INEOS Britannia and Emirares Team New Zealand race in the Louis Vuitton Round Robin Series. Photo: Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup

The British entry to the 38th America’s Cup is named Athena Racing. Ben Ainslie’s Athena Racing team represents the Royal Yacht Squadron, the official Challenger of Record – a role that gives them some say in the rules for this edition of the event alongside the America’s Cup Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand. 

Team name: Athena Racing
Yacht club: Royal Yacht Squadron
Skipper: Ben Ainslie (GBR)

The Challenger of Record is the name given to the first yacht club to challenge the holder of the America’s Cup once it has been won.

In 2024 the British America’s Cup team – then named INEOS Britannia and owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe –  became the first British team to compete for the America’s Cup proper in 60 years.

However, they ultimately lost to Emirates Team New Zealand who took their third successive AC win and second successive successful defence. 

Once again the Brits were first to challenge for the America’s Cup making them the official challenger of record for the 38th America’s Cup, as they had been for the 37th.

However, an acrimonious split between INOES’ Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Ben Ainslie briefly saw two rival British team in existence before Ratcliffe’s INEOS effort announced their withdrawal in April 2025.

The British team has been competing in the America’s Cup continually since 2017. Initially the team was branded Land Rover BAR and competed under this name in the 2017 America’s Cup regatta in Bermuda. 

The team was set up by the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie with an aim to bring the America’s Cup back to the UK. 

Ahead of the 2021 America’s Cup, sponsorship rights for the team were bought by INEOS and the firm’s CEO Jim Radcliffe – who would also take headline sponsorship role of then Sky cycling team and who also has a significant stake in the Mercedes F1 team.

The British America’s Cup entrant joined forces with the Mercedes F1 team ahead of the 2021 America’s Cup and for the 2024 event INEOS Britannia and Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 strengthened this relationship. 

Now, with INEOS out and Ainslie’s Athena Racing representing the Royal Yacht Squadron Ainslie will be back out looking for a headline sponsor ahed of the next America’s Cup.