SailGP: Super sub Nathan Outteridge says he is open to offers for new team
by SailGP 31 May 2024 18:25 PDT
Nathan Outteridge, driver of Switzerland SailGP Team - Bermuda - May 3, 2024 © Felix Diemer/SailGP
Nathan Outteridge is one of the most experienced drivers in SailGP, and he's proven to be a real super sub in the league - stepping in to race for a number of teams when their regular drivers have been unavailable.
Having previously been the permanent Japan driver in Seasons 1 and 2 - steering them to two Grand Finals - Outteridge has also skippered both New Zealand and Rockwool Denmark for one-off races this term.
And, currently, he is helming Switzerland with Sebastien Schneiter stepping back from SailGP to focus on his 2024 Olympic campaign.
This set-up will only be in place until the end of the season, with Schneiter set to return to his position with the Swiss for the start of Season 5 following the culmination of the Olympics.
But where does this leave Outteridge heading into the next SailGP campaign?
Could he be taking the reins of a new team which will be on the starting line at the season opener in November?
“I’m always open to a conversation," replied Outteridge when posed this very question at the press conference ahead of this weekend's Rockwool Denmark Sail Grand Prix | Halifax.
If this is the case, one of Outteridge's key tasks for the summer will be to put a team together to join him on his F50 - and he already has his top target in mind.
Asked to name the one SailGP athlete he would poach for his crew, Outteridge added: "I just want to sail with my mate Goobs [Iain Jensen] again.
"We sailed the 49er together and won all the medals together, but I haven’t sailed with him since Season 1 of SailGP.
"Ben [Ainslie] stole him, so if I ever got a team together in the future he’s the first person I’d be taking."
The Rockwool Canada Sail Grand Prix | Halifax takes place on June 1-2 with racing getting under way at 19:00 UTC. Please click here see how you can watch all the racing in your country