SAILING superstar Sir Ben Ainslie is on the verge of unveiling the crew with which he hopes to bring the America’s Cup home to Britain for the first time in 150 years.
Sir Ben, the most successful sailor in Olympic history, will lead a British team of world-class sailors in a bid to win the prestigious trophy.
The 37-year-old from Lymington was part of the American team that lifted the trophy following the 34th edition of the competition in San Francisco last year.
But no British team has ever won the regatta since its beginnings as a race around the Isle of Wight in 1851.
The competition has since been dominated by crews from America, Australia and New Zealand.
Sir Ben is due to announce the team he will lead in the 35th America’s Cup on Tuesday (June10) at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.
The racing ace will get Royal support for the bid in the form of the Duchess of Cambridge, who will attend the announcement.
Organisers of the America’s Cup announced this week that the event will be contested in 62ft catamarans in 2017.
A series of qualifying events will be held at unnamed venues worldwide in the run-up to the main event.
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