Sir Jim Ratcliffe confirms dramatic split from Sir Ben Ainslie - but Man United co-owner vows to continue pursuit of America's Cup glory
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe has dramatically split from Sir Ben Ainslie and announced he will continue his mission to win the America’s Cup without the four-time Olympic champion. Tensions between the pair have surfaced in the wake of Ineos Britannia’s defeat in the Cup final last October, with sources disclosing that Ratcliffe has considered walking away from sailing after two previous attempts to win sport’s oldest trophy.
![[Ainslie skippered victory in the Challenger series last year, but ultimately fell short in Barcelona]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/17/94396889-14318491-Tensions_are_believed_to_be_fraying_between_Sir_Ben_Ainslie_and_-a-16_1737653864520.jpg)
But the Manchester United co-owner has instead opted to have another go, albeit without the Olympic legend who has skippered his two previous attempts, including last year’s historic victory in the challenger series. The parting was confirmed in a cold 197-word statement, in which it was telling that Ratcliffe’s comment did not include a single mention of Ainslie.
The absence of any public gratitude towards one of Britain’s greatest sportsmen will also raise eyebrows among crew and staff. Ratcliffe said: ‘I am enormously proud of what we achieved in Barcelona in developing a British boat that was truly competitive for the first time in decades.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has split from Sir Ben Ainslie, right, but is still aiming to win the America's Cup. Ainslie skippered victory in the Challenger series last year, but ultimately fell short in Barcelona. ‘It set new benchmarks for British sailing, including winning the Louis Vuitton Cup for the first time, and taking races off the Defender in the finals for the first time in 90 years.
