The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.
Ben Ainslie beaten into second by tie-break in America's Cup
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Equal on points and beaten only by the tie-break, Ben Ainslie ended a hectic week in San Francisco in second place of the fleet racing at the America’s Cup World Series.
The five times Olympic medallist came back from a pre-start penalty in the high-scoring finale, struggled in the seventh to 10th spots in the early part of the race, and then moved up strongly to fourth in the latter stages.
That was enough to see Ainslie, working for the same America’s Cup defender but racing under his own Ben Ainslie Racing colours, tied on points with colleague Jimmy Spithill, who was second to Oracle Racing colleague Russell Coutts in a race staged in a fresh breeze close to the shore. But the results of the final race decided the top spot.
Spithill, who was skipper when Oracle lifted the America’s Cup from the Swiss in Valencia in 2010, had earlier beaten Ainslie in the semi-finals of the parallel match racing event before going on to win that competition and so secure, for second time this year, the double.
The consolation of $10,000 in prize money when securing third place in the Argo Bermuda Gold Cup may have softened semi-final defeat for Ian Williams’ Team GAC Pindar at the hands of Sweden’s Johnie Berntsson.
Williams went down 0-3 in such light and flukey conditions that the competition had to be called off overnight when he was 0-2 down but he was able go on to beat France’s Eric Monnin 2-1 in the third-place playoff as Berntsson took his own dose of defeat in the final against the St. Thomas, West Indies-based Taylor Canfield.
Williams goes on to race in the Extreme Sailing Series in Nice, France. The crunch clash to decide his bid for a fourth World Match Racing Tour title will not be in December in Malaysia.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments