Sailor Ben Ainslie has his eyes firmly on the prize -- to win the America's Cup in 2017. It's a trophy Britain has never won since its inception in 1851.
Ainslie's path to America's Cup glory —
Sailor Ben Ainslie has his eyes firmly on the prize -- to win the America's Cup in 2017. It's a trophy Britain has never won since its inception in 1851.
BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images
Ainslie has been working furiously on and off the water from his team's Portsmouth base in the UK to plot a route to glory.
Ainslie's path to America's Cup glory —
Ainslie has been working furiously on and off the water from his team's Portsmouth base in the UK to plot a route to glory.
Ben Ainslie Racing
Ainslie's bid has royal approval in the shape of the Duchess of Cambridge, who is on board as a patron for his team's charity.
Ainslie's path to America's Cup glory —
Ainslie's bid has royal approval in the shape of the Duchess of Cambridge, who is on board as a patron for his team's charity.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
The team's first test boat is currently testing out on the water as the sailors and designers work tirelessly.
Ainslie's path to America's Cup glory —
The team's first test boat is currently testing out on the water as the sailors and designers work tirelessly.
Ben Ainslie Racing
Ainslie came to prominence at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, where he won silver in the laser class.
Ainslie's path to America's Cup glory —
Ainslie came to prominence at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, where he won silver in the laser class.
Allsport
That silver turned to gold come the next Olympics in Sydney, beginning a run of unprecedented success in the sport.
Ainslie's path to America's Cup glory —
That silver turned to gold come the next Olympics in Sydney, beginning a run of unprecedented success in the sport.
In the Finn class at the Athens Games in 2004, he was once more victorious in a successful defence of his Olympic crown.
Ainslie's path to America's Cup glory —
In the Finn class at the Athens Games in 2004, he was once more victorious in a successful defence of his Olympic crown.
Clive Mason/Getty Images
Come the Beijing Games, that was a hat-trick of golds after which he hinted he might walk away from Olympic sailing.
Ainslie's path to America's Cup glory —
Come the Beijing Games, that was a hat-trick of golds after which he hinted he might walk away from Olympic sailing.
DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images
But he continued in the discipline, overcoming a nasty back complaint and a poor start to prove victorious at London 2012.
Ainslie's path to America's Cup glory —
But he continued in the discipline, overcoming a nasty back complaint and a poor start to prove victorious at London 2012.
Clive Mason/Getty Image
It was befitting that the fourth gold for Ainslie should come in front of his home crowd in Weymouth, England.
Ainslie's path to America's Cup glory —
It was befitting that the fourth gold for Ainslie should come in front of his home crowd in Weymouth, England.
WILLIAM WEST/AFP/GettyImages
It led him to be selected by the home nation to have the honor of carrying Britain's Union Jack flag at the closing ceremony of those last Olympics.
Ainslie's path to America's Cup glory —
It led him to be selected by the home nation to have the honor of carrying Britain's Union Jack flag at the closing ceremony of those last Olympics.
Jan Kruger/Getty Images
Since then, the focus has been on the America's Cup, where last year he was drafted in as a super sub for Team Oracle USA.
Ainslie's path to America's Cup glory —
Since then, the focus has been on the America's Cup, where last year he was drafted in as a super sub for Team Oracle USA.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Ainslie and his teammates proved victorious in what was a thrilling finale and now the sailor wants to win it for Britain.
Ainslie's path to America's Cup glory —
Ainslie and his teammates proved victorious in what was a thrilling finale and now the sailor wants to win it for Britain.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images