Ben Ainslie Criticizes Team New Zealand For Resisting Proposal To Reduce Boat Size

Ben Ainslie Racing skipper Ben Ainslie has hit out at Team New Zealand for "resisting proposed changes to reduce the size of boats for the next America's Cup," according to Michael Brown of the NEW ZEALAND HERALD. Ainslie "made the call" in a Sydney Daily Telegraph column ahead of the "impending vote to scale back the catamarans from 62ft to something between 45 and 50ft." Team NZ opposes the idea to reduce the size of the boats and the decision "could have a massive bearing on their continued involvement in the America's Cup." Italian syndicate Luna Rossa, which is the Challenger of Record, has already "threatened to withdraw if the boat size is changed." Ainslie: "Personally, I do not just think this is a good idea, I think it is absolutely essential for the long-term good of the Cup. Without making radical changes, the America's Cup will never reach it's potential commercially" (NZ HERALD, 3/31).