America’s Cup: Great Britain qualify for first time since 1964

Great Britain will compete for the America’s Cup for the first time since 1964 after beating Italy 7-4 in a qualifying event in Barcelona.

Ineos Britannia won the first of two races in Spain on Friday to seal the best-of-13 series against the Italian Luna Rossa team.

The victory means Great Britain will take on New Zealand for the trophy on 12 October.

The team, skippered by four-time Olympic champion Sir Ben Ainslie, have been heavily backed by British billionaire and Manchester United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

“It’s a massive day for our team,” Ainslie said on the America’s Cup live broadcast.

“This moment is for you.”

Speaking exclusively to BBC sports editor Dan Roan in Barcelona, Ratcliffe said: “It’s 60 years since we’ve been in this place. They sailed a faultless race today.

“This is right up there really. It’s not followed by the mass public, but I think in the UK now it’ll pick up momentum, and it should do because it’s the oldest international trophy in the world and the only one we haven’t won.”

Ineos Britannia built up a 150m lead on Luna Rossa after the first leg of eight but saw the gap closed to under 30m after the fifth leg.

But the British team once again extended their lead, finishing around 300m clear of the Italians.

The America’s Cup, which is the oldest international sporting competition in the world, having started in 1851, has never been won by Great Britain.