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| America's Cup: Ainslie starts British bid in Portsmouth | America's Cup: Ainslie starts British bid in Portsmouth |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Sir Ben Ainslie will begin Britain's bid to win the 35th America's Cup as the opening leg of the series gets under way in Portsmouth. | Sir Ben Ainslie will begin Britain's bid to win the 35th America's Cup as the opening leg of the series gets under way in Portsmouth. |
| The Olympic champion's team Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) hopes to be the first British challenger to win the trophy. | The Olympic champion's team Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) hopes to be the first British challenger to win the trophy. |
| A four-day event in the city will open with a sailing parade later, with racing taking place at the weekend. | A four-day event in the city will open with a sailing parade later, with racing taking place at the weekend. |
| Six teams will battle it out at regattas around the world ahead of the final races in 2017. | Six teams will battle it out at regattas around the world ahead of the final races in 2017. |
| Sir Ben told BBC News: "There's so much history with this cup, 1851 it started around the Isle of Wight and we've never won it in Britain. | |
| "That's what we're all working towards with our team, to right that wrong, and get the trophy back here where it belongs. | |
| "For us to now go out and race in front of our home crowd is absolutely fantastic. | |
| "[The crowd] is going to be pretty wowed, these fly over the water. Everyone's going to be going for it 100% and it will be an amazing spectacle." | |
| Events have also been scheduled in Gothenberg, Sweden, in August, and Bermuda in October. | Events have also been scheduled in Gothenberg, Sweden, in August, and Bermuda in October. |
| Four to six regattas are expected in 2016, including a second event in Portsmouth in July. | Four to six regattas are expected in 2016, including a second event in Portsmouth in July. |
| Defenders Oracle Team USA - which Ainslie helped to win the cup in 2013 - will also take part, as well as crews from Sweden, France, New Zealand and Japan. | |
| Their overall placement will affect the seeding and starting score they take into the America's Cup qualifier events in 2017. | Their overall placement will affect the seeding and starting score they take into the America's Cup qualifier events in 2017. |
| Following the opening ceremony in Portsmouth later, practice racing will follow on Friday when teams will familiarise themselves with the race course. | Following the opening ceremony in Portsmouth later, practice racing will follow on Friday when teams will familiarise themselves with the race course. |
| Competition takes place on Saturday and Sunday, culminating in the "Super Sunday racing showdown". | Competition takes place on Saturday and Sunday, culminating in the "Super Sunday racing showdown". |
| The event is expected to attract up to 500,000 spectators. | The event is expected to attract up to 500,000 spectators. |
| A race village has been set up in Southsea Common and will provide a free viewing platform and large screens during the event. | A race village has been set up in Southsea Common and will provide a free viewing platform and large screens during the event. |
| Organisers said the course is "amazingly close to shore". There will also be an on-water spectator area for small boats. | Organisers said the course is "amazingly close to shore". There will also be an on-water spectator area for small boats. |
| America's Cup explained | America's Cup explained |
| •First staged in 1851 off the Isle of Wight in England and won by US yacht America | •First staged in 1851 off the Isle of Wight in England and won by US yacht America |
| •No British team has won it in its 164-year history | •No British team has won it in its 164-year history |
| •Racing is boat-on-boat, called match-racing | •Racing is boat-on-boat, called match-racing |
| •Takes place roughly every three to five years | •Takes place roughly every three to five years |