Sir Ben Ainslie starts bid to win oldest trophy in sport

  • Meridian
The Land Rover BAR skipper Sir Ben Ainslie (right) with Sir Charles Dunstone Credit: PA

The first America's Cup racing in the UK since 1851 took place in Portsmouth today.

Sir Ben Ainslie started his bid to win sporting's oldest trophy in style. He came from behind to win the first race in front of thousands of spectators.

Conditions could not have been better for the first race in the Louis Vuitton America's cup world Series, with sunshine and wind.

The stunned crowd saw cup holders Oracle USA take the lead, and then Team New Zealand push ahead, but in a daring manoeuvre Land Rover Ben Ainslie racing gave the packed seashore plenty to cheer about.

Tomorrow the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will watch the racing and present the prizes. Sir Ben Ainslie says he's prepared to be upstaged: