22 November

A stunning final day performance from Land Rover BAR took the ultimate round of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) in Japan – and with the win they became 2015-2016 ACWS Champions.

They did it with a race to spare, creating a sufficient buffer that they could focus on winning the event in the final race on 20 November 2016.

A roller coaster day saw the team lock out the USA and New Zealand – the two closest overall opponents – at the start of the first race, only to watch them fly by on the run.

Land Rover BAR recovered to a 4th but with the Kiwis and Americans in 2nd and 3rd it was still wide open.

The team kept supporters on their toes as they broke the line early in race two, with New Zealand and the USA clear leaders at the start gun.

A stunning recovery on the first lap saw them back into the pack, and with an incredible final leg pass the Americans, Land Rover BAR sealed their World Series win.

A third in the final race meant the full champagne moment as Sir Ben Ainslie and crew closed out the double with a win for the Fukuoka event.

Speaking after their win, skipper and team principal, Sir Ben said: “It was an amazing day for the team because our core goal was to win the overall series, that is what we came here to do. To achieve that and come out on top in the final event to get four regatta wins in the overall series, that is a huge achievement from a completely new team.”

“Two and a half years ago we had absolutely nothing, so what we have achieved in building the team, the infrastructure, and this performance in the World Series is something we should all be incredibly proud of – but at the same time it’s just one step in our journey to the America’s Cup,” he continued.

“Our objective was to get the two bonus points and we’ve got that, and now the focus is clearly on the race boat and the performance next summer in Bermuda,” stressed the Land Rover BAR skipper

“I am absolutely delighted by how things have gone, but at the same time I know our team and how focused they are on the America’s Cup. We will be straight into training in Bermuda and getting best prepared for the America’s Cup to try and bring it home after a 167 years of hurt,” added Sir Ben.

Wing trimmer Paul ‘CJ’ Campbell-James praised his team mates.

“We couldn’t be happier, to win with one race to spare and then go on and dominate that last race and get the regatta win – it just doesn’t get better than that. We battled all day and that is when we are at our strongest – if the going gets tough we get going,” said Campbell-James.

“It’s also good to have the most experienced man in the world steering, Ben did a fantastic job and Giles (Scott) got us out of some deep holes, while Nick (Hutton) and Fred (David Carr) put in a fantastic work rate. Special thanks goes to all the support team here in Japan and back in Portsmouth – they are key to keeping us on form,” he added.

It’s been an extraordinary season for Land Rover BAR.

In nine events, the team have only been off the podium twice, recording four event wins (Portsmouth x 2, Oman and Fukuoka), bolstered by a second (Chicago) and two third places (Gothenburg and Toulon).

The World Series win means that the team will take two vital bonus points into the next round of the competition, the America’s Cup Qualifiers, starting 26 May 2017 in Bermuda.

17 November

It is win at all costs in Japan this weekend, as the America’s Cup World Series teams go into the final round of the competition.

Land Rover BAR are the current leaders, with a 14 point advantage over Oracle Team USA. They are also the only team to have won three world series events in this cup cycle.

Chasing the defenders of the America’s Cup are Emirates Team New Zealand, who are three points behind Jimmy Spithill and his men.

All three teams have a good chance of winning the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series, but, mathematically, so do SoftBank Team Japan, now lying in fourth on 399 points.

Behind them, Artemis Racing know that the best they can do is come second overall in the series.

In sixth place on 360 points is Groupama Team France, but they also, as all the teams ahead of them do, have a very strong reason to win big in Japan.

Not only is the America’s Cup World Series trophy up for grabs, but also two points in the America’s Cup Qualifiers, the opening round of the 2017 America’s Cup in Bermuda

When the America’s Cup Qualifiers come to a close, the final results will be determined by the America’s Cup World Series rankings if there is a tie between teams.

Finishing well in Fukuoka could see a team through to the America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs, instead of going out in round one.

Commenting ahead of the start of racing, skipper and team principal of Land Rover BAR, Sir Ben Ainslie said: “It looks like a good race course with predominantly lighter winds. It’s great for the America’s Cup to be going to Asia, and for Japan to be hosting the final event in the series.”

