Seven months after a very public falling out, sailing legend Sir Ben Ainslie has revealed a significantly softened stance towards Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the Manchester United co-owner who dismissed him from the INEOS America's Cup campaign.
The Shock Dismissal and Furious Fallout
The rift began in April 2024, when it was announced that Sir Ben Ainslie would have no involvement in INEOS's quest to win the 38th America's Cup in 2027. The team's project instead appointed Dave Endean as its chief executive.
This decision came as a profound shock to Ainslie, who had been passionately dedicated to ending Great Britain's 173-year wait for America's Cup success. The ambition was dealt a major blow when his team lost out to Emirates Team New Zealand 7-2 in October 2024.
Ainslie's initial reaction was one of pure fury. Through his team, Athena Racing, he released a blistering statement declaring he was 'astounded' by INEOS's plans. The statement also highlighted significant confusion and legal obstacles concerning the partnership's intellectual property (IP).
A Thaw in Relations: From Anger to Acceptance
Now, in a remarkable shift of tone, the 48-year-old Olympian has chosen to focus on the positive aspects of his past partnership with the 73-year-old billionaire.
Speaking to The Times, Ainslie reflected warmly on their time working together. When asked if he would share a drink with Ratcliffe if given the chance, Ainslie responded, 'I hope so. I mean we achieved a lot as a team and Jim and Ineos were a big part of that.'
He was quick to acknowledge the cut-throat nature of high-stakes sport and business, stating, 'This [the split] is the world we live in. There's a lot at stake... None of it's necessarily surprising and I'm still really proud of what we achieved in Barcelona.'
Moving On and New Horizons
Despite his conciliatory words, Ainslie made it clear that he has firmly moved on from the INEOS chapter. 'We had a fantastic partnership, and we achieved a lot together, but we've definitely moved on. We've both moved on,' he stated.
He also provided a resolution to the earlier IP dispute, revealing, 'The IP we developed together we're sharing going forward. We have IP on our side, they have IP on their side, and the agreement is that both teams can take that forward in their own spheres.'
Ainslie's focus is now squarely on his current venture. He is guiding his Emirates GBR team to victory in the SailGP championship. The team currently leads the Black Foils SailGP Team by three points at the top of the standings, heading into the Grand Final in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
