Four-time Olympic champion Ben Ainslie has parted ways with Sir Jim Ratcliffe's America's Cup sailing team.
Ainsley, 47, reportedly, external They had a tense relationship with Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, regarding plans for the upcoming America's Cup which led to them parting ways.
Ainslie was Team Ineos Britannia's manager and captain, having secured Ratcliffe's support in 2018 in a bid for Great Britain's first win in the yacht race since its inception in 1851.
Ineos said in a statement it was “unable to reach agreement” with Ainslie on “terms going forward” after last year's tournament in Barcelona, which New Zealand won.
Ineos plans to compete in the next America's Cup under the name Britannia.
Ainslie's team said in response that they were “surprised” by Ineos' future America's Cup plans and that it “raises significant legal and practical hurdles for them”.
After the split, Ainslie's America's Cup team will be known as Athena Racing.
Ratcliffe did not address the split with Ainslie directly in the Ineos statement, but said he was “very proud” to have “developed a British boat that was truly competitive for the first time in decades”.
Ainslie won medals at five consecutive Olympics from 1996 onwards, including gold at four consecutive Games from 2000 to 2012.
Since winning gold at London 2012, Ainslie's aim has been to win the America's Cup for Great Britain, but all his attempts on a British boat, including those backed by Ineos, have ended in disappointment.
