The inside take from INEOS Britannia skipper Ben Ainslie | Performance People

[@TerryHickey-xt4mf]

A lovely interview from someone very close to him. I used to live in the UK at Cowes when I was a teenager, ( I now live in NZ at the age of 77). I still love the place, visited there last June and almost died when the guys' fired the starting guns on the esplanade in front of "THE" clubrooms. Was not expecting that! (caught it on a much shaken video though). Cowes still has many fond memories for me including the old boat building yards like Lallows, and the late Uffer Fox having his office there, and the main street flooding during a spring tide, and the Cowes to Torquay power boat racers mooring there between races, Osbourne House, Carisbrooke castle in the middle of the island, etc etc. A very interesting place to visit.

[@alleycatphoto4973]

I was privileged to photograph the whole event, and looking back I would do it all again. I'm confident that Ben and the team will win the 38th AC

[@gordonwhitcher391]

BEN true gentleman and sportsman all the best for the future

[@nigelrichardson7607]

It's fairly apparent Ben needs to step off the boat and focus solely on driving the performance of the team as the CEO. Trying to combine both roles didn't work. It's also knowing when to promote and trust these young sailors who are cutting their teeth in foiling boats, such as Dylan, it's knowing when to step aside for the betterment of the team. The dual helmsman concept has also changed the game, so the boat no longer has one dominant helmsman, you need 2 and you're only as good as your weakest one. Prada probably went one campaign too far with their experienced helmsmen and it cost them, valuable lesson for Ineos going into the next one.

[@conorronan5121]

Americas Cup was fantastic. I got to travel to Barcelona for the last weekend of the Luis V cup. What a location. Could AC 38 be based in Southampton ? Roll on Sail GP. Again got to see Cadiz event every year. Saw the capsize, mad! Cadiz is a stunning location also.

[@martinpaul6146]

Would love Southampton as a base

[@ThePhilcam]

Mmm why would a defender go race in the main competitors back yard?

[@conorronan5121]

@@ThePhilcam Money, I guess

[@trevorsouster4021]

Great interview with Ben, would like to know where he thought the difference was ie weather patten was that what they expected and the styles of boats as ours was totally different to the others

[@AndreDev005]

I've never seen BA look so relaxed, normally he's all uptight and angry. Nice to see. Probably best not to liken being a mega well paid multi millionaire, sailing cutting edge yachts in the AC to being at war. Stay clear of that as to many, it's a very sensitive area. Georgie says have you become the ultimate diplomat? 🤣. She also understod that McIvor wasn't being critical of Ainslie or Ineos after being 4-0 down, quite the opposite, it was about ongoing belief, so maybe she needs to explain it to him more slowly. Cocky was NOT what McIvor was being, but he's a bit of a dick anyway IMO. It's nice to see BA measured and calm.

[@TM-yr3pc]

Similar combo of intensity and intelligence as Seb Coe. Must be hard to live with…nothing ever quite good enough.

[@MoiraCleaver]

Ben needs to work as a ceo not skipper - interesting on watching him over the last decade or so and how he can be a petulant child no less- you are inky as good as on the day - no excuses - your performance on the water is all that counts not negative comments against your competitors - positive thoughts project into positive performance - no being a winning player

[@enigma61ful]

Ben following the trend by dying his hair. Mark Richard's of Wild Oats started that....

[@braydeny]

Ben not get fired up. Lol does she know who she's talking to.

[@TerryHickey-xt4mf]

she has known him for some time.😄

[@michaelstollery7833]

He was the best helm in the second best boat

[@mfmg1000]

Anybody else notice the “first team to 3’peat” comment? Sure, in the modern era. Let’s not forget the history of the U.S. of 24 consecutive wins that essentially created the hype for the importance of a new winner.

[@levio1463]

he is right if you exclude everything pre 1983, or ignore every time the NYYC won.

[@ThePhilcam]

@@levio1463 America won with several different teams, not the same team 3 times. USA used to race several defender teams and the winner went on to defend the cup and when won they took it home…

[@ThePhilcam]

Gap analysis with Ben would be good Where were the gaps?

[@levio1463]

@@ThePhilcam Thats not true. Harold S. Vanderbilt won 1930 1934 and 1937 with essentially the same group of people. Its hard to define what a "team" is as personal are always changing, but the USA has a lot of wins with the same yacht club, and has had a 3'peat with the same club and skipper/owner

[@ConstantlyConfused-x2f]

Sorry but most of the sailing world see the grip the yanks had on the Americas Cup as underhanded and far from "winning " with ridiculous rules designed to stop any outside competitors from having a chance at the Cup. Thank god the Aussies finally got their hands on it.

[@alanoldfield6955]

Ben rewriting history...the commentator gave me an opportunity...give me a break, you lost your temper as you have done many times. Plus that bs from the wife about how Ben would be a great diplomat, with his wild temper driving his mouth he'd be more of a trump than a diplomat