Please select your home edition
Edition
Zhik 2024 December

'Time will tell' SailGP commentators on the new teams and the 'Can do betters'

by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 5 Nov 2024 01:47 PST
Switzerland ahead of France and Emirates Great Britain during a practice session ahead of the Spain Sail Grand Prix in Cadiz, Spain. Oct 13, 2023. 13th October 2023. Photo: Bob Martin for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP © Bob Martin for SailGP

Third of a series as SailGP commentators Stevie Morrison and Lisa Damanin look at the strengths and weaknesses of the new teams and the bottom placed teams ahead of the upcoming SailGP Season 5.

Of special interest are the new Brazilian SailGP team with Martine Grael as skipper along with a very strong crew, the yet to be announced Italian team, and the three bottom of the table teams - Switzerland, USA and Germany. The latter three are all privately owned and with more ability to change their lineup by buying in new crew.

The two commentators ponder on the chances of available helmsmen Nathan Outteridge and Phil Robertson, should the crews of the bottom three teams not produce results in Season 5, and whether the owners and backers of the teams would allow that to continue while hired help was available.

Not mentioned is the expected presence of Torben Grael, winner of five Olympic medals, and the Volvo Ocean Race, and father of Martine and Marco Grael.

They also speculate on the second catastrophic wing failure on the Brazilian F50 during the training session in Bermuda on September 10, 2024. The first occurred 12 months earlier to the New Zealand SailGP team in Saint Tropez, after concluding a race. No public disclosure of the reasons for either failure has been made, and whether it was a shore crew, design or sailor error.

At the end of the session, both commentators reveal their picks as to how they see the team rankings.

Related Articles

Germany Deutsche Bank claim first SailGP event win
Race Day 2 of the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix The Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank has entered the winners circle, claiming their first event victory at the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix in tricky, light conditions on the waters of Lake Geneva. Posted on 21 Sep
SailGP: Germany score first Event win - Day 2
The German crew led by Erik Heil sailed consistently, on a day where inconsistency was punished. Perhaps it was not surprising that in a nation known for its horology, that the time-clock should have played such a dominant role for the Final day of SailGP Switzerland. Posted on 21 Sep
SailGP: Australia on top in Geneva- Day 1
The Flying Roos (AUS) top of the leaderboard, after the first day of racing in SailGP Switzerland. The Flying Roos sit on top of the leaderboard, after the first day of racing in SailGP Switzerland. This was the first test of the new light air foils, and three races were sailed, all completed within the time limits. Posted on 21 Sep
BONDS Flying Roos in pole position in Geneva
Day 1 of Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix The BONDS Flying Roos top the event leaderboard with 25 points after opening day in Geneva. All 12 international teams battled shifty, light conditions, with those able to stay up on the foils and nail the maneuvers finding themselves still in the hunt. Posted on 20 Sep
SailGP prepares for high-stakes Lake Geneva debut
A weekend of tactical, light-air racing on the horizon The Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix begins tomorrow with a weekend of tactical, light-air racing on the horizon. All twelve national teams hit the water today, getting in essential practice laps in the only freshwater venue of the season. Posted on 19 Sep
SailGP: Artemis is the 13th team to join SailGP
ETNZ co-helmsman Nathan Outteridge to be the helmsman for new Swedish SailGP team. SailGP CEO Russell Coutts has announced that the Swedish team Artemis is the 13th team to join the SailGP League. The helmsman will be Nathan Outteridge, currently a co-helmsman with Emirates Team New Zealand. Posted on 19 Sep
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
Palm Beach Motor YachtsVaikobi Custom TeamwearBarton Marine Pipe Glands