“We have got a reasonable points gap, but we’re very much taking it like any other event. That approach has worked for us so far, and I think we need to keep that going,” he continued.

“We’ll have the same preparation and the same focus and not consider the overall points until we get to the final couple of races on the Sunday. If we’re going to win, we’re going to have to sail well in Japan so we’ll just focus on doing that,” stated Sir Ben.

Points, trophies, and ways to progress through the 2017 America’s Cup – everything is there to be taken in Japan, which means the action is going to be intense!

All the action – in the UK and Ireland – can be watched live on BT Sport, with Saturday and Sunday’s racing coverage beginning at 4am.

Both channels will run replays of the racing throughout the weekend.

Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series – Fukuoka

FRIDAY 18 November 2016 – PRACTICE DAY

10:30 Village and Hospitality opens
11.30 Fly by of the racing boats
13.00 Match Racing /Fleet races
15.00 Media mixed zone
19:00 Official Open Ceremony
19.00 Village and Hospitality closes

SATURDAY 19 November 2016 – RACE DAY 1

10:30 Event Village and Hospitality Opens
11:00 Boats on event’s moorings
12:00 Dock-out show (main stage)
12:30 Fly by
13:00 Race 1/2/3
14:30 Racing Ends
15:00 Fly by along the beach at the end of racing
15:30 Media mixed Zone / Posters signing / Stage Q&A
19:00 Event Village and Hospitality closes

SUNDAY 20 November 2016 – RACE DAY 2 & FINALS

10:30 Event Village and Hospitality opens
11:00 Boats on event’s moorings in front of Mourillon’s beaches
12:00 Dock-out show (main stage)
12:30 Fly by
13:00 Race 4/5/6
14:30 Racing Ends
15:30 Prize Giving Ceremony
18:00 Event Village and Hospitality closes

Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Overall Results

1. Land Rover BAR, 437 points
2. ORACLE TEAM USA, 423 points
3. Emirates Team New Zealand, 420 points
4. Softbank Team Japan, 399 points
5. Artemis Racing, 391 points
6. Groupama Team France, 360 points

 

12 September

The Land Rover BAR crew proved themselves rock steady under immense pressure on Super Sunday at the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series event in Toulon.

They now lead the overall series by 14 points going into the final event of 2016, after scoring a third place this weekend.

Over the two days, the six teams had to cope with light shifty winds under brilliant blue skies, making the tacticians and helmsmen sweat for every point.

With practice cancelled on Friday due to light winds, the teams came into racing on Saturday with little opportunity to get a feel for the conditions in Toulon.

But, it was Artemis Racing, skippered by Nathan Outteridge, that hit the ground running, taking two victories on Saturday.

Going into Race Six on Super Sunday, just eight points separated Artemis Racing and Land Rover BAR, making it an intense finale.

In the end, Land Rover BAR came fourth, with Artemis Racing fifth.

“Today (11 September) we kicked things off nicely with a win, with the boys sailing really well all the way round. In the second two races we didn’t quite manage our timing perfectly, ending with OCSs in both starts,” noted double Olympian Outteridge.

“In the second two races we didn’t quite manage our timing perfectly, ending with OCSs in both starts. Again, it showed the quality of our crew to fight and get back up to third in the second race,” he added.

Artemis Racing team manager and tactician, Iain Percy said: “The last race was all about keeping close to Land Rover BAR, so there was a bit of action on the first reach with a few penalties for everyone. It certainly made life interesting for us, and I’m sure for the spectators and everyone watching at home.”

Meanwhile, Sir Ben Ainslie and his crew scored a brilliant wire-to-wire win in the second race.

They were forced to make remarkable recoveries however – to finish third and fourth – after pre-start penalties in the other two races.

More significantly, both of the teams chasing them in the series were deeper in the rankings.

The third at this penultimate event pushed Land Rover BAR out into a significant overall lead for the World Series.

The team now have a 14 point advantage over the America’s Cup defenders, Oracle Team USA, with Emirates Team New Zealand a further three points back.

Wing trimmer, Paul ‘CJ’ Campbell-James, said: “We didn’t start that well but the great thing is the way we have bounced back after those two last places. I think we actually scored the most points today (11 September), which shows how much we improved.”

