America's Cup: Ainslie starts British bid in Portsmouth

Sir Ben Ainslie will begin Britain's bid to win the 35th America's Cup as the opening leg of the series gets under way in Portsmouth.

The Olympic champion's team Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) hopes to be the first British challenger to win the trophy.

A four-day event in the city opened earlier with a sailing parade, with racing taking place at the weekend.

Six teams will battle it out at Word Series regattas around the world ahead of the final races in 2017.

Sir Ben told BBC News: "There's so much history with this cup, 1851 it started around the Isle of Wight and we've never won it in Britain.

Sir Ben Ainslie said it was time to bring the cup back to Britain

"That's what we're all working towards with our team, to right that wrong, and get the trophy back here where it belongs.

"For us to now go out and race in front of our home crowd is absolutely fantastic.

"[The crowd] is going to be pretty wowed, these fly over the water. Everyone's going to be going for it 100% and it will be an amazing spectacle."

Events have also been scheduled in Gothenberg, Sweden, in August, and Bermuda in October.

Four to six regattas are expected in 2016, including a second event in Portsmouth in July.

The last America's Cup took place in San Francisco in 2013

Defenders Oracle Team USA - which Ainslie helped to win the cup in 2013 - will also take part, as well as crews from Sweden, France, New Zealand and Japan.

Their overall placement will affect the seeding and starting score they take into the America's Cup qualifier events in 2017.

Following the opening ceremony in Portsmouth, practice racing will follow on Friday when teams will familiarise themselves with the race course.

Competition takes place on Saturday and Sunday, culminating in the "Super Sunday racing showdown".

The headquarters of Ben Ainslie Racing was recently completed in the city

The event is expected to attract up to 500,000 spectators.

A race village has been set up in Southsea Common and will provide a free viewing platform and large screens during the event.

Organisers said the course is "amazingly close to shore". There will also be an on-water spectator area for small boats.

America's Cup explained

Portsmouth-based Ben Ainslie Racing hopes to become the first British challenger to win the cup in its 164-year history

• First staged in 1851 off the Isle of Wight in England. Won by US yacht America

• Takes place roughly every three to five years

• The winner decides the rules and venue of the next event

• As holders, Oracle Team USA have revamped the format. Qualifying rounds have been streamlined with the finals to be held in 2017

• Up to nine World Series events will be held in 2015 and 2016

• The teams' overall placement will affect the seeding and starting score they take into the America's Cup qualifier events in Bermuda in 2017

• The top crew will win the chance to take on champions Oracle Team USA boat-on-boat, called match-racing