Please select your home edition
Edition
C-Tech 2020 Tubes 728x90 TOP

United States SailGP Team scores first win at New York SailGP

by Laura Muma 22 Jun 2019 22:53 PDT
United States SailGP Team at New York SailGP © Drew Malcolm for SailGP

The United States SailGP Team brought home its first win of the season today in dramatic fashion at New York SailGP in front of thousands of cheering American fans, positioned now only one point out of third place overall on the SailGP Championship Series leaderboard.

"It feels great to bring home a win and today we gave the crowd something to cheer about," said Rome Kirby, U.S. SailGP Team helmsman. "It was definitely a tough weekend, but so great to finish on a high note."

The youngest team in SailGP, the U.S. SailGP Team proved it not only responds to adversity, the guys feed off of it. Just minutes before yesterday's racing, Wing Trimmer Riley Gibbs injured his back and Shore Manager Jeff Causey filled the position - despite having never sailed aboard the F50 - to secure valuable Series points.

The team immediately contacted Wing Trimmer Coach Tom Johnson, who jumped on the first flight out of Europe to land at 1 p.m. today just two hours before 'Lady Liberty', the team's patriotic F50, launched into the Hudson River to race in day two.

"The boys were pretty fired up to go racing today. I'm so proud of our group," said Kirby. "Everyone battled really hard this weekend and we came out with a podium finish, and our first race win, and it feels really good."

With New York SailGP positioned at the critical halfway point in the inaugural SailGP Championship series, the U.S. SailGP Team is now only one point out of third place overall, behind the Great Britain SailGP Team.

Looking ahead, Kirby believes there are only good things ahead for the team. "To win a race is awesome, but our goal is to win events. It's great to get on the podium this weekend."

The U.S. SailGP Team of Kirby, Gibbs, Johnson, Taylor Canfield, Hans Henken, and Dan Morris are looking toward the next event August 10-11 at Cowes SailGP to overtake the Brits and continue grinding down the current leaders, Australia SailGP Team and Japan SailGP Team.

For more information, visit SailGP.com.

Related Articles

SailGP: Roger Federer inspires Swiss SailGP team.
Roger Federer joins forces with Switzerland SailGP Team to inspire success One of Switzerland's greatest sporting icons, Roger Federer, features in the newest episode of Racing on the Edge, SailGP's official behind-the-scenes docuseries, produced in partnership with Rolex. Posted on 27 Jun
Rolex SailGP Championship 2026 dates confirmed
Including a return to fan-favorite destination, Auckland SailGP has released further details of forthcoming 2026 Season, including the return of fan-favorite locations, multi-year hosting agreements secured across all regions, and an evolved regional structure to raise the stakes for athletes and fans alike. Posted on 26 Jun
SailGP opens tender process for two new teams
SailGP has confirmed 2026 expansion plans, unveiling details of a tender process to seek investment. SailGP has confirmed 2026 expansion plans, unveiling details of a tender process to seek investment for ownership of two new teams entering the global racing championship next season, alongside available stakes across existing national teams. Posted on 23 Jun
Russell Coutts explains SailGP's investor value
Russell Coutts explains the growth of SailGP and why investors are chasing a slice of the action. SailGP co-founder and CEO Russell Coutts discusses the hard to understand investment, and growth of SailGP. The growth multiples hoped for SailGP have been achieved, on paper, by the same investors in other sports. Posted on 12 Jun
Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix overall
Spain SailGP Team claims second consecutive U.S. win Diego Botin and the Spain SailGP team have punched their way to the top of the Rolex SailGP Championship, taking the win on Sunday in New York. Posted on 9 Jun
SailGP: Spain win in New York - Day 2
Diego Botin's Spanish crew scraped into the Final, and then took their second successive SailGP win. The Spanish crew led by Diego Botin staged a comeback in the last race after losing an 8pt lead to squeeze into the Final, only taking the lead halfway through the three boat Final. Full race replay here. Posted on 9 Jun
SailGP: Spain lead in New York - Day 1
Spain top the leaderboard after the first day of racing in the Mubadala New York Grand Prix Spain top the leaderboard after the first day of racing in the Mubadala New York Grand Prix, after a consistent day's sailing on the murky and rainswept Hudson River. Full replay and leaderboard in this story. Posted on 7 Jun
Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix day 1
Spain overcomes storm clouds, topping the standings Diego Botin's Spain SailGP Team leads the fleet after a stormy and tactical opening day of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix. France, ROCKWOOL Denmark and New Zealand are all hot on his heels for all-important leaderboard points. Posted on 7 Jun
Russell Coutts reports ahead of SailGP New York
The New York Russell Report: Coutts on fleet-wide wing repairs and top picks for New York podium SailGP has returned to New York for the third time ahead of this weekend's Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix on June 7/8. Ahead of racing, SailGP CEO Russell Coutts reveals his behind-the-scenes insight of the fleet. Posted on 7 Jun
SailGP to Kick Off Summer in New York
With this Weekend's Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix An unforgettable weekend of high-speed, close-to-shore racing and world-class entertainment will take place this weekend when the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix takes place in front of the most famous skyline in the world. Posted on 5 Jun
Sea Sure 2025Barton Marine Pipe GlandsCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTER