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South African skipper Ian Ainslie. (Swedish Match Tour/Guido Cantini)
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Ian Ainslie and Team Shosholoza placed eighth at the Toscana Elba Cup. (Swedish Match Tour/Guido Cantini)
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Nationality South African
Residence Simonstown, South Africa
Date of Birth July 27, 1965
World Match Racing Tour Results
2006-’07
8th - Latium Match Cup 07
(Crew:Szabi Weores, Golden Mgedeza, Salomon Dipeere, Paul McKenzie)
5th - St Moritz 06
(Crew: Matteo Paulin, Alex Runciman)
2005-’06
7th — Match Race Germany ’06
(Crew: Erwan Auburtin, Lucas Chabert, Mael Le Garrec, Alex Runciman)
2004-’05
8th — Toscana Elba Cup – Trofeo Locman ’05
(Crew: Charles Nankin, David Rae, Alexander Runciman, Mark Sadler)
10th — Match Race Germany ’05
(Crew: Charles Nankin, David Rae, Alexander Runciman, Mark Sadler)
2007 America’s Cup affiliation
Team Shosholoza (South Africa) — Helmsman
Achievements
1st — J/22 World Championship (1997, 2001)
1st — Nations Cup (1995)
8th — 1996 Olympic Regatta (Finn)
14th — 2000 Olympic Regatta (Finn)
18th — 1992 Olympic Regatta (Finn)
Summary
Three-time Olympian, with 18th, 8th and 14th places finishes in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Games, puts Ian Ainslie among the elite of South Africa’s sportsmen. He understands what opportunity can bring.
That’s why in 2001 Ainslie co-founded Izvunguvungu, a foundation for historically disadvantaged youths from the townships around Simon’s Town, east of Cape Town. Some 93 youngsters have benefited, learning skills and knowledge of sailing, boat repair, outdoor adventure and the environment. Ainslie’s aim is that they go back to their communities proud, dignified and confident, potential catalysts for South Africa’s future.
It is what his country’s maiden America’s Cup challenge is about. Not for nothing does Shosholoza’s brand-new RSA 83 America’s Cup Class sloop have “Proudly South African” on her topsides. You don’t often equate the America’s Cup with zero interest in personal material gain and of altruistic work for the less fortunate, but this is Ainslie’s code.
Ainslie, a two time J/22 world champion and part of South Africa’s 1995 Nations Cup winning crew, has been brought in to Shosholoza’s afterguard. He will steer in the match-racing and be strategist in the fleet racing, reversing roles with skipper Geoff Meek when Meek takes the wheel for the fleet events.
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