“We have extended our lead over Oracle Team USA – now the focus is Japan and making sure we have a high level of performance out there,” he added.

Skipper Sir Ben Ainslie said: “We are going to go into the last event in Japan with a reasonable lead of 14 points. Oracle Team USA and Emirates Team New Zealand are our primary rivals, so I don’t think we can take anything for granted.”

“We are going to have to sail well to keep that lead, and that’s what we are really focused on – getting those bonus points heading into the Cup next year,” he continued.

“We shouldn’t forget that there is a lot going on back in Portsmouth. Our designers and boat builders are working extremely hard. This is a critical testing phase for us, so that will be the primary focus now. When we get closer to Japan, we will get our mind set right for racing again,” explained Sir Ben.

The final event will be in Fukuoka, Japan from November 18-20, 2016.

Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Toulon Results

1. Artemis Racing, 76 points
2. Softbank Team Japan, 71 points
3. Land Rover BAR, 70 points
4. Groupama Team France 68 points
5. Emirates Team New Zealand, 63 points
6. ORACLE TEAM USA, 57 points

Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Overall Results

1. Land Rover BAR, 437 points
2. ORACLE TEAM USA, 423 points
3. Emirates Team New Zealand, 420 points
4. Softbank Team Japan, 399 points
5. Artemis Racing, 391 points
6. Groupama Team France, 360 points

 

6 September

All eyes will be on leaders Land Rover BAR in Toulon this weekend as the team tries to stay on top of the America’s Cup World Series table.

Just one point currently separates Sir Ben Ainslie and his men from rival Oracle Team USA after they put on a fantastic performance on home ground at Portsmouth in July.

But, as the skipper of Groupama Team France, Franck Cammas knows, the Mediterranean waters off Toulon can be hard to predict.

Cammas, the man carrying the hopes of the French nation on home waters, describes the conditions in Toulon as, “often crazy. You can have good winds with calm seas, or a light breeze with a big swell. Basically you never know what to expect!”

All six teams have a chance to win, both individual races and the overall regatta honours.

Find out how you can watch the racing below

Sir Ben is well aware of the heat that he and his crew are facing, as they try to extend their overall lead before the final event in Fukuoka, Japan in November 2016.

Artemis Racing’s Iain Percy is excited about racing in front of “an informed crowd. They understand about the sea and about sailing in France so we will have knowledgeable, passionate fans watching what will be a very good weekend.”

The three days of foiling action, 9-11 September,  will take place on the waters in front of the city’s Mourillon beaches.

FRIDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2016 – PRACTICE DAY

11:00 Village and Hospitality opens
13.30 Fly by of the racing boats in front of the Mourillon’s beaches
14.00 Match Racing /Fleet races
16.30 Media mixed zone
18:00 Official Open Ceremony
19.00 Village and Hospitality closes

SATURDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2016 – RACE DAY 1

11:00 Event Village and Hospitality Opens
12:00 Boats on event’s moorings in front of Mourillon’s beaches
13:00 Dock-out show (main stage)
13:30 Fly by in front of Mourillon’s beaches
14:00 Race 1/2/3
15:30 Racing Ends
15:30 Fly by along the beach at the end of racing
16:00 Media mixed Zone / Posters signing / Stage Q&A
19:00 Event Village and Hospitality closes
20.00 Surprise Event

SUNDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2016 – RACE DAY 2 & FINALS

11:00 Event Village and Hospitality opens
12:00 Boats on event’s moorings in front of Mourillon’s beaches
12:30 Dock-out show (main stage)
13:30 Fly by in front of Mourillon’s beaches
14:00 Race 4/5/6
15:30 Racing Ends
16:00 Prize Giving Ceremony
16:30 Media mixed Zone / Posters signing / Stage Q&A
18:00 Event Village and Hospitality closes

Racing will take place at 14:00 and will be broadcasted LIVE on BT Sport and FrenchTV Canal+.

2016 Race Leader Board

1. Land Rover BAR – 367
2. Oracle Team USA – 366
3. Emirates Team New Zealand – 357
4. Softbank Team Japan – 328
5. Artemis Racing – 315
6. Groupama Team France – 292

 

25 July

Along with thousands of fans, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge got fully behind Land Rover BAR as they stormed to victory in the Portsmouth regatta.

