BMW Oracle’s interminable court battle with Alinghi over how and where the 33rd America’s Cup will be held next year has left a dozen would-be competitors twiddling their thumbs.

It was all the more satisfying for Team Origin, then, that when the British entry for the 34th edition got a chance to race Oracle in an America’s Cup-style regatta yesterday, they not only won but thrashed the American team.

Team Origin, skippered by Ben Ainslie, drew what was regarded as the less attractive port-tack entry at the start, but attacked Oracle across the line to gain the left side of the course, which offered better wind, and sped away to win by two minutes, their fourth victory out of four.

“The wind was unstable during the half-hour before the start and we weren’t sure which side was going to be favoured,” Rob Greenhalgh, the team strategist, said. “Ben managed to get the left for us, but we didn’t expect it to be quite so powerful.”

Alex Thomson’s decision to take the most northerly course in the Transat Jacques Vabre looked to have paid off as he and Ross Daniel gained four places in the doublehanded race, moving up to seventh as the fleet prepared for 50mph winds last night. Mike Golding was the leading British sailor in fourth, one place ahead of Dee Caffari and Brian Thompson, with Sam Davies in eleventh.

Torben Grael and Anna Tunnicliffe were named ISAF World Sailor of the Year. Grael, of Brazil, beat Paul Goodison, of Britain, to the men’s award after winning the Volvo Ocean Race with ease.

Tunnicliffe won the United States’ first Olympic sailing medal in 20 years last year. Davies, who was fourth in the Vendée Globe circumnavigation, and Hilary Lister, who became the first disabled woman to sail solo a round Britain, were also nominated in the women’s category.