BOAT International columnist and gold-winning Olympic medallist Sir Ben Ainslie has retired his position as driver of Great Britain's SailGP team and handed over the keys to double gold medalist Giles Scott.
In a statement posted to social media, the Emirates Great Britain SailGP team confirmed that Ainslie would remain in his position as CEO and continue to manage the overall performance of the team both on and off the water.
"It's time for the next generation to come through and those younger sailors to have the opportunity," said Ainslie, who holds the title for the most successful sailor in Olympic history. He described his successor as "one of the greatest talents in the sport".
Speaking about the promotion, Giles said; "The team as a whole expects excellence [...] it's a big moment".
Ainslie has contributed significantly to BOAT International over the years, most recently in the November 2023 issue, where he talked about the team's "demoralising loss" in Vilanova.
The next SailGP event will be held between January 13 to 14 in Abu Dhabi.
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