Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly in settlement talks over an £180million legal dispute with Sir Ben Ainslie that has been running for 18 months. The row centres on the AC75 racing yacht Britannia and the wider America’s Cup project, and the earliest available dates for hearings and trials at the Commercial Court are from 15 November 2027.
The row and the court timetable
Ainslie said: "A lot of water has flowed under the bridge over the last 18 months." He also said: "We had a mutual desire to win the America's Cup, and I'm confident we'll be able to find a way to resolve this before it goes to court."
That leaves the dispute in a very different place from a straight courtroom fight. Settlement talks are now under way, and the reported timetable means a quick court resolution was never likely.
The row grew out of the partnership around Britannia and the Athena Racing sailing team, with the project spanning previous America’s Cup cycles in Auckland in 2021 and Barcelona in 2024. What was once a joint sporting effort has become a legal fight over assets, intellectual property and continued use of the boat.
How the partnership broke down
The tone around the dispute has also sounded bitter. Rob Nevin, Ineos Sport chairman, was quoted as saying: "This is what Jim wants." He also said: "We have a phrase at Ineos: 'scorched earth'. It means that if you don't give Jim what he wants, he will burn your house down"
That version of events fits the scale of the row rather than softening it. Even so, Ainslie's comments point the other way, and his confidence that a deal can be found before court is the more important development right now.
Manchester United sit 12th in the 2026 Premier League table with 5 points from 5 games, and they are 4th in their 2026 Champions League group after one match. The football side of Ratcliffe's portfolio is hardly tranquil, but the Britannia case now looks more likely to be settled than argued in court.
If the talks hold, the Commercial Court date to watch is 15 November 2027.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
