Its official

Ainslie to miss vital World Champsionships

Due to Ben Ainslie’s ongoing commitments with Emirates Team New Zealand at the America’s Cup in Valencia, he will be unable to compete at the forthcoming ISAF World Sailing Championships in Cascais, Portugal. Whilst the World Championships is a crucial Olympic qualifying regatta, Ainslie is committed to helping the Kiwis win the oldest trophy in sport and the team are now six races into the best of nine race final against Alinghi.

As soon as the winner of the America’s Cup is decided, Ainslie will head straight back to the UK and start training in his Olympic Finn dinghy, the class he won his second Olympic gold medal in at the Athens Games in 2004.

The Skandia Team GBR sailor was due to have been one of 96 British competitors vying for honours across the 11 Olympic classes when racing starts on Tuesday 3 July.

Ainslie commented: “Whilst it's obviously very disappointing not to be able to compete at the ISAF World Championships, without doubt, being with Emirates Team New Zealand has been an invaluable experience, and I will come away from Valencia the better sailor for it.  I am firmly focused on the America’s Cup in which Emirates Team New Zealand has an amazing opportunity to wrestle the Cup form Alinghi, the Swiss holders.

“I am very much looking forward to getting back into my Finn as soon as the America’s Cup is over, and it goes without saying that I wish all the British sailors the very best of luck in what is a vitally important Championships."