Ainslie confirms Extreme Sailing Series participation

BAR looks to improve its catamaran experience

Sir Ben Ainslie has announced the continued partnership with long term sponsors JP Morgan, which will support Ben Ainslie Racing’s (BAR) entry into the Extreme Sailing Series 2014.

In addition to this, JP Morgan also announced that title sponsorship of the Round the Island Race will continue to reside with JP Morgan Asset Management for a further two-year period up to and including 2016. These announcements came at the annual London Boat Show on the stand, exhibiting BAR’s AC45 that broke the Round the Island Race outright race record last year.

Also revealed were three of the four sailors who will compete with Ainslie in the Extreme Sailing Series 2014: Team GB teammates and Beijing Olympic gold medallists, Paul Goodison and Pippa Wilson, alongside bowman Matt Cornwell, a previous Match Racing World Champion with Ainslie. The final crew member will be revealed before the first event of the season in Singapore.

Ainslie is looking forward to the season ahead. “It’s great JP Morgan BAR will be competing in this year’s Extreme Sailing Series and to have my long term sponsor JP Morgan onboard with the team. JP Morgan has been such an important part of my sailing career for the last seven years, helping me achieve success in the Olympics and supporting BAR’s entry into the 2012/2013 America’s Cup World Series.” The team also continue to be supported by Henri Lloyd as their official technical clothing partner and Scorpion Ribs who are supplying the team chase and hospitality boats for the Series.

Ainslie has previously competed in the Extreme Sailing Series in 2011 for two events after qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics. It will be the first full Extreme Sailing Series for all three Olympic gold medallist.

Eager to get started on the new project Paul Goodison added: “I’m excited to be sailing with such a talented British crew. The only experience I have had with the Extreme 40 until now was coaching the Omani boats in Cardiff in 2012, so its going to be good to get out racing.”

Crew List
Skipper/Helmsman – Sir Ben Ainslie (GBR)
Mainsail Trimmer / Tactician – Paul Goodison (GBR)
Bowman – Matt Cornwall (GBR)
Floater – Pippa Wilson (GBR)
Trimmer – TBC