A seismic shift in the America's Cup, Vendee Globe finishers, warm-water racing
by David Schmidt 28 Jan 08:00 PST
January 28, 2025
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Ben Ainslie shake hands after INEOS Britannia wins the Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin Series - 9th September 2024 © David Maynard /
www.alleycatphotographer.com
While the dates and details of the next America's Cup have yet to be finalized, the AC world was jolted last week by the news that Sir Ben Ainslie will not return as principal, CEO, and skipper of the British-flagged INEOS Britannia team. Ainslie is the most decorated Olympic sailor of all time (four gold medals, one silver) and led the last three British challenges for the Auld Mug (2017, 2021, 2024), the last two of which benefitted from sponsorship from INEOS Group, the British-flagged chemical and fossil-fuel company that was founded in 1998 by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who still serves as the multinational company's CEO.
While Ainslie led INEOS Britannia to victory in the Louis Vuitton Cup and took two wins off of Emirates Team New Zealand in the 37th America's Cup, this wasn't enough to keep his job.
In an official statement by Ratcliffe and INEOS Britania, it was clear that, while the team will move ahead, Sir Ben will not be part of the program. (N.B., the Royal Yacht Squadron, represented by INEOS Britannia, is the Challenger of Record [CoR] for the 38th America's Cup.)
"INEOS will enter a challenge for the 38th America's Cup under the team name INEOS Britannia after parting ways with Sir Ben Ainslie," INEOS said in an official statement. "Unfortunately, INEOS Britannia and Sir Ben could not find agreement on terms to move forward following the conclusion of the 37th America's Cup in Barcelona."
Ainslie will be replaced by David Endean (NZL), who previously held the job of COO for the British-flagged Cup team.
For his part, Ainslie claims to have been surprised by this news.
"The British Challenger for the 38th America's Cup, led by Sir Ben Ainslie, was astounded to read today's statement from INEOS and Mercedes F1 regarding their planned challenge for the 38th America's Cup," said Ainslie's team in an official release. (N.B., Ainslie heads the Athena Racing sailing team). "This plan raises significant legal and practical obstacles for them that will play out in the coming days and weeks. Furthermore, Sir Ben Ainslie's British America's Cup team will be known as Athena Racing going forwards, aligning with the British Women's and Youth America's Cup team, the Athena Pathway."
This news raises significant questions, especially as the Defender (the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, which is represented by Emirates Team New Zealand sailing team) was presumably deep into talks with the CoR about the pressing details regarding the next Cup match.
As of this writing, it's unclear whether Ainslie (the sailing team) or Ratcliffe (the money and the design team) are functioning as the CoR.
Sail-World's New Zealand Editor, Richard Gladwell, wrote a excellent deep dive into this issue, which is mandatory reading for any Cup junkie.
Sail-World has our fingers crossed for a peaceful settlement that does not involve a trip back to the New York State Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, which administers the Deed of Gift that governs the America's Cup.
Meanwhile, in offshore sailing news, eight additional skippers—Jeremie Beyou (74 days, 12 hours, 56 minutes, and 54 seconds), Paul Meilhat (74 days, 22 hours, 38 minutes, and 15 seconds), Nicolas Lunven (75 days, 7 hours, 49 minutes, and 41 seconds), Thomas Ruyant (75 days, 16 hours, 47 minutes, and 27 seconds), Justine Mettraux (76 days, 1 hour, 36 minutes, and 52 seconds), Sam Goodchild (76 days, 2 hours, 1 minute, and 45 seconds), Benjamin Dutreux (77 days, 3 hours, 39 minutes, and 24 seconds), and Clarisse Crémer (77 days, 15 hours, 34 minutes, and 28 seconds)—have completed the Vendée Globe.
Interestingly, these finishing times would have won all but the 2016-2017 and 2024-2025 editions of this storied race.
"Vendée Globe 2024 is in my pocket!" said Crémer in an official communication. "What a relief! Just under 78 days to sail around the world, it's absurd... A great 11th place, and given the preparation I've had, we worked well as a team. We couldn't have done it a lot better!
Crémer, it should be noted, sailed to La Rochelle, rather than Les Sables d'Olonne, after crossing the finishing line to avoid weather. "I'm all alone in the middle of the night, with nobody, but with the same joy!" Crémer continued. "This has to be the most intimate finish in the history of the Vendée Globe. I can't wait to see people to celebrate it, it's really so cool! Now, go to La Rochelle!"
Sail-World celebrates these bold skippers who raced alone around the world via the three grate capes, and we are continuing to watch the remaining 23 skippers who are still working their way back to the finishing line.
Meanwhile, much closer to home, The Southernmost Regatta (January 20-25) recently concluded on the waters off Key West, Florida. In addition to offering keelboat racing in a warm venue, the event served as the J/111 class's North American Championship.
Peter Wagner and his Skeleton Key crew took home top honors in the 10-strong class, followed by Bill Baxter's Fireball, and Jeff Davis' Shamrock.
Racing was also tight in the J/70 and Melges 24 classes at the Bacardi Winter Series Event 2, which took place up the coast from Key West on the waters of Miami's Biscayne Bay.
In the J/70s, Peter Duncan's Relative Obscurity team beat out Charles Thompson's Brutus III squad and Cate Muller's Casting Coach to take home the event's top trophy.
"It was a really great event, great wind, great competition, great friends - a lot of fun!" said Victor Diaz de Leon, who served as Duncan's tactician, in an official communication. "It was really tough competition, and we are really happy to have come away with a win. We had great chemistry onboard, and we are really enjoying being together."
And in the Melges 24 class, Peter-David Karrié's Nefeli team posted 22 points to top the leaderboard, followed by Harry Melges IV's Zenda Express squad and Laura Grondin's Dark Energy.
"It's our first win here," said Karrié in an event release. "In March last year, we came close but finished 2nd. This time, it feels fantastic to finally win. There were so many good sailors and big names. The easiest way to win was to take the last race, and we did it! We've been sailing together for a long time, like a family, and that really pays off."
May the four winds blow you safely home.
David Schmidt
Sail-World.com North American Editor