EVERYONE hoped Sir ­Ben Ainslie’s golden touch would bring Great Britain glory in the America’s Cup for the very first time.

His heroics in the Olympic Games are legendary – he has won gold medals in the last four games – as well as winning eight world sailing championship titles.

When he formed the Land Rover BAR?team to compete in the America’s Cup in 2017 to try to secure this country’s first win in the competition since it began in 1851, hopes were high he would be able to emulate his previous successes and bring home the cup.

Those hopes have not diminished after his team won the World Series event in Portsmouth at the weekend.

Following two days of practice, the Land Rover BAR team led the way after Saturday’s two races and won the event after Sunday’s racing had to be cancelled due to poor weather in the Solent.

On Saturday they were roared on by around 100,000 people on the shore and at sea as Ainslie’s team grabbed victory in race one.

Emirates Team New Zealand took the early lead, but Land Rover BAR overhauled them on leg four and pulled away to take the win. Oracle Team USA came through to take second.

In race two, after the first mark Emirates Team New Zealand opted to sail along the shore side and picked up better wind to take a big advantage.

Groupama Team France hunted them around the course until Land Rover BAR overtook the French at the fifth gate mark, to finish in second in a thrilling race.