SailGP: Crashes and construction

International sports league SailGP continues with preparation to launch its second season in Bermuda on April 24-25, with eight teams to compete in identical F50 catamarans with the season culminating with a $1 million winner-takes-all match race.

After losing a few days when the Bermuda government issued a Stay at Home order on April 13 due to a recent spike in COVID-19 positive cases, the league was granted approval to continue their operation in a limited capacity until the order is lifted, which is expected after April 19.

Here are some recent updates from The Royal Gazette:

• Australia SailGP Team endured an eventful practice session in the Great Sound on April 17. The SailGP champions capsized in choppy seas and 34 knot southwesterly breezes while training on-board rival United States SailGP Team’s wing-sailed F50 foiling catamaran. There were no injuries reported, while the boat is believed to have sustained minimal damage during the mishap. – Full report

• New Zealand SailGP Team’s newly built F50 is set to be launched on the water for the first time next Tuesday (April 20). The final touches are being applied to the team’s wing-sailed foiling catamaran, which arrived on island unfinished to avoid not being ready in time for next week’s SailGP season 2 opening Bermuda Sail Grand Prix presented by Hamilton Princess due to shipping delays brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. – Full report

SailGP details – Team rosters – Results – How to watch – Facebook

SailGP Season 2 Schedule*
April 24-25, 2021 – Bermuda Grand Prix
June 5-6, 2021 – Italy Grand Prix – Taranto
July 17-18, 2021 – Great Britain Grand Prix – Plymouth
August 20-21, 2021 – ROCKWOOL Denmark Grand Prix – Aarhus
September 11-12, 2021 – France Grand Prix – Saint-Tropez
October 9-10, 2021 – Spain Grand Prix – Andalusia
January 29-30, 2022 – New Zealand Grand Prix – Christchurch
March 26-27, 2022 – United States Grand Prix – San Francisco (Season 2 Grand Final)
*Subject to change

2021-22 Teams
Australia, Tom Slingsby
Denmark, Nicolai Sehested
France, Billy Besson
Great Britain, Ben Ainslie
Japan, Nathan Outteridge
New Zealand, Peter Burling
Spain, Jordi Xammar/ Phil Robertson*
United States, Jimmy Spithill
*Season 1 skipper Phil Robertson (NZL) will helm in an interim capacity while Jordi Xammar prepares for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Established in 2018, SailGP seeks to be an annual, global sports league featuring fan-centric inshore racing in some of the iconic harbors around the globe. Rival national teams compete in identical F50 catamarans with the season culminating with a $1 million winner-takes-all match race.