Sir Ben Ainslie’s team put on an incredible performance on both Saturday and Sunday and did enough to hold off USA Team Oracle from the top of the leader board.

This delighted the enthusiastic home crowd, who filled Southsea Common in Portsmouth to watch the racing action.

Click here to see if you can spot yourself in the America’s Cup World Series crowd

Land Rover BAR won three of the six races in Portsmouth, with Oracle Team USA taking two and Groupama Team France taking one.

Speaking after the win, skipper Sir Ben said: “It was a real team work day, these boats are really hard to handle on such a short course. The guys did an incredible job with the boat handling and that’s what really got us out of some of those tough situations.”

 

He continued: “Full credit to the team and everyone back at the Camber at the base, we’ve got a hundred odd people there, designing and building boats and components for the Cup next year, and I think it’s a big moment for them as well to know that we can go out and win these events.”

Trimmer Nick Hutton, added: “It was awesome to win at home, it’s obviously the key event of our year. It is like Wembley for us.”

“The big picture is we have taken the lead in the World Series, for us as a new team it’s fantastic to go up against the established teams like Oracle, Artemis and Team New Zealand. It’s great moving forward into the future,” he stressed.

 

Grinder Freddie Carr said the win was an important step.

“We are in a massive phase of our Cup campaign at the moment, going into Bermuda next year and the lift this gives to everyone at the base – it’s huge,” he stressed.

“We are putting a real line in the sand for where our sailing team is at and our test boats are going really well. We are front-footing it right now it’s a great time for us,” continued Carr.

Land Rover BAR are now series’ leaders, with just one point separating them from Jimmy Spithill and his team.

There are just two events left in 2016. The next will take place in Toulon, France on 8-11 September.

The top two teams after the World Series take points into the America’s Cup qualifying series in Bermuda 2017.

2016 Race Leader Board

1. Land Rover BAR – 367
2. Oracle Team USA – 366
3. Emirates Team New Zealand – 357
4. Softbank Team Japan – 328
5. Artemis Racing – 315
6. Groupama Team France – 292

21 July

The six teams hoping to win the America’s Cup World Series in Portsmouth on 23-24 July are busy preparing ahead of practice racing tomorrow.

 

All the AC45F boats have now been craned into the water after being built up into full race-spec.

See below for a full event guide

This took place in the team bases at the historic Royal Navy Dockyard in Portsmouth.

 

As expected, the whole process is carefully planned, timed and controlled.

 

The teams also got the chance to check out the race course area.

 

18 July

 

Prince Philip, in his role as Admiral of the Royal Yacht Squadron, will be visiting Land Rover BAR during the America’s Cup World Series in Portsmouth this week.

His Royal Highness will tour the team’s high-tech base on 22 July, meeting the design and engineering team responsible for building the boat that will race for the America’s cup in Bermuda 2017.

The Duke will then head out on the water to watch the high speed racing action and meet Sir Ben Ainslie and his sailing team as they battle to bring the America’s Cup home.

He will not be the only royal supporting Land Rover BAR. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be watching day two of the racing on 24 July.

See below to find out how to watch all of the America’s Cup action 22-24 July

The subsidiary of the Royal Yacht Squadron,  Royal Yacht Squadron Racing, is the official America’s Cup challenging club of Land Rover BAR.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s love of the sea was instilled at an early age when he joined the Royal Navy and went on to serve on various classes of vessel during World War Two.

He then became a keen yachtsman and famously owned a Dragon Class Yacht called Bluebottle in which he was a regular and highly successful participant in the annual Cowes Week regatta on the Isle of Wight.

The chief executive officer of Land Rover BAR, Martin Whitmarsh, said: “Every team that challenges for the America’s Cup is required to do so through a host yacht club and we are honoured to have Royal Yacht Squadron Racing as our challenging club.”

“The RYS is the most prestigious yacht club in the world and the support and advice we receive from their members means a great deal,” he continued.

