Sir Ben Ainslie: This has been a frustrating America's Cup journey but it's not over yet

QUOTE-UNQUOTE: The truth is we have known for a long time that we were going to struggle in certain conditions. In the lighter airs, sub-8 knots, say, we are a little bit stranded. There are still changes we can make which will make us faster. But fundamentally it comes down to the size of our daggerboards designed for the different wind ranges. And our light-air daggerboards are just not as long as those of some of the other teams.There are a few things we can change in terms of rudders, the wing set-up and our sailing technique. But the truth is we are in a hole in that wind range where we are always going to struggle. –Sir Ben Ainslie, in an article under his byline in today's Telegraph (UK). Perhaps not a must read for AC fans, but a good and illuminating one nonetheless. And any time someone says, "It's not over yet" indicates to me he's thinking that it will be over soon. In the humble opinion of your Ed., Sir Ben has about as much chance of winning his Playoff Semifinal next week, irrespective of whether GBR are racing JPN, SWE or NZL, as I have of becoming the Queen of England.

Land Rover BAR's Sir Ben Ainslie: "The truth is we have known for a long time that we were going to struggle in certain conditions. In the lighter airs, sub-8 knots, say, we are a little bit stranded." Photo: Mark Lloyd/AFP via The Telegraph.