SIR Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup team today begin their quest to become the first British crew ever to lift the historic trophy – in Hampshire.

Four time gold medallist Sir Ben, the greatest ever Olympic sailor, will be at the helm of his Land Rover BAR team's state of the art ‘flying’ boat as they go head to head with the world's top sailors in the first round of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series.

The series will see six crews of five sailors battle it out for bragging rights as well as a place in the event proper in 2017.

And with the first even of the tour taking place in Portsmouth, Sir Ben and his expert crew will be looking to make the most of a home advantage.

The event starts today with a parade of sail and tomorrow sees practice taking place before racing begins on Saturday, concluding on Sunday.

Each team will be sailing a brand new 45ft catamaran capable of speeds of up to 50mph because they lift out of the water on hydrofoils.

The cutting edge boats are set to make the event a spectacle for sailing fans and landlubbers alike.

David Carr, bowman with Land Rover BAR, said: “As soon as the five-minute gun goes for the first race on Saturday, it’s going to be all-on.

“You just look at the people who are holding the tillers across the fleet and it is the Who’s Who of sailing from the last three or four America’s Cup cycles, and Olympics and Round the World races.

“It really is the ultimate line-up of sailors and there’s just no way you’re not going to be taking it to the limit on Race 1.

Despite the excitement, Carr said Land Rover BAR will be going into racing with some trepidation and a wariness of the talents of their rivals.

“I can honestly say, hand on heart, of the six boats going into this first regatta, that I couldn’t pick a winner right now," he said.

“Everyone’s got their strengths, and it will be very interesting to see how it plays out.

“I’m always a bit wary in terms of saying what I think we’ll do.

“Obviously we’d like to win it.

“Do I think we can win it? Yes, we can. But all the other five teams can as well.

“We’re ready to go racing, that’s for sure. We’re ready to do battle with these guys. But they’re ready to come and battle as well.

“As a sailing team, we’re ready to go.

“It’s almost a case of I wish it started tomorrow, because we are kind of chomping at the bit!”

The other fives teams are current America's Cup holders Team USA, who Ainslie sailed for in the last America's Cup in 2013, as well as teams from Japan, France, Sweden and New Zealand.

In an interesting twist Ainslie will be facing off against fellow Hampshire sailor and Olympic star Iain Percy, a childhood friend of his, who will be skippering Sweden's Artemis team.