Intro:

Sir Ben Ainslie caps off a successful 2012 by becoming the Panataenius Yachtsman of the Year on Tuesday (January 15th) in Lymington, England.

Script:

No surprises when Ben Ainslie was named 2012 Yachtsman of the Year - cue awkward ceremony!

SOUNDBITE (English)
Bob Fisher, Yachting Journalist: "Here we are in the Royal Lymington with Pippa (Lady Pippa Blake) to present you with the YJA (Yachting Journalists Association) Panataenius Yachtsman of the Year trophy.

Lady Pippa Blake, Round-the-world Sailor: "Ben, I am very proud to be able to give this to you."

Sir Ben Ainslie, 2012 Yachtsman of the Year: "Great. Thank-you, Pippa. Especially receiving it from you. It is a real honour so thank-you."

Bob Fisher, Yachting Journalist: "Ben, it's been a heck of a year for you, hasn't it? You know, that fourth gold medal (at the Olympics) and then now we are 'Sir Ben'."

Sir Ben Ainslie, 2012 Yachtsman of the Year: "Yeah. Well, 2012 was a bit of a touch year but it was an amazing year for British sport and for sailing as well.

And now, of course, we are all looking forward to the future."

Bob Fisher, Yachting Journalist: "And that future is in the America's Cup..."

Sir Ben Ainslie, 2012 Yachtsman of the Year: "Yep. So obviously being in San Francisco, there's a lot of interest in the cup this year because no-one really has any idea about how it is going to play out. Well, with Oracle Team USA, of course, we hope to defend the cup but Pippa's Kiwis are certainly chasing after us pretty hard. So it's going to be a real interesting year."

Ainslie was knighted in the New Years Honours list after winning a fourth Olympic gold at London 2012.