SailGP: Top Kiwi match racer Phil Robertson and Jana Germani to join Red Bull Italy
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 19 Nov 00:52 AEDT
Maelle Frascari, strategist of Red Bull Italy SailGP Team, crosses the boat during a practice session ahead of the DP World Spain Sail Grand Prix held in Cadiz © Ricardo Pinto for SailGP
The Italian SailGP team Red Bull Italy has announced two new signings effective immediately.
Former world Match Racing champion and SailGP skipper/coach Phil Robertson (NZL) will join the team with SailGP claiming that Robertson will displace double Olympic Gold medalist Ruggero Tita. However the team announcement on social media describes the two as " adding significant depth and experience to the roster. CEO @jspithill added: “Anytime you can add Olympic, SailGP, and World Championship level talent, it’s a great day for the team. Having both Jana and Phil join Ruggi and Maelle on our roster really puts the team in a strong position for the seasons ahead.”
Top 49erFX skipper Jana Germani (ITA) was also announced in the same social media announcement. She skippered the Italian entry to fifth place in the 2024 Olympics in Marseille, and has a strong competitive background in the apparent wind sailing class.
Both announcements give some depth to the Italian squad - to permit replacement of crew for performance reasons and to cover for injury and other absence.
The SailGP commentators talked up Robertson's signing as a prelude to replacement of current Italian skipper, Roggero Tita. However the 31yr old double Olympic Gold Medalist is also part of the Luna Rossa America's Cup team, and like all sailors trying to sail in both the League and the Cup, he will have time conflicts - particularly when AC75 training begins in 2026, and the SailGP League runs a full calendar of 13 events, with at least one regatta every month - each of which ties competitors up for a week. SailGP claim that Tita will become an alternate helmsman.
Others have it that Tita was given an ultimatum to choose between the America's Cup and SailGP, and with the Red Bull Italy announcement it would seem that Tita has decided to accede to the beckoning of the America's Cup team.
Robertson has sailed with several SailGP teams, mostly taking them through start-up and their first season, however he also has a reputation as a Mr Fixit in the event, Robertson will also bring some mongrel to the Italian team.
Currently the Italian team are in 10th place in the 12 team League. Known as an aggressive helmsman, Robertson also was involved in a coaching capacity with the former Swiss America's Cup Challenger Alinghi Red Bull Racing, in a coaching capacity
In their first season the Italian team have a squad of just seven sailors plus CEO Jimmy Spithill listed as a reserve helmsman. The two additions bring the Italian sailing squad to nine. It is yet to be confirmed if the highly credentialled Ruggerio Tita will remain with the Italian SailGP team or exit and rejoin the Luna Rossa co-helms triumvirate of Max Gradoni, Peter Burling.
Jana Germani is only the second female sailor in the squad, SailGP say that she will displace current strategist Maelle Frascari. Again Frascari's future with the team.
None of the reporting by SailGP was confirmed by the Red Bull Italy in their initial social media posting.
The news comes after SailGP announced its new Athlete Transfer framework, designed to bring new clarity, structure and long-term stability to athlete movement.
The announcement of Robertson and Germani joining the team was simultaneous with the announcement by SailGP of the creation/implementation of the Athlete Transfer Framework which will take effect ahead of Season 6, and will prevent/regulate mid-season transfers between the teams. However as both Robertson and Germani are not part of the League, they are believed to be outside the new transfer regulations.
Subsequent to this story, SailGP wrote:
Red Bull Italy SailGP Team have confirmed a major restructuring of its roster for the 2026 season, unveiling Phil Robertson as the team’s new driver and welcoming Jana Germani as strategist.
The move is part of a deliberate performance strategy designed to boost the Italian outfit’s chances of achieving their ultimate goal: to win a Rolex SailGP Championship.
New Zealander Robertson is among SailGP’s most experienced athletes, and returns to the driver’s seat having led the Chinese, Spanish and Canadian teams in Seasons 1, 2 & 3 and 4.
Italy’s Germani joins SailGP off the back of a glittering career on the Olympic dinghy circuit, during which she won five national titles, three World and European medals and represented her country at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Both Robertson and Germani will join the team early, making their debuts at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix 2025 Season Grand Final, presented by Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
Their early integration is aimed at sharpening onboard communication and coordination before the 2026 Season begins in Perth in January.
Two-time Olympic champion Ruggero Tita will remain an essential part of the program as an alternate driver, while Maelle Frascari will also continue to be part of the Italian roster.
Red Bull Italy SailGP Team CEO Jimmy Spithill said: “Anytime you can add Olympic, SailGP and World Championship-level talent, it’s a great day for the team. Having both Jana and Phil join Ruggi and Maelle on our roster really puts the team in a strong position looking at the seasons ahead.”