Whitmarsh added: “We are delighted to have Prince Philip in his role as Admiral of the Royal Yacht Squadron visiting the team base and watching the racing in Portsmouth next week, it has given the whole team a huge boost ahead of the event.”

The America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth will be the last chance for British fans to support the team on home waters before next year’s America’s Cup in Bermuda.

The best place to watch the action is from the ticketed ‘Race Village’ on Southsea seafront.

See below for the ACWS Portsmouth event guide

It will be packed with interactive displays and offering close-up views of the racing and the benefit of large screens broadcasting the action.

For those who can’t be at Portsmouth, the racing action will be screened live on BT Sport on 23 & 24 July.

 

12 July

 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be joining the thousands of spectators watching the final day of America’s Cup World Series action in Portsmouth on 24 July.

The Duchess of Cambridge is the Royal Patron of The 1851 Trust the official charity of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth.

Accompanied by The Duke of Cambridge, she will visit British team Land Rover BAR’s base in Portsmouth.

See below for a full event guide

Here, they will see the team’s state of the art testing boats and meet the staff driving the advanced design and technology behind the team.

They will then watch the teams from USA, France, New Zealand, Japan, Sweden and the British team compete in three thrilling races on the Solent.

After racing, they will visit the Race Village where they will meet with all six of the America’s Cup teams and children involved with The 1851 Trust.

The charity aims to inspire young people through sailing and the marine education initiatives.

Finally, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will head to the main stage for the prize-giving event.

 

The chairman of Team Origin Events, the organisers of the event, Sir Keith Mills, said: “It is a huge honour for us to once again welcome the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Portsmouth.”

“I have been fortunate enough to be involved in many sporting events, from the London Olympic Games in 2012 to the Invictus Games, and I never fail to be amazed by the pride and passion that great sporting events can deliver,” continued Sir Keith.

“We are again looking forward to seeing the huge crowds coming to Portsmouth to watch the action and support home team Land Rover BAR,” he concluded.

The prize giving finale rounds off three days of action on the water, with the world’s best sailors racing the fastest boats, reaching speeds of 40mph metres away from the spectators on shore.

For British fans, this will be the last chance to support Sir Ben Ainslie and Land Rover BAR on home waters before next year’s America’s Cup in Bermuda.

The best place to watch the action is from the ticketed ‘Race Village’ on Southsea seafront packed with interactive displays and offering close-up views of the racing and the benefit of large screens broadcasting the racing action.

The entertainment is not only on the water with daily aerial displays by the Red Arrows, Red Bull Matadors and The Blades.

6 July

America’s Cup World Series racing will return to Portsmouth between 21-24 July, 2016.

Expect fierce competition, as leaders Emirates Team New Zealand try to increase the distance between the second-placed Land Rover BAR, who claimed victory on British Waters last year.

Following success in Chicago last month, the Sir Ben Ainslie-led team is just 10 points behind Emirates. They are level pegging with ORACLE TEAM USA.

Event Schedule

Thursday, 21 July: A non-public preview day consisting of youth engagement and sponsorship. It will involve the official charity of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth, the 1851 Trust.

Friday, 22 July: 11.00-18.00. The first public day, with feature displays and exhibits. There will be preview racing, the official opening ceremony, a chance to meet the sailors and a display by the Red Arrows.

Saturday, 23 July: 11.00-18.00. The first day of racing. There will be a sailors dock-out show and aerial and on the water displays. Racing will take place between 13.30-15.00 and there will be live hosted commentary on the stage and big screens through the Race Village.

Sunday, 24 July: 11.00-18.30. Racing will take place between 13.30-15.00, with the awards ceremony at 17.00. There will be a chance to meet the sailors, as well as aerial and on the water displays. Live racing commentary will be on the stage and on the big screens throughout the Race Village.

Tickets

Tickets are available via the official America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth website.

Prices start from £25.

Getting there

By Air
:

The nearest airport is Southampton Airport, a mere 22 miles away from Portsmouth with many international flight routes.

Taxis are available from Southampton to Portsmouth and car hire also available.

Car journey time from Southampton airport to Portsmouth is usually around 30 minutes.

Other international airports include London Heathrow (60 miles away) and London Gatwick (60 miles away).

