Ben Ainslie’s choppy seas: SailGP, the America’s Cup and a split with Ineos

Team Ineos Britannia skipper Ben Ainslie uses his mobile phone prior to the 37th America's Cup last October in Barcelona. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images

Just off Manhattan last weekend, a dozen 50ft catamarans soared across the water at speeds of up to 52mph. Navigating a precariously tight course, in the shadow of the city’s myriad skyscrapers, teams battled challenging conditions in a series of rapid, hectic races.

“A lot of people don’t really know what SailGP is about,” says Sir Ben Ainslie, the four-time Olympic champion sailor. “And when they see it, it blows their mind. It’s not what anyone would think sailing is about.”