SailGP: Bodes well for a bright future

The third season of SailGP has the global sports league coming to the USA to showcase its high performance fan-centric racing in Chicago, IL. Ten international teams and their F50 catamarans will be buzzing the Navy Pier in June 2022, and the local sailing community is looking forward to the opportunity the event provides.

Nick Berberian, Commodore of Chicago Yacht Club, shares the impact that has already occurred:

We are so excited at the Chicago Yacht Club to have grand prix sailing return to Chicago next summer as SailGP showcases our great city on the world stage. I witnessed firsthand the enormous thrills generated back in 2016 when the America’s Cup World Series Chicago was in town, and once again we will have front row seats at the Club to take it all in.

Even beyond the exciting racing itself, I had the distinct privilege of meeting several members of the U.S. SailGP Team this past September when Chicago Yacht Club hosted a Foiling First Learn to Foil Camp. Jimmy Spithill, Andrew Campbell, CJ Perez and Alex Sinclair are incredible ambassadors for the sport, and their enthusiasm for coaching the kids from all different backgrounds was infectious.

It’s a mission that’s directly impacted our youth programs as we’ve partnered officially with Foiling First and are looking forward to offering foiling instruction at our Club next year as well as partnering with other organizations along the lakefront to make our sport more inclusive. The Club has acquired two Skeeta hydrofoil boats sponsored by Wintrust to further promote these activities.

Members of the SailGP team each share a true passion to help introduce the next generation to foiling and want to be a part of creating a pathway for junior sailors – regardless of their background – to see a future in the sport. The league’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion mirrors what our goals are for the Chicago Yacht Club.

I saw for myself the genuine interest the SailGP athletes had in seeing not just our youth sailors experience foiling for the first time, but all of the kids who participated including those from the Jackson Park Yacht Club and Chicago Park District. When they came off the water, you could not wipe the smiles off the faces of both the kids and pros.

It all bodes well for a bright future for American sailing!

We are already planning creative and fun ways for our members and friends to fully experience SailGP when it comes to town next June. We look forward to cheering on the American team, and welcoming them back to Chicago as our hometown team!