Ainslie keeps the faith in America's Cup quest

Ineos Britannia had only just crossed the finish line, 37 seconds behind Emirates Team New Zealand in the ninth and final race of this America's Cup, when their 47-year-old skipper Sir Ben Ainslie was asked about his plans for the next one.

- Andy Bull

Within a couple of hours, Great Britain's Royal Yacht Squadron had put in a challenge, and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron had accepted. Which means Ainslie, and Britannia, will be back for the next qualifying series, though they don't yet know where, or when they will be racing, or who will be in the crew. Ahab's going to be chasing after his whale for a while yet.

Ainslie has given over the larger part of his working life to trying to win the America's Cup for Britain. It is, as he says, just about the only international sports trophy he, and everyone else in British sailing, wants but hasn't won. And they have been trying since the Aurora came in 18 minutes behind America in the very first race, 173 years ago and counting.