Sir Ben Ainslie steps down as pilot of the Emirates Great Britain SailGP boat to focus on the America's Cup bid with INEOS Britannia as two-time Olympic champion Giles Scott takes the helm

Sir Ben Ainslie has stepped down as driver of the Emirates Great Britain SailGP team to focus on his America's Cup bid, business interests and family.

Two-time Olympic champion Giles Scott will take over from Ainslie for the next SailGP event, which takes place in Abu Dhabi next weekend.

Ainslie, who remains CEO of Emirates GBR, has been at the helm since the start of the second season of the global sailing championship in 2019.

The British boat is currently fourth in the season rankings, behind Australia, Denmark and New Zealand, ahead of the seventh race of the calendar in Abu Dhabi.

Ainslie, 46, is helmsman and CEO of INEOS Britannia, a Challenger of Record for the 37th America's Cup, and will focus on the next preparatory regatta in Barcelona in August.

A highlight came when Great Britain won the Saint-Tropez SailGP event in September 2023

Two-time Olympic champion Giles Scott will take over from Ainslie as the British SailGP driver

The Challenger Series, the Louis Vuitton Cup, will then be held to decide who will compete against Emirates Team New Zealand for the prestigious prize in October.

“This is probably the most difficult decision I have had to make in my sporting career,” Ainslie said of his decision to step down.

'As with any major decision, there is a lot to consider and many factors at play.

'As CEO of both Emirates GBR and the INEOS Britannia America's Cup team, and especially as a husband and father, at some point you have to realize that you can't do everything.

“I'm getting to the point where it's time for the next generation to come through and get their opportunities.

“We have a huge talent in Giles Scott, he is one of the best in the sport and he suits this style of racing perfectly.

“He's an incredible sailor, one of the best I've ever raced with, but he's also a very mature, down-to-earth person and that's why I think he'll do fantastic in SailGP.”

Ainslie and wife Georgie Thompson pictured in the Royal Box at Wimbledon last year

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS are backing Ainslie's bid to win the prestigious America's Cup

He added: “I enjoyed every minute of sailing in the competition at the time. We've had some great moments and some challenging moments, but I've just enjoyed it.

'It's the best sailing I've ever done in my career, it's so much fun. We have a great team at Emirates GBR that has a very exciting future and I will be part of it for many years to come.”

Scott, 36, won gold in the Finn class at both the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He co-pilots the INEOS Britannia America's Cup boat.

He will join as Driver, with Mills as Strategist, Iain Jensen as Wing Trimmer, Luke Parkinson as Flight Controller, Matt Gotrel, Neil Hunter and Nick Hutton as Grinders, and Hannah Diamond as Reserve Sailor.

Ainslie and Scott are part of the INEOS Britannia boat praying to win the America's Cup

Scott said: 'SailGP is a great competition, there is nothing like it and it's great that Ben has called me up.

'I still have some catching up to do, but the Emirates GBR team is a great team, everyone involved are extremely experienced and top quality sailors.

“I have to do my very best and do my very best to fill those big old boots that Ben left behind.”

The plan is for Mills to continue her development behind the wheel of the F50 foil boat with the aim of becoming the first female driver of a SailGP team.

Emirates GBR has organized a Women's Pathway Program training day in Abu Dhabi and Mills will lead the session.

Ainslie said: 'Hannah is an incredible talent and it was really impressive to see how she handles these boats.

'We fully support her goal of becoming the first female driver in SailGP and will continue to give her more training time on the water, starting in Abu Dhabi, and I don't think it will be long before we see her racing on a F50.'