Please select your home edition
Edition
A+T Instruments 2024 Leaderboard

U.S. SailGP Team prepares for first windy race weekend in Sydney

by Laura Muma 24 Feb 2024 07:23 AEDT February 24-25, 2024
The USA SailGP Team F50 catamaran is towed past Sydney Opera House during a practice session ahead of the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix in Sydney, Australia © Ricardo Pinto for SailGP

Eight events into the 13-event season, the United States SailGP Team is in third place on the overall leaderboard, bolstered by its third-place finish in last month's Abu Dhabi event. Next up: The KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix in Sydney, February 24 - 25.

Sydney is the third event for the recently acquired U.S. SailGP Team, and is shaping up to be a much different affair than the previous two Middle Eastern light-air events. "This weekend's racing is going to be a great test for our new team," said Mike Buckley, U.S. SailGP Team CEO and strategist. "The conditions look to be quite extreme, which will be very challenging for everyone. It's setting up to be a heck of a show for the fans here in Sydney."

SailGP canceled Friday's official practice racing for the 10-boat fleet due to afternoon thunderstorms, but allowed the American and German teams - the two newest crews in the league - a morning training session to familiarize themselves with Sydney Harbor and gain valuable time on the highly technical F50.

Head Coach Mark Ivey represented the team at the morning press conference while the team prepared for its training session. "Any additional time we get as a new team and a new squad is absolute gold for us."

The team made the most of its two-hour training session despite the lack of wind. The team's support boat towed the F50 in order to simulate the upcoming conditions, allowing it to foil and practice maneuvers at the higher speeds that are forecasted for the weekend.

Driver Taylor Canfield said they focused on communication during maneuvers and refamiliarizing themselves with the F50 and their new positions, in particular Mac Agnese who is making the transition from grinder to flight controller. "The F50 is a lot to handle at high speeds, but we have the talent and potential to quickly adapt," Canfield said.

Olympian Anna Weis has rejoined the team after taking time away to focus on her Paris Olympic aspirations. "I had a blast being back on board the F50," said Weiss. "Being with the new team is great and I'm excited to see how my Olympic training and experience has prepared me for this opportunity."

"Our entire team is full of hunger," Ivey said. "They are passionate, and you can overcome a lot of things when you believe. That's what I'm trying to do as a coach is instill that belief and confidence that we can play out here against all these teams. The fact we had two hours today puts us two hours further ahead in training."

Related Articles

US SailGP team skipper "incredibly frustrated"
Hitting out at decision to keep two teams off the water US SailGP team skipper says the team is incredibly frustrated with the decision by event organisers not to launch two teams, both privately owned, excluding them from competing on Day 2. High winds early in the day and a lack of time are blamed. Posted on 3 Jun 2024
US SailGP Team keen to get racing
After a regatta ending capsize in Bermuda, the US team are ready to bounce back in Halifax Returning to competition for the first time since crashing in Bermuda, Taylor Canfield and team are fired up to kick off to the North American leg of the SailGP Season 4 tour, the Rockwool Canada Sail Grand Prix in Halifax. Posted on 1 Jun 2024
SailGP: Spectacular on board video of USA capsize
USA SailGP team has released spectacular on-board video coverage of their capsize in Bermuda USA SailGP team has released spectacular on-board video coverage of their capsize in Bermuda in Friday's third Practice session. Surprisingly given the violence of the capsize, none of the crew were injured. Posted on 4 May 2024
U.S. debut in Dubai
Team takes podium position in the final fleet race "It's so energizing to finish our first event as a team with a third place in that final race," said Taylor Canfield, driver for the United States SailGP Team at the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas. Posted on 10 Dec 2023
United States SailGP Team's revamped line-up
First active athlete roster announced ahead of Dubai The revamped United States SailGP Team has announced its active athlete roster for the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas on Dec. 9 - 10. Posted on 7 Dec 2023
Spithill takes positives from new crew combo
As the US SailGP team go into Season 4 After a luck-lustre performance for much of the latter part of Season 3, US SailGP team skipper Jimmy Spithill, has taken some positives from the team's performance in the final series, and a third place in the final race with a new crew combination. Posted on 8 May 2023
SailGP's Grand Final weekend is here!
The final event of Season 3 takes place on iconic San Francisco Bay SailGP's 11th and final event of Season 3 takes place on iconic San Francisco Bay this weekend, May 6 - 7, at the Mubadala SailGP Season 3 Grand Final. Posted on 5 May 2023
Season 3 rollercoaster ride continues
An up-and-down event for the United States SailGP Team Rounding out an up-and-down event on a high note, Jimmy Spithill's United States SailGP Team finished the final fleet race in second place, but ultimately leave the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch with sixth-place overall. Posted on 19 Mar 2023
Spithill looks ahead to New Zealand
"We're still in the hunt for the Grand Final" Jimmy Spithill said the team is still in the hunt for a coveted place in the three-boat, winner-takes-all Season 3 Grand Final coming to San Francisco in early May, insisting, 'There are still a lot of points available'. Posted on 17 Mar 2023
'Morale is high, but there is work to be done'
Spithill speaks about aftermath in Sydney "It was all-hands on deck... but ultimately Mother Nature won," said United States SailGP Team CEO and Driver Jimmy Spithill speaking about the major weather event that rolled through the SailGP Technical Base. Posted on 19 Feb 2023
Boat Books Australia FOOTERBarton Marine Pipe GlandsMaritimo M50