SIR Ben Ainslie admitted he was surprised to have qualified for the quarter finals of the Argo Group Gold Cup in Bermuda.

The Lymington-based Olympic legend said: “We didn’t even think we’d get through to the next round.

Ainslie’s Argo Group-backed team – including another Hampshire Olympian in Iain Percy – yesterday managed to overhaul Pierre Antoine Morvan up the first beat and then led for the rest of his race.

But in the second he was trailing Will Tiller’s Full Metal Jacket team only for the Kiwi team to sail the wrong course, thinking they had finished after two laps, rather than three.

“It was a bit lucky for us,” said Ainslie.

Ainslie’s team was one of three that qualified for the last eight with an 8-1 win-loss record in qualifying.

Southampton sailor Ian Williams’ GAC Pindar team fell to Bjorn Hansen’s eWork Sailing Team, Ainslie lost to Williams, while Francesco Bruni’s Luna Rossa crew fell to Keith Swinton’s Black Swan Racing.