“We’re hoping to do for the marine industry in this country what Formula One has done for the motorsport industry,” Ainslie said.
“Obviously we’re trying to win the America’s Cup. But we wanted to create a vehicle alongside that which could have the biggest impact possible on the marine industry, whether that’s looking at the STEM agenda [the government’s drive to get young people to take an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics], getting youngsters on the water, trying to make a difference in the Portsmouth area or on a national level.
“And obviously having the Duchess, who has very kindly agreed to be a patron, on board, will greatly help to grow support.”
Unfortunately for Ainslie, Her Royal Highness, having initially indicated that she would attend in person, was indisposed on Monday, presumably still laid low by acute morning sickness. But Ainslie reported that she was keen to take “a very active role” in the Trust and was itching “to get out on the water” when she was feeling up to it.
There will be those who will regard her involvement as another sign of preferential treatment where Ainslie is concerned; who will note that while other sports are having their funding cut, the sport of sailing – and, what is more, a wing of it as nakedly commercial as the America’s Cup – has secured millions in public funding and now royal patronage, albeit via the team’s charitable arm.
That, though, would be to miss the point. Whether public money could have been better spent elsewhere is open to debate. What is clear is that the project, if successful, will be a boon for a sector in which Britain has such a long and proud history, and for a city which has been crying out for regeneration.
The base, when it is completed next May, will house a Visitor Centre for the Trust, which will provide an interactive showcase for the sport. Apprenticeships will be offered, leading to jobs in the marine industry.
Portsmouth is due to host rounds of the America’s Cup World Series, a series of races between the challengers on smaller AC45 catamarans, in 2015 and 2016, bringing tourism and investment to the city.
Ainslie is certainly unapologetic about the fact that he has secured such heavyweight backing. “I think this team is all about Best of British. It shows in the fact that we’ve got government support, we’ve got the Duchess behind us, it’s about bringing the America’s Cup back to Britain. In terms of this Trust, it will create a lot of jobs around Portsmouth and around the marine industry. I
"t is going to do a lot of good. So I don’t see it as an issue. I see it as a major strength and positive.”
The quality of trustees unveiled on Monday was testimony to the fact that some pretty influential figures in this country and abroad agree with him; Sir Keith Mills, Ainslie’s business partner and former deputy chairman of the London Organising Committee of the 2012 Games; Rod Carr, the chair of UK Sport and formerly the chief executive of the Royal Yachting Association; American philanthropist Wendy Schmidt whose 11th Hour Project works to promote responsible relationships with the planet’s food, water, and energy resources. Ainslie’s fiancee, the journalist and broadcaster Georgie Thompson, is also a trustee, as will be, shortly, Claire Oulton, the former head teacher of Benenden girls’ school whose focus will be on education.
“We’ve tried to recruit trustees with complementary skillsets,” said Mills, who will chair the Trust.
“The foundation will primarily be a grant-giving body. We’re not intending to duplicate the work of other foundations. Rather we will work with them to encourage what they are doing, although we probably will run a number of programmes within Portsmouth.”
Mills, who worked with Prince Harry on last month’s Invictus Games, added that the presence of the Duchess would “turbocharge” the Trust’s impact. “The prospect of bringing the Cup back to the UK, with royal patronage, with a foundation backed by Her Royal Highness which is intended to inspire a new generation of sailors and engineers and boat builders, it really underpins many of the original values behind the Great Exhibition in 1851.”
If that all sounds very worthy, it was reassuring to be reminded that Ainslie still has his eyes on the prize. After all, Formula One may generate millions each year for the UK economy, it may provide employment for thousands of our best young engineers, but at the sharp end it is still about getting the likes of Lewis Hamilton across the line first.
So it is with Ainslie, who said team were itching to get the first test boat out on the water this weekend, weather permitting.
“Whether it is apprentices coming through, or schoolchildren coming in and seeing how the team operate, really it’s about using this Trust as a vehicle to make a difference alongside the team, which in turn allows the team to focus on the core goal of winning back the America’s Cup,” he said. “These are exciting times.”
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