Sir Ben Ainslie Launches Bid To Win America's Cup

10 June 2014, 13:16 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Lymington's Olympic gold medallist Sir Ben Ainslie's officially announced his plans to lead a British team in sailing's next America's Cup in 2017.

Olympic sailor Sir Ben Ainslie was joined by the Duchess of Cambridge as he launched Britain's bid to win the historic America's Cup yacht race. 

In the shadow of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, south east London, Sir Ben told Kate about the plans to win the coveted trophy.

He will skipper the team that aims to triumph in the 35th America's Cup being staged in 2017, with the entry made through the Royal Yacht Squadron club. 

The Royal Yacht Squadron club hosted the first race which took place off the Isle of Wight in the mid-19th century - but a British team has never won it. The Olympic sailor said: 

"We want to bring it home, it would be an amazing thing for this country." 

Kate, who wore a Jaeger dress, is a keen sailor who watched some of the London 2012 Olympic racing on the Isle of Wight.