Great Britain qualifies for America's Cup for the first time since 1964

INEOS Britannia has won the Louis Vuitton Cup after an intense battle with the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team from Italy. This means that Great Britain will be competing for the America's Cup for the first time since 1964. 

The Cup begins on 12 October and will see INEOS Britannia square off against the defending team, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

INEOS Britannia went into the race two wins ahead of the Italians (6:4) and won today's race some 300 metres clear of Luna Rossa, clinching its seventh point and the Cup. The team is skippered by multiple Olympic medallist Sir Ben Ainslie, who spoke to BOAT International on the ground.

"This is a massive day for our team. I want to say how proud I am of not just those on the water, but also all those back on shore in Barcelona and also back in the UK in Brackley helping us on the technical side. I’m so pleased for everyone, for all of our fans and supporters – it’s a massive moment," said Ainslie. "We started this team 10 years ago when Britain wasn’t in the America’s Cup and it took a lot of people to come in and support us. We have the amazing support of Jim Ratcliffe and his team at INEOS, and I want to say a massive thank you to everyone that has supported us as a team and British sailing in general, this moment’s for you."

Founded in 1851, the America's Cup is the oldest international sporting competition in the world – and has yet to be won by Great Britain. 

BOAT International is in Barcelona this weekend reporting live from the Barcelona Superyacht Regatta.