Iain Percy launches his monthly column for madforsailing

The big news of the month was Ben Ainslie decision to sign for the Seattle-based America's Cup team One World. With a British challenge looking increasingly likely this caused a degree of controversy. As many of you might know, I've been a good friend of Ben's for many years and, first and foremost, I am pleased for him that such a great opportunity has arisen. More than that, I can see that it is also good for British sailing and any future challenge. I just see it as somebody else paying for his education.

He'll come back and sail for Britain sometime in the future and, when he does, he'll be a much more valuable asset for his time with One World. Lack of people has never been the barrier to a British America's Cup challenge, and the depth of talent we have in this country will mean the biggest loss to a campaign without Ben will be to its profile rather than to its performance.

From my point of view, I will also not be signing on full-time to a British America's Cup campaign if it arises. I have decided to go for Athens in the Star Class and that will be a major commitment. Ben and myself have both said how we would like to combine as a helm/tactician partnership. That is still a long-term aim, and it doesn't hurt us both to get some experience in big boats under our belts.

If, and hopefully when, the British America's Cup gets going, I hope that very quickly they can get down to business because, let's face it, we are 20 years behind already. There needs to be no in-fighting for positions - just a bunch of guys going at each other and learning the skills required. I am hoping to help out where I can, but I won't be part of the main team.

At the British Nautical Awards the British Olympic team won the Yachtsperson of the Year Award, which was the logical thing to do with no real way of deciding between us. The offshore Yachtsperson went to Ado Stead which, given that Ellen will undoubtedly clear up next year at the rate she is going, is a good thing. I sailed offshore with Ado last week and was really impressed by his boat-handling in what were rough conditions (felt rough to me anyway).

The product awards struck me as a bit political. The nominated boats and bits were all so different within each category; I don't know how they decided on the winners. Anyway it was a good night out.

I'm completely knackered as I write this having just arrived back from Key West. The big boat scene is so different from your standard dinghy open meeting. There is some serious cash walking about. For example the winner of the Farr 40 class, which I was racing in, was a Greek guy rumoured to have never sold one of his boats. He now has a refrigerated hanger in Miami to keep them all in, and we are talking about a fair few million pounds worth of boats.

As well as the owners, there are also a hell of a lot of successful sailors about. In the Farr 40 fleet, the line up was incredible - almost a who's who of the world's best sailors. I don't know if Dean Barker and Russell Coutts were having a personal battle but, if they were, it was at the back of the fleet. The good news from a British perspective was that Mark Heeley's team was going really well and finished 4th, an awesome position for their first event. Some credit for that result must go to Ado, who is really on the top of his game at the moment.

Finally, to re-iterate Ben's comment from his acceptance speech at the Nautical Awards, I would like to wish the British America's Cup Campaign all the luck in the world - if it happens.

Iain Percy
www.competitivesailing.com
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