Daughter for Sir Ben Ainslie and wife Georgie

Ahead of the America's Cup action in Portsmouth this weekend, Sir Ben Ainslie has already had his first win! He and his wife, Georgie Thompson have welcomed their first child.

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21 July

For the Gold medal winning yachtsman, this must be the proudest day of his life!

Sir Ben Ainslie and his wife, radio and television presenter Georgie Thompson, have welcomed the arrival of their first child.

The baby girl has been named Bellatrix.

The news was broken by Sir Ben’s racing team, Land Rover BAR on their Twitter feed on the morning of 21 July.

The team’s Twitter hashtag #BringTheCupHome was temporarily changed to #BringTheBabyHome.

Land Rover BAR Twitter announce arrival of Ben Aiinslie;s first child

Sir Ben described this as his “proudest day” on Twitter.

Ben Ainslie response to baby

While his wife, Georgie described her new daughter as “our little star”.

Georgie Anslie reaction to birth of baby girl

The arrival of Bellatrix Ainslie comes just days before the start of the America’s Cup World Series at Portsmouth.

Land Rover BAR will be hoping to repeat their success last year on home ground.

1 March

Sir Ben Ainslie says he expects 2016 to be “a hugely enjoyable year on both a personal and a professional level,” and there’s one tiny reason for all the happiness.

Writing in the Telegraph newspaper, Ainslie announced that he and television presenter Georgie Thompson are expecting their first child this summer.

In an update that also covered the America’s Cup skipper’s recent win in the America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) event in Oman last weekend, Ainslie was ebullient.

“Firstly, I have some exciting news. My wife Georgie and I are expecting our first child this summer. It is a big moment for us both and we could not be happier.”

Ainslie went on to talk about his thrill at winning the ACWS event and beating Oracle Team USA to the post in a close competition.

The America’s Cup captain said his goal was to prove to fans that British racing belongs at the top of the world stage alongside teams like the USA and New Zealand who currently lead the ACWS standings after three events.

Ainslie also put the pressure on Giles Scott to bring home the gold medal for Britain in the Rio Olympics this summer, saying he has a personal interest in Scott’s campaign, “since we have had that medal in British hands since 2000 when Iain Percy first won it.”

Ainslie called Giles a “hugely talented sailor” and said he had been integral to the team’s first win in the ACWS, saying the pair’s relationship both on the water and off had been improving since tensions arose over a competition to race for Britain in the run up to the 2012 London Olympics.

With the America’s Cup in Bermuda just over a year away, Ainslie said the team’s second test boat, T2, was back on the water undergoing trials after suffering damage in December.

Ainslie also said he has high hopes for the future of British sailing, with the Land Rover BAR Academy aiming to prepare a team of young sailors to compete in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in 2017.

Related links: 

Sir Ben Ainslie leads Land Rover BAR team to victory at the America’s Cup World Series

Ben Ainslie’s new T2 test boat suffers damage after capsizing