BARCELONA – Sailing has a great opportunity to develop as a sport if the America’s Cup can involve more frequent events and evolve the boats now being raced, according to British skipper Ben Ainslie.

The winner of the “Auld Mug” gets to decide key parameters for the next event, including when and where it takes place and the specifications of the boat in which it is sailed.

Ainslie is hoping that his team are able to win the America’s Cup for Britain for the first time by defeating holders New Zealand when they meet in a first-to-seven match when it begins on Oct 12.