Land Rover BAR had a visit from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, as Prince Phillip enjoyed a tour of their base and met with Sir Keith Mills, Chairman of TEAMORIGIN, organisers of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth and key personnel from Land Rover BAR.
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Under the watchful eye of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, Ainslie raced out to two quick wins.
Despite a relatively light wind and calm seas, the hum of the tension in the rig and the foils slicing through the water makes for an eerie sensation, combined with an extraordinary acceleration which can see the boat reach speeds of up to 50 knots.
The 39-year-old and the sports presenter, 38, announced the happy news through Sir Ben’s sailing sponsor Land Rover BAR in a black-and-white photograph posted on Twitter.
The couple’s new arrival comes as Ainslie gears up to take on the America’s Cup, leading Britain’s 2017 team.
We will change things up compared to what we normally do, said Glenn Ashby, the Team New Zealand skipper, who will take the helm in Burlings absence.
Oracle Team USA’s boat, which lifts out of the water on hydrofoils even in the light breeze, is a far cry from the more stately schooner “America” which first laid claim to the cup known as the “Auld Mug” in the same channel off southern England 165 years ago and after which sport’s oldest trophy is named.
Philip was the guest of the Land Rover BAR team at their headquarters in Portsmouth in his role as Admiral of the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS), whose subsidiary Royal Yacht Squadron Racing is the official challenging club of the British team.
Hindered by a penalty for jumping the gun, Team NZ again finished sixth and last in the second race.
Emirates Team New Zealand, the World Series leaders, hope to hold onto top spot but are without star helmsman Peter Burling who is in Rio preparing for the Olympic Games in the 49er skiff.
Defending Americas Cup champions Oracle Team USA are three points back on 23 alongside Softbank Team Japan. If weather interrupts racing over the weekend, the win will count as an official result.
This weekend’s two days of racing will see him attempt to accrue points in the ACWS, which features the spectacular AC45 foiled catamarans.
The victor plus three guests will receive a tour of the cutting-edge facility on a date to be agreed between the victor and Land Rover BAR (not later than 30 September 2016) – plus the chance to meet members of the team and have an on-the-water rib ride experience.
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Francesco Bruni, helmsman, Artemis Racing: “Today was ok, not great but not too bad”. Every second I am on the water I am learning a lot and it was important to use this practice day to find out about as numerous boat’s little tricks as I can, and while I have learnt a lot today, I hope to perform better tomorrow.
