences between classes & format, whilst the public are trapped in more binary consideration of events both on-&-off the water. It is a dance where both comps need to prosper.

[@coolwhiprofl]

It has definitely been exaggerated even more now with them sailing the AC40 for a big part of the cup competition. Sail GP is fun sailing and everyone competing speaks highly of it but it is not at all as respected and challenging on all fronts as the actual cup.

[@highlyerratic]

Hopefully the team can actually get some decent race starts now.

[@istra70]

I bet ...

[@jamins827]

This is why Ben stepped down. Americas cup now has 2 drivers. Giles is an awesome sailor but has little match racing experience let alone match racing on a foiling boat. In order for the Americas cup project to have success, Giles needs the practice in a race situation in this sort of boat.

[@barneyrubble9309]

im guessing the Ineos project isnt going as well as they hoped so he's been asked to concentrate full time on this.

[@JB-xd9dr]

Can someone tell me why he’s not had more success in SailGP? I’d thought his skill set was good but perhaps it’s more about the equipment? Can I have an unbiased viewpoint please?

[@CG-99]

This won't change much for the AC - the Brits have been on the back foot every step of the way and I doubt many people are realistically expecting much of a result on Barcelona - be lucky to make the challenger semi final IMO.

[@istra70]

Send him back into Lasers or retirement. He messed up last AC ( did not win single start ) , and he will mess up coming one too. Sir messed up Sail GP too ..... and you still don't have enough of him ? Actually keeping him is beneficial to your competitors !

[@braydeny]

Nz love sir Ben. Please keep him on the helm and in charge

[@brigitteprasek4988]

I always rooted for Sir Ben and regarded him as an inspiration, but: telling us that Hannah didn't have enough time on the wheel to take the F50 over and hand the boat to a guy who has - how much experience in this boat precisely? Is it only me who smells double standards here? 😢

[@joeypierantonis7576]

VERY clever click bait.. Planet sail

[@braydeny]

Yup haha, try say hello to this guy at an event and you'll be in for a treat 😉 😄 😂😂

[@juldwarrior3169]

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[@TheoSmith249]

Can only milk the medals for so long.... I thought he did well... with the dairy I mean.

[@cparnaby]

Me mam's a better driver than me, and she's 78

[@dap777754]

What does calling this guy a "Sir" have anything to do with sailing? Always this British fetish with titles and royal pronouncements and pomp and circumstance; don't you guys ever tire of it?

[@braydeny]

Sail gp just got a lot safer

[@CG-99]

This won't change much for the AC - the Brits have been on the back foot every step of the way and I doubt many people are realistically expecting much of a result on Barcelona - be lucky to make the challenger semi final IMO.