More problems for U.S. SailGP Team

Aarhus, Denmark (August 19, 2021) – The United States SailGP Team can’t catch a break during SailGP Season 2. After three events in which their success was derailed by incidents, an accident during practice now requires a crew change for the Denmark SailGP on August 20-21.

During the official practice racing today, veteran Wing Trimmer Paul Campbell-James broke his leg, ruling him out for the event. The injury was the result of a maneuver that threw both him and Driver Jimmy Spithill out of the cockpit.

The U.S. SailGP Team has secured to its roster Jason Saunders, who previously raced as interim wing trimmer for the New Zealand SailGP Team earlier this season, in a temporary capacity for the Danish event. Saunders is currently en route to Aarhus from Marseille, France and will arrive prior to racing tomorrow.

“Our thoughts are with Paul and all of us on the team wish him a quick and successful recovery,” said Spithill. “Obviously, this has an unexpected and significant impact for our team as we look towards the weekend’s racing but if anything, this team has performed exceptionally under pressure, fighting through more adversity than any other team this season. We’ll come out fighting tomorrow.”

Despite starting the season at the bottom of the leaderboard following an unsolicited collision and capsize in Bermuda, strong performances at subsequent events – including two consecutive podium final appearances – currently has the U.S. SailGP Team sitting in fourth place, only three points out of first place overall.

The injury to Campbell-James adds to a season that has seen the American team plagued with misfortune, most recently fighting through a defective rudder at the previous in Plymouth which was responsible for loss of flight in the final race, a rudder that was supplied to the team after an underwater collision in Italy robbed the team of its first event win.

SailGP information – Denmark details – Facebook

How to watch – Results – Noticeboard

SailGP Season Championship (after 3 events)
1. Australia, 22 pts
2. Great Britain, 22 pts
3. France, 21 pts
4. United States, 19 pts
5. Japan, 19 pts
6. Spain, 19 pts
7. Denmark, 17 pts
8. New Zealand, 17 pts

Format for SailGP events:
• Teams compete in identical F50 catamarans.
• Each event runs across two days.
• There are three races on each day, totaling six races at each event.
• The opening five fleet races involve every team.
• The final match race pits the three highest ranking teams against each other to be crowned event champion.
• The season ends with the Grand Final, which includes the Championship Final Race – a winner-takes-all match race for the $1m prize.

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
December 17-18, 2021 – Australia Grand Prix – Sydney
January 29-30, 2022 – New Zealand Grand Prix – Christchurch (CANCELLED)
March 26-27, 2022 – United States Grand Prix – San Francisco (Season 2 Grand Final)
*Subject to change

2021-22 Teams, Helm
Australia, Tom Slingsby
Denmark, Nicolai Sehested
France, Billy Besson
Great Britain, Ben Ainslie (alternate – Paul Goodison)
Japan, Nathan Outteridge
New Zealand, Peter Burling (alternate – Arnaud Psarofaghis)
Spain, Jordi Xammar (alternate – Phil Robertson)
United States, Jimmy Spithill

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.

Source: U.S. SailGP