By Sea
:

Ferry services operate from France, Spain, the Isle of Wight and Gosport on a regular basis – Ferry operators : Brittany Ferries, Wightlink, Hovertravel, Gosport Ferry.

By Rail
:

There are regular trains from London Waterloo and Victoria Stations, which bring you right into the heart of the waterfront at Portsmouth Harbour Station.

From Portsmouth Harbour Station it’s a short 20-minute walk (approx.)

By Coach
:

There are regular coaches available from London Victoria Coach Station to Portsmouth – many stopping at The Hard Interchange which is home to a bus depot and taxi rank making travel very easy – visit The National Express website for more information.

By Bus
:

Bus number 1 or number 23 operate between Portsmouth Harbour Station and the Race Village site.

On Foot
:

Safe walking routes from Portsmouth Harbour Station will be marked ‘Follow me’ and marshalled by the event’s team of helpful WaveMaker volunteers.

By Bike
:

There will be a designated cycle park close to the Race Village.

By Road

On entry into Portsmouth, road signs will direct motorists to the appropriate car parks.

Further information about the event can be found on the event’s official website.

13 April 

This year’s America’s Cup World Series will take place in Portsmouth between 21-24 July.

Last year, the Land Rover BAR claimed victory on British waters. However, the team admits that with the level of competition increasing, defending their title will be “no plain sailing”.

But, the team says sailing in front of a home crowd is always a highlight.

Land Rover BAR tactician CJ said: “Coming down the final reach in Portsmouth of the first race, seeing the crowd on the beach and the amount of people there supporting us was incredible! Going across the finish line and hearing the big cheer was a really special moment.”

This will be the last opportunity to support the team on home waters before next year’s America’s Cup in Bermuda.

Six teams from around the world will go head to head in Portsmouth in three 20 minute races on Saturday and Super Sunday, with match racing duals on Friday’s Practice Day.

There will also be a new Race Village with a Tech Zone and a Team Zone, as well as interactive activities about the competition.

Sunsail has also just announced it has been named as an official charter partner for the upcoming round of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series in Portsmouth from 22-24 July 2016.

Leslie Greenhalgh, Events Director, Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series, says “We are really pleased to be working with Sunsail for the second year running. They are a major brand in the UK and global sailing business presenting a fantastic opportunity for people to get out on the Solent as well as watching our event. It’s a perfect way to bring a group of clients, employees or friends out on the water for a thrilling experience and we look forward to welcoming existing and new guests through Sunsail to our event.”

 Tickets are available at the America’s Cup World Series website

29 February

It was a promising start to the America’s Cup World Series for Sir Ben Ainslie and his Land Rover BAR team in Oman this weekend, when they beat the Oracle Team USA by two points.

Ben Ainslie said:

“We kept fighting through today. Compared to the teams with established track records, we need to prove we can compete at the top of the fleet and I think we are getting back to doing that. We have a big team of designers, boat builders and support staff back at home working very hard for us and they want to know that we can win this thing.”.

The American team came second, whilst Emirates Team New Zealand came third in Muscat, retaining their overall first spot in the America’s Cup World Series.

Ben Ainslie announces he’s to become a father in the summer

25 February 

All six teams are getting ready to start the 2016 season this weekend, 27-28 February, in Oman. This is the first time that the event is hosted in the Middle East.

Sir Ben Ainslie’s Land Rover Bar, Artemis, Emirates Team New Zealand, Oracle Team USA, Groupama Team France and Softbank Team Japan will start racing on Saturday 27 at 2pm local time.

Emirates Team New Zealand is currently at the top of the leaderboard with 122 points, followed by Oracle Team USA with 112. Britain’s Land Rover Bar is in third position with 105 points, whilst Sweden’s Artemis and Japan’s Softbank Team have 105 and 100 points respectively.

Following Oman, the teams will race in New York City (7-8 May), Chicago (10-12 June), Portsmouth (21-24 July) and Toulon (10-11 September).

The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series can be watched on BT Sport or by downloading the ACWS’s app (visit https://www.americascup.com/en/app.html for details – app may not be available in certain countries). The BBC will also broadcast highlights from the event.