British America’s Cup bid given a lift by JCB

Fleet of JCB generators, lighting towers, forklifts and telehandlers loaned to Land Rover BAR team

GREAT Britain’s bid to win the oldest sporting trophy in the world has been given a helping hand by JCB. The Staffordshire-based company has loaned a fleet of equipment, including generators, lighting towers, a Teletruk forklift and Loadall telescopic handler, to the team attempting to win the famous America’s Cup yacht race.

Headed by Olympic gold medallist Sir Ben Ainslie, the Land Rover BAR team is bidding to become the first British team to win the Cup in its 166-year history. The JCB kit has been put to use at the home of Land Rover BAR in Portsmouth and at its temporary base in Bermuda.

Sir Ben, team principal and skipper at Land Rover BAR, said: ‘The 35th America’s Cup will be fought out against some of the best sailors in the world. Knowing we have the support of an iconic engineering company in JCB is fantastic. Our crews, both on and off the water, need the best equipment to allow us to perform at this level, and this partnership really allows us to do that.’

JCB chairman Lord Bamford said: ‘To have the opportunity to support a British team in this legendary event with our machinery is very exciting. Both Land Rover BAR and JCB focus on innovation and bringing together the best engineering talent, and we wish Ben and the team every success against the competition in Bermuda.’

It was in June 2014 that Sir Ben announced the formation of a team to compete in the America’s Cup. Initially called Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR), it was renamed Land Rover BAR in 2015 and is made up of some of the best British and international sailors, designers and builders. The America’s Cup takes place on 26 May in Hamilton, Bermuda.