SailGP: Ainslie discloses Scott omitted from the British starting roster for Season 5
by Richard Gladwell and SailGP Media 14 Nov 15:20 PST
Giles Scott appears pleased – Head of Sailing – INEOS Britannia – Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, Race Day 4 – October 16, 2024 © Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup
Ben Ainslie from Emirates GBR has announced that Giles Scott, the two-time Olympic Gold medallist and helmsman for part of Season 4, was excluded from the team’s lineup for Season 5 before being selected by the newly privately owned Canadian SailGP franchise.
Scott assumed helming and skipper responsibilities on Emirates GBR after Ainslie stepped back from those roles to focus on the INEOS Britannia America’s Cup Challenge. However, post-announcement, Ainslie was present in the coaches’ box for the next SailGP regatta, indicating his continued deep involvement in all team aspects—of which he is an owner—but without participating in sailing anymore.
SailGP’s storyline labeled Scott’s removal as the “first domino to fall,” noting that Emirates GBR driver Giles Scott was signed by Canada after the team’s private sale.
Ben Ainslie, former driver and CEO of Emirates GBR, informed SailGP Media that Scott’s offer arrived during a ‘hectic phase’ as INEOS Britannia geared up for its historic 37th America’s Cup campaign. However, Ainslie remarked, ‘it’s rarely an ideal moment in these situations’. “It was evidently a fantastic chance for him, one he perceived as a pivotal career moment,” Ainslie stated. “I wanted to lend him my support regarding his decision.”
The offer followed closely after Scott was omitted from INEOS Britannia’s starting roster, but Ainslie praised him for handling that ‘challenging decision (…) with remarkable grace.’ The transfer offer was similarly handled well. “Our relationship is strong, built on years of trust and respect, and we navigated this situation in SailGP effectively together,” he mentioned.
Notably, Ainslie also confirmed in the same interview that the transfer market, touted by SailGP, includes transfer fees payable to the affected teams, akin to other sports. It appears this practice has entered SailGP after the startup franchises received USD 5 million each from the League in Season 1, and are now valued between USD 40-60 million in addition to operational expenses, premium salaries, and transfer fees. Ainslie asserted that Scott was the first player for whom a transfer fee was incurred.
This may not be surprising for a British sports team, considering that Manchester United, partly owned by Ainslie’s America’s Cup sponsor Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has expended over £600 million on 21 new players over four years. Compared to that, Scott’s transfer fee, whatever the amount, would seem minimal.
Yet, the fact that Scott was released from the SailGP team is noteworthy, mirroring a scenario just prior to the America’s Cup when Scott was replaced in the co-helm role by Tokyo 2020 Gold medalist Dylan Fletcher. Although the transition required some time to stabilize, the British team proceeded to win the majority of their races, becoming the Challenger and securing two races against the Defender in the 37th Match.
The excellent post-race show “Inside Tack” revealed much about the British team’s performance and others. In those discussions, Scott, as newly appointed Head of Sailing, was clearly the guiding influence in the team—from his position in the chase boat to the conversations onshore. He demonstrated an acute ability to pinpoint critical performance issues and address them succinctly and cleverly.
It will be intriguing to see if he can apply those same qualities within the Canadian SailGP team, and how the British team performs with Scott facing them at the start line.
Additionally, it remains uncertain how or if Scott’s SailGP duties will align with the British (or any other) America’s Cup team for the next cycle, which is still developing as it heads towards the 2027 Cup. It is unclear under the yet-to-be-released Protocol for the Cup whether Scott will be bound to the British team due to a nationality clause.
Given that his role is Head of Sailing, under the 2024 Protocol, he qualifies as a free agent to join any team he desires—without transfer fees involved.
However, Scott’s move to Canada left a vacant driver’s position on the British F50, as per SailGP commentary. With Ainslie focused on the Cup, speculation began. As SailGP enthusiasts eagerly anticipated Scott’s replacement, three names emerged: Dylan Fletcher, Ainslie’s Cup co-driver from Season 1, Emirates GBR strategist Hannah Mills, and Ainslie himself.
