US SailGP Team ready to roll at Canada Sail Grand Prix on Saturday
by Laura Muma, US SailGP team 31 May 2024 20:54 PDT
June 1-2, 2024
Practice Race - USA SailGP team - Canada SailGP - Halifax - June 2024 © Simon Bruty/SailGP
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.
Canfield began his remarks at this morning's press conference with a well deserved thank you to the Technical team for the "Incredible job getting us back on the start line for this event; we are so grateful to get the wing repaired in time so we could be back on the water in Halifax." [After Bermuda, the wing was repaired under an extremely short time window and flown from the UK to Halifax just in time for the team's first official practice day].
He also put the dramatic Bermuda capsize matter to a close. "At these speeds - when you're pushing hard and making mistakes - it can often be catastrophic," he said. "But it's racing and we are pushing hard - you've probably seen every Formula 1 driver in the wall at some point and they bounce back and learn and grow. We are grateful to be back on the water and we are going to push hard this week."
During today's practice racing in foiling conditions, the American squad focused on maneuvers and on-board comms, introducing new wing trimmer Jeremy Wilmot to the close-course racing on the highly technical F50s.
According to Head Coach Evan Aras, Wilmot is quickly establishing a good feel for his new role. "Wing trim is an incredibly technical and intuitive position, and I'm really impressed with how quickly he's getting up to speed."
The Rockwool Canada Sail Grand Prix roster
This weekend's roster includes: Taylor Canfield, driver; Jeremy Wilmot, wing trimmer; Mac Agnese, flight control; Anna Weis, strategist/grinder; Mike Buckley, strategist; and Peter Kinney, Alex Sinclair as grinders.
How to watch this weekend
U.S. fans can check out the action live on CBS Sports and SailGP's YouTube channel at 3 p.m. EST both Saturday and Sunday.