Please select your home edition
Edition
Armstrong 728x90 - HA Foil Range - TOP

SailGP: Coutts confident of Bermuda event proceeding if dispensations can be obtained

by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World NZ 14 Apr 2021 02:49 PDT 14 April 2021
SailGP team bases and the SailGP operations facilities have been established on Cross Island adjacent to the historic Royal Dockyard in Bermuda © SailGP

Russell Coutts, CEO of SailGP has told Bermuda Tonight that he is more confident of the first regatta in the 2021 circuit getting underway as scheduled, despite there being only 10 days left until the scheduled start on April 24.

Coutts says the team in Bermuda are following the Bermudian Government health requirements, in regards to social distancing and other COVID containment practices.

The regatta is set to be broadcast to 175 territories, making a strong follow-on for the tourist dependent Atlantic archipelago, from the 2017 America's Cup held using very similar AC50's in the same venue.

Despite over almost 60% of Bermuda's population having had at least one vaccination, and 25% with two and full immunity, a third wave of COVID-19 infection seems to be underway. The concerns of the Bermudian Health authorities centre around the view that the virus is being circulated by local transmission, triggered by a non-observance of social distancing requirements, and despite the high vaccination rate. A seven day lockdown, described locally as "Shelter at Home", began on Tuesday morning local time, with all but specified essential businesses allowed to function. Food shopping is restricted each day to alphabetic groups determined by surname - with only a third of the population being able to shop on a particular day. Other than for 60 minutes a day of exercise within a mile radius of their home, all Bermudians must remain indoors.

The conditions of the lockdown are more severe than the two ordered in Auckland during the Prada and America's Cups.

Some of the eight teams are already in Bermuda, but others are en route, or like the NZ SailGP team are due to leave. There is no prohibition on visitors arriving in Bermuda, however they are required to follow restrictions on arrival including the return of a negative test - which can take up to four days - making a tight schedule even tighter.

Seven of the eight F50's require sea trials to ensure that the extensive off-season modifications are functioning correctly. The eighth boat for the Peter Burling and Blair Tuke led NZ SailGP team is yet to be finished.

Coutts says they need dispensation from the COVID rules, and compares the situation to "asking a Formula 1 drive to jump in a car, that is totally untested, and race it against all the other cars on a F1 track."

"If we can't get the sailing teams on the water, it is time-critical, and in theory we would soon reach a point where, if we can't operate , we would have to cancel the event.

"But I don't think that is going to be the situation. We will find a solution with the Bermudan Government."

In a later comment Coutts said that one outcome was that the teams remained completely separate from the rest of the population on Bermuda, and that the racing would be conducted in a "clean stadium" without spectators as has been been the situation with other international sports events, including the recent Prada and America's Cup.

Related Articles

SailGP: Brits win French event
Day 2 of the Sail Grand Prix in Saint-Tropez has been cancelled due to forecast thunderstorms Day 2 of the Rockwool France Sail Grand Prix in Saint-Tropez has been cancelled due to forecast thunderstorms expected to impact the area during scheduled racing. Posted on 13 Sep
ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix Day 1
Fletcher flies high on turbulent first day Day one of the ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix went the way of Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team as they topped the event leaderboard after the first four fleet races of the weekend in Saint-Tropez. Posted on 12 Sep
SailGP: Brits top leaderboard after Day 1
A squirrely 15-18kts breeze opened up plenty of opportunity for aggressive tactics. Emirates GBR topped the SailGP France leaderboard after the first day of racing in Saint Tropez. The squirrely 15-18kt breeze was distorted by the surrounding high terrain, channeling the pressure and direction, caused some dramatic switching of places. Posted on 12 Sep
Riviera racing: SailGP set for Saint-Tropez return
As league confirms 2026 expansion team plans The Rolex SailGP Championship returns tomorrow - and France's famous "Mistral [wind] has turned up just in time," according to league CEO Sir Russell Coutts. Twelve national teams will hit the startline for the sold-out event. Posted on 11 Sep
SailGP: Coutts updates on new teams
It has been a tumultuous year so far for SailGP. Russell Coutts outlines the plans for Season 6. Russell Coutts: Announcement on Team 13 for the SailGP League is pending. The second team will not start in Season 6, but will start in Season 7. A training facility will be set up for use of existing teams. Posted on 11 Sep
SailGP launches new rudders
And unveils further innovations ahead of Saint-Tropez event SailGP has today announced significant steps forward in technological innovation and fleet capability, with the launch of new rudders and plans for automated foil-protection software specifically for high speed, highly-loaded maneuvers. Posted on 10 Sep
SailGP Racing on the Edge Season 5 Episode 9
Germany find their spark in latest episode of Racing on the Edge After a disastrous start to their 2025 Season - seemingly-defined by an unprecedented 12-point penalty in Sydney - the Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank have been fighting to prove themselves. Posted on 8 Sep
SailGP: Brazil and USA head for France
The damage incurred in SailGP Germany has been fully repaired for next weekend's event A big effort by the team at SailGP Technologies' facility in Southampton has seen the damage incurred in SailGP Germany fully repaired for next weekend's event in Saint-Tropez, France. Posted on 7 Sep
SailGP: Auckland event set to top 30,000 fans
Auckland likely to set new record of 30,000 fans but stalemate set to hit all Major Events. An extension to the grandstand at SailGP Auckland will help set new records. But a policy stalement between Auckland Council and the NZ Govt hangs over the 2027 hosting negotiations, and future international sporting events that could be hosted in NZ. Posted on 28 Aug
SailGP: The sky is the limit for Auckland
Auckland to set world record venue spectator audience at Rolex SailGP with 30% stand expansion SailGP Auckland will take place on Valentine's Weekend 2026 with a 30 percent increase in grandstand size to accommodate more than 10,000 fans daily in the purpose-built Race Stadium at Wynyard Point, alongside hospitality and other ticketed products. Posted on 24 Aug
PredictWind - Routing 728x90 BOTTOMRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERLloyd Stevenson - AC INEOS 1456x180px BOTTOM