The Tribe of Ben

[MR.CLEAN]

I'll be chatting with Big Ben Ainslie on Friday morning, and I'd love to see what the Anarchists have to ask him about the Olympics, Ben Ainslie Racing AC45 team, and so on. Feel free to post questions about his little 'fight club' boarding in Perth, but he won't be answering those questions until the RYA inquiry is over (if ever!)

We're very grateful to Ben and to his publicist Jo for setting this up - now help us come up with great questions!

Thanks much...

 

[~Stingray~~]

On the AC45 BAR is getting: Is it brand new, when does he expect delivery, where will they take delivery, and what will the hull number be?

 

[Pete Pollard]

Does he have any interest in small cats, either the A class or F16? I still think there is a worthwhile challenge in sailing the F16 solo.

 

[YetMoreTrouble]

Why is he flying a Union Flag and not an Ensign (only joking)

What experience does he have with faster than the wind sailing? It seems that the 49er and cat sailors are adapting better than the Finn sailors in GCR

Are there any other sailors he has competed against in the Olympics etc he would like to see in the AC (WS or AC proper)

 

[Test2]

What changes in match racing tactics does Ben feel has come out of sailing winged cats in an enclosed course, and how has the course configuration changed his tactical thinking from traditional courses? How does this bear on racing in SF? Also, what's his take on the lee-bow on Cats?

 

[Clapham]

If you were able to change which classes could sail in the Olympics, what changes would you make?

 

[Mambo Kings]

If there is a multihull in the 2016 Olympics, would Ben consider a multihull campaign for Brazil 2016?

 

[potato267]

Aside from the Olympics and your potential next AC campaign of your own. What other sailing mountains would you like to climb in your future?

 

[Sneaky Duck]

If Team Origin had backed out because they didn't agree with the format and didn't feel it would give them a fair shot. Doesn't signing on with the defender and possibly helping them win again go against everything his team stands for? Or was it just Keith Mills that didn't like the format and Ben feels like this is all good for the cup?

 

[Mambo Kings]

If BAR wins the 35th Americas Cup, which locations in the UK, purely from a sailing perspective, would Ben put on his personal short list to host the defense of the 36th America's Cup?

 

[Mambo Kings]

Which Finn sailors who will not be sailing in the Olympics would have presented the greatest challenge to you if they had been sailing? Is the Olympics poorer for their absence?

 

[Mambo Kings]

Do you sail on SailX.com? If you do, what is your username?

Do you post on Sailing Anarchy? If so, please dont tell us your username.

 

[SurfCityCatamarans]

Ask him what he anticipates happening if he hops onto a photo boat that I'm on.

 

[Mambo Kings]

Do you post on Sailing Anarchy? If so, please dont tell us your username.

Unless it used to be Lesbian Robot.

 

[Mambo Kings]

Do you post on Sailing Anarchy? If so, please dont tell us your username.

Unless it used to be Lesbian Robot.

Or Doug Lord

 

[chris3dl]

Can you tell us how you develop sails and which sailmaker is your preferred supplier?

 

[Te Kooti]

As a member of the British Commonwealth who worked with the New Zealand team for an extended period of time, do you have any qualms about leaping into bed with and accepting money from Americans?

Is BAR just a business deal? Or, deep in your soul are there any qualms about hitching your waggon to the thundering monolith financed by Larry Ellison?

 

[Te Kooti]

As a relatively affluent citizen of the United Kingdom, will you be donating to the effort to buy and give the Royal Yacht Britannia to Her Majesty the Queen?

If so, what will be the extent of your donation?

 

[~Stingray~~]

^ Are you now or have you ever been a student of the Battle of Gallipoli???