SIR Ben Ainslie has unveiled his latest weapon in his quest to win the America's Cup - a 'tactical aid' that will serve as a virtual crewmember.

The gadget is the brainchild of Ainslie, tactician Giles Scott and Land Rover BAR partner BT and tech start-up Coderus.

Its role will be to provide the crew with vital information at crucial times during racing including the strategic layout of the course, the position of the boat, how many legs of the race are left and how far it is to the next boundary, all allowing the team to make swift tactical decisions and giving them maximum time for manoeuvres.

The aid, which Ainslie's crew will access on tablets and smart watches, can also tell the team exactly when to power up and accelerate so that they cross the line at the precise moment of the start, gaining a critical advantage from the very beginning of racing.

"We were desperate for a tactical aid which could act as a virtual seventh crew member and become central to our decision making process during the race, providing Ben and I with the data that we really need to gain a competitive advantage," said Scott.

"We've had great support from BT and Coderus through all stages of the development, from design, build and now refinement out on the water."

The America's Cup begins in Bermuda on May 26 and will climax around a month later.