Source:REUTERS/ Hannah McKay
[Saba Sports News] According to British media reports, Ratcliffe is taking legal action to force Ben Ainslie to return the racing boat, which was jointly built by the two for the previous America’s Cup at a cost of £180 million. The billionaire, who is the co-owner of Manchester United, sponsored Ainslie’s sailing team for two consecutive America’s Cup campaigns. The first was held in Auckland in 2021, and the second took place in Barcelona in 2024, with the British team failing to claim the title on both occasions. The pair have since completely fallen out and are now locked in a dispute over the ownership of the multi-million-pound vessel. The 38th America’s Cup is set to take place in Naples next year, and Ainslie, a renowned British Olympic sailing star, is putting together a new British team under the GB1 brand to compete. However, the 73-year-old Ratcliffe insists the boat cannot be used without his permission and must be returned immediately.
The editor believes that this boat is Britain’s most successful America’s Cup racing vessel in history. Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group invested £180 million in it, while its predecessor, the first-generation racing boat, also cost £170 million. Ineos Group is now taking legal action to recover the yacht.