All eyes are on Ineos Team UK as it struggles to compete in at least one trial race before the World Cup Series starts on Thursday in New Zealand. So far it has been anything but plain sailing for Ben Ainslie and his crew after his new America’s Cup boat was slammed in a brutal blog post.
Even though Ineos Team UK has hit back by telling The Herald that its main concerns centres around a ‘small hydraulics problem’, the British team pulled out again today, this time from a scheduled trial race this morning.
The mysterious problems plaguing Ineos and its unresolved issues are fast becoming the most intriguing story in the build-up to the America’s Cup World Series, says The Herald.
The paper reports that Ineos Team UK commenced the pre-start manoeuvres against Emirates Team New Zealand, but pulled the pin in less than two minutes.
A less sinister interpretation of events was put forward. The “Brits fell off the foil and couldn’t get back up again,” says Live Sail Die.
“Under 8 knots it seems really sticky and there are a few teams struggling to get their boats out of the water.
“Ineos were really struggling. I don’t think I saw them do a successful tack or gybe today, certainly not in the racing which will be very disappointing for them. Whether they had some issues, who knows?”
The British boat, which is backed by the largest single sponsorship in sailing history, headed back to its Viaduct harbour base under tow.
It means the British team have only one more chance to complete a trial race (Tuesday) before Thursday’s World Series start.
Much more on Marine Industry News here.