SailGP Media happily notes that the fans were correct—these were the ‘three candidates’ under Ainslie’s contemplation. He acknowledged that it was a tough choice, as ‘there was a lot to consider’, while he felt his own time on the water was ‘unfinished business.’
His last event in Dubai, Season 4, concluded abruptly when Emirates GBR’s chances for the event Final were dashed due to a Black Flag disqualification at the start line of the fifth fleet race. Ending on that ‘difficult note’ made Ainslie ‘definitely contemplate returning.’
“It’s a complex situation because ultimately my passion lies in sailing above everything else,” Ainslie (47) conveyed during his SailGP Media interview. “I still feel physically capable and can manage the boat well, but it concerns the team’s future, and I don’t believe the team’s success on the water should hinge solely on me.” He remarked that increasingly, his role extended to the ‘management side—being the CEO of the organization’. “That’s where my strengths are most effectively applied.”
SailGP Media highlighted consideration for the summer’s America’s Cup campaign during which Ainslie’s co-driver Dylan Fletcher ‘really excelled—both on and off the water’. “In my long-term assessment of the team, I believe [Fletcher] is the best choice.”
Regarding Mills, Ainslie recognizes her ‘natural’ aspiration is ‘to drive a SailGP boat’. “Her accomplishments are a testament to her ambition and competitiveness. He emphasized the support provided by the team via both SailGP’s Women’s Pathway and INEOS Britannia’s Athena Pathway. “I’m a significant supporter of Hannah’s and the initiatives behind the pathways, and we will persist in that support,” he noted.
Looking forward to the upcoming season, Ainslie holds optimistic expectations that Fletcher will successfully adapt to the impending changes in the league. These include the introduction of T-Foils, an expanded F50 fleet, and numerous significant transfers disrupting established teams. Ainslie recognizes the daunting nature of the task and acknowledges ‘how challenging it is’, but sees Emirates GBR as ‘one of the premier teams in the league’. “Knowing Dylan as well as I do, I believe his goal is to win—and that’s precisely why I appointed him in that role.” A lengthy season awaits—with 14 events planned across five continents, but Ainslie is focused on Abu Dhabi’s Grand Final. “Is it realistic to aim for a top-three finish by season’s end? It’s ambitious, but I don’t see why it’s not achievable.”
The forthcoming season also marks the long-awaited home event return for the British team—with Portsmouth designated as the venue for the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix on July 19-20. Ainslie underscores the city’s ‘extensive maritime heritage’ and the ‘large turnout of spectators and fans’ at previous sailing events. “Past events in The Solent attracted substantial crowds—hundreds of thousands of fans daily—we’re truly excited about that,” SailGP Media concluded.
Everything culminates on November 23 with the inaugural race of Season 5 in Dubai, featuring 11 of the 12 teams competing.
These include the new Brazilian team led by Martine Grael, featuring three America’s Cup veterans. Emirates GBR with a different skipper/helmsman. The elusive Italian team, which has only revealed that their twice America’s Cup-winning helmsman will not be skippering but is expected to operate from the chase boat. Australian SailGP and America’s Cup champion Kyle Langford will also join the Italians. As noted, the Canadian team will present a new helmsman. The 12th team, the French, which operated under Orient Express sponsorship last season, will sit out Dubai, opting to await the arrival of their new F50 in Auckland in January. The Swiss will be on the starting line with two key members of the Alinghi Red Bull Racing team, Arnaud Psarofaghis and Bryan Mettraux, alongside Kiwi Grinder Stu Dodson, acquired from the Spanish SailGP team.
The irony remains that, even as the League appears to be filled with financial resources, it seems divided into the “Haves”—those with private ownership capable of providing the financial incentives necessary to recruit sailors from top teams to graciously join a lower-ranked team—and the “Have Nots”—teams with limited private backing, like the Black Foils, that don’t possess the financial capacities to offer lucrative salaries, transfer fees, etc. Thus, they rely on strong development programs and internal promotions to fill vacancies left by recent departures.
The outcome of all this on the Season 5 Event and Leaderboard will be particularly compelling.
