America’s Cup winner Sir Ben Ainslie has hailed his team’s “amazing” comeback and hinted at a British assault on one of sailing’s toughest competitions.
The Olympic hero was drafted in as skipper by Oracle Team USA ahead of race six with the squad in the doldrums.
The crew had won just one race to Emirates Team New Zealand’s four and at one stage were 8-1 down.
However, they rallied to win the Cup 9-8 in a thrilling finale that captured the imagination of sports fans the world over.
Sir Ben, a five-times Olympic medallist who won gold at London 2012, told Sky News: “It’s amazing to have had so many messages of support from back home.
“It’s great to see how people have got behind the Cup and it’s great for sailing for people to see this kind of racing.”
The America’s Cup dates back to 1851 and was first contested off the coast of the Isle of Wight.
However, British involvement in the competition has faded in recent years and the Cup has been held almost exclusively by Australia, New Zealand and the US since the last British win in 1964.
Sir Ben said renewed interest in America’s Cup could see Britain mount a fresh challenge for the title.
“For sure, Britain can compete in the America’s Cup,” he said.
“We’ve had a lot of British sailors and designers across all of the teams racing in San Francisco, so we’ve got the talent. We just need to pull all of that together.
“Traditionally the America’s Cup has been expensive – it’s really been a billionaire’s game.
“But that’s changing now and the guys who are putting the sport together … see a future where teams can be run commercially through sponsorship.
“That’s great for the future of the America’s Cup and the future of sailing.”
Sir Ben was cheered to victory by fans in his home town of Lymington, Hampshire, as well as thousands of supporters who lined the coast of San Francisco as his catamaran zigzagged its way towards the Golden Gate Bridge.
He paid tribute to his friend and fellow British Olympic champion Andrew Simpson, who was killed in May while training for the Cup, saying he “would have loved” the gripping conclusion to the race.
He added: “It was an amazing comeback from our team. We were 8-1 down against the Kiwis and had a huge mountain to climb.
“We’re delighted. The final race was awesome … and it was great to have been part of it.”
:: Watch highlights of the 19th and final race of the America’s Cup on Sky Sports 2 at 11am, 4pm and 7pm
Ben Ainslie: America's Cup Comeback 'Amazing'
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