Ben Ainslie not keen on monohulls for next America's Cup

Ben Ainslie at the press conference after being knocked out of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup. Photosport

Ben Ainslie is committed to racing his British syndicate at the next America's Cup but he's hoping Team New Zealand don't move away from catamarans.

Ainslie's BAR team made it through to the semifinals of the qualifying series in Bermuda before losing to eventual winners Emirates Team New Zealand.

Hours after completing a 7-1 victory over Oracle Team USA yesterday, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron accepted the challenge of Circolo della Vela Sicilia, which became the Challenger of Record for the 36th America's Cup. It means Team New Zealand and Italian syndicate Luna Rossa can together shape the rules for the next event including where it will be raced and in which form of boat.

It was suggested yesterday by Team New Zealand financial backer Stephen Tindall that Auckland would host the next America's Cup in 2021.

Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton yesterday said they would look at bringing in a nationality quota while the current catamaran boats might not cope with the sailing conditions in Auckland as well as they have on Bermuda's Great Sound.

In a column for the Telegraph newspaper, Ainslie said his team were committed to competing at the next regatta but has some concerns about the event.

Ainslie, who has previously raced for Team New Zealand and Oracle Team USA, said he backs nationality quotas but is not so keen on moving away from catamarans.

"There are a lot of rumours flying around that the Italians are keen on monohulls. I think going back now would be a mistake given where we have got to in these foiling multihulls," Ainsles writes.

"I will admit I was not a fan of the move to multihulls initially but I think we all have to applaud the vision of Larry Ellison and Sir Russell Coutts. The 35th America's Cup as a whole was a wonderful advert for the sport and produced some incredible moments."

Ainslie writes he was surprised by how dominant Team New Zealand were in the America's Cup final.

That was not quite the Cup matchup we anticipated. I said before it began that I would not want to be a betting man. I really did think it would be a closely fought contest. I certainly did not envisage a 7-1 thumping of Oracle Team USA. I don't think anyone did, apart from perhaps the Kiwis themselves." he writes.

"New Zealand absolutely deserved to win, though. They were extremely aggressive with their boat design, taking big risks, and in the end they were rewarded for that. It was a ruthless display. Who dares wins. You have to give them credit, particularly given the manner in which they lost in San Francisco four years ago, which was a body blow for the whole nation. To get back off the canvas like that and pull it all together so well; I am sure Grant Dalton had some very dark days when he did not know whether he or the team would survive."