Ainslie on choppy water
Olympic sailing gold medallist may want to reclaim the for Britain one day but someone did their best to scupper him out on Southampton water at the weekend.
Ainslie was skippering the former , the boat that is being used in preparation for Britain's next bid for the America's Cup (although it will be used in two pre-regattas in 2008, when the actual race comes along in 2009 a new, faster boat will be used).
On Sunday, the boat sported the name "Team Origin" and was being shown to prospective sponsors and others. A was following, ferrying people in and out of Ainslie's boat, shuttling them to and from the harbour.
Suddenly the Harbour Master's boat drew up alongside the rib and asked it to come back to the harbour. The skipper of the rib feared he might have been speeding but soon discovered that the Harbour Master was worried about its alleged rule violations.
Because Ainslie had been driving in and out of the harbour the rules required that every time he did so he told the Harbour Master what he was doing and what his objectives were. His failure to do so apparently constituted a breach of rules.
Clearly, what Ainslie should have done every time he came into the harbour was radio loud and clear: "I am coming in and my objectives are to help Britain win the America's Cup!"
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