Muscat: Ben Ainslie’s Land Rover BAR team secured victory in the America’s Cup World Series in Oman on Sunday despite not winning any of the day’s races.
Land Rover BAR had led overnight after winning two of Saturday’s three races, and that gave them enough of a margin to win despite coming in second, fourth and then third on Sunday, when points were doubled in each race.
In an event that is part of the preparations for the 2017 America’s Cup in Bermuda, Ainslie’s team pipped Jimmy Spithill’s Oracle Team USA by a mere two points overall.
There were wins on the day for Glenn Ashby’s Emirates Team New Zealand, Oracle Team USA and Groupama Team France.
The New Zealanders lead overall in a series that will next stop in New York in early May before also visiting Chicago, Portsmouth and Toulon.
There may also be a leg in Japan with an announcement due in the coming days.
Results
Race 4: 1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL/Glenn Ashby) 20 points, 2. Land Rover BAR (GBR/Ben Ainslie) 18 pts, 3. SoftBank Team Japan (JPN/Dean Barker) 16, 4. Artemis Racing (SWE/Nathan Outteridge) 14, 5. Oracle Team USA (USA/Jimmy Spithill) 12, 6. Groupama Team France (FRA/Adam Minoprio) 10
Race 5: 1. Oracle Team USA (USA/Jimmy Spithill) 20 points, 2. Groupama Team France (FRA/Adam Minoprio) 18 pts, 3. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL/Glenn Ashby) 16, 4. Land Rover BAR (GBR/Ben Ainslie) 14, 5. Artemis Racing (SWE/Nathan Outteridge) 12, 6. SoftBank Team Japan (JPN/Dean Barker) 10.
Race 6: 1. Groupama Team France (FRA/Adam Minoprio) 20 points, 2. Oracle Team USA (USA/Jimmy Spithill) 18 pts, 3. Land Rover BAR (GBR/Ben Ainslie) 16, 4. SoftBank Team Japan (JPN/Dean Barker) 14, 5. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL/Glenn Ashby) 12, 6. Artemis Racing (SWE/Nathan Outteridge) 10
Final overall standings
1. Land Rover BAR (GBR/Ben Ainslie) 76 points, 2. Oracle Team USA (USA/Jimmy Spithill) 74 pts, 3. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL/Glenn Ashby) 70, 4. Groupama Team France (FRA/Adam Minoprio) 68, 5. SoftBank Team Japan (JPN/Dean Barker) 61, 6. Artemis Racing (SWE/Nathan Outteridge) 56
Series standings after Oman leg
1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL/Glenn Ashby) 192 points, 2. Oracle Team USA (USA/Jimmy Spithill) 186 pts, 3. Land Rover BAR (GBR/Ben Ainslie) 185, 4. SoftBank Team Japan (JPN/Dean Barker) 161, 5. Artemis Racing (SWE/Nathan Outteridge) 161, 6. Groupama Team France (FRA/Adam Minoprio) 150.
