Get your grind on with Sir Ben Ainslie in aid of Sport Relief

Britain’s America’s Cup team Land Rover BAR, led by Sir Ben Ainslie, is supporting Sport Relief by hosting a 24 hour America’s Cup ‘Grind-athon’ and 12-hour disco ‘Spin-athon’ led by Bestival Founder Rob da Bank and Longplay founder, Tim Weeks at the team’s Portsmouth HQ.

The challenge, which will start at 10pm on Thursday, March 22, will require team members to grind until 10pm on Friday.

The Portsmouth-based team has also partnered with the 1851 Trust, the official charity of Land Rover BAR, as well as Pompey in the Community, to invite community groups, local businesses and sailing and sport clubs to take part and get involved.

Sir Ben Ainslie said: ‘Grinding is a seriously hard endurance sport.

‘It’s full-on work for the sailors and grinders to create enough power to get the boat around the race course.

‘We are looking forward to supporting Sport Relief, the whole team will be giving it a go.

‘We also look forward to bringing the community into our home, to join us and get active whilst supporting a really fantastic cause.’

The grinder’s role on-board is the ‘engine’; by grinding handles that power the winch and hydraulic system, the boats are able to lift up and out of the water on foils

The ‘Spin-athon’ will come into play from 10pm on Friday March 23 and feature live intimate DJ music sessions on bikes.

LOOP Sessions began back at Bestival in 2015 as a pilot in a tractor shed and for Sport Relief Rob Da Bank will be doing a special extended LOOP Session.

Throughout the challenge, the Emirates Spinnaker Tower will be lit up in blue over the 24-hour period.

The Land Rover BAR team, who are currently preparing their challenge for the 36th America’s Cup in 2021, have set a fundraising target of £18,510 as 1851 is the year the America’s Cup first started with a race around the Isle of Wight.

Sport Relief is a nationwide campaign to get active alongside raising money to help vulnerable people in both the UK and the world’s poorest countries.

n To donate to the Land Rover Bar 24 hour Grind-athon, visit my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/LandRoverBAR