Canada confirmed for SailGP 2024-25

In advance of the start of SailGP’s fifth season in November, the league has confirmed the acquisition of the Canada SailGP Team by Canadian biotech entrepreneur, Dr. Greg Bailey. Additionally, double Olympic Gold medalist Giles Scott has been signed as driver for the Canadian team.

This is significant news, not just because Scott had been the driver for the British team during Season 4, but also as the Canadian team was a candidate for being excluded in the upcoming season. The league was expanding to 11 teams, and with limited equipment, one of the league-owned teams from Season 4 needed to be dissolved.

With Canada off that list, the remaining league-owned teams are France, New Zealand, and Spain.

“I’m really looking forward to representing Canada at the highest level of our sport in this upcoming season,” said Scott. “Canada has already proven to be a competitive force, and I’m determined to build on that success with a talented crew beside me.”

Born in the UK, Scott also holds Canadian citizenship, having spent some of his early years in the country – including being introduced to sailing on the Ottawa River.

Scott took over as driver from Ben Ainslie for the Emirates GBR SailGP Team mid-way through Season 4, steering the team to victory in Halifax, followed by consecutive event podiums in New York and San Francisco.

Scott’s shift to the Canadian team required a transfer fee, while the British have yet to confirm who will drive for them in the 2024-25 Season.

In addition to Scott, the Canada SailGP Team has retained flight controller Billy Gooderham, wing trimmer Paul Campbell-James, as well as grinders Tim Hornsby, Jareese Finch, Cooper Dressler, and Tom Ramshaw.

Strategist Annie Haeger will also continue and be joined by Georgia Lewin-LaFrance, who returns to the roster following her 2024 Olympic campaign. Joe Glanfield returns to the team as Lead Coach, while driver Phil Robertson (NZL) now becomes a free agent.

Canada was the third team for Robertson who had also helmed for China and Spain.

A physician, financier and entrepreneur, Bailey is co-founder and executive chairman of Juvenescence and chairman of Max Insurance, a Canadian property and casualty insurance company. This is his first foray into sport.

“It was important to me to ensure that Canada continued to be represented in SailGP with its format of nation vs nation competition and a level playing field,” said Bailey. “Not only will the Canada SailGP Team continue to race in Season 5 and beyond, by building on strong foundations we believe this team also has every chance to be on the podium this year.”

Bailey adds, “I believe that the team will continue to inspire people to participate in sport, whether it is sailing or any other physical activity. This is so important to overall health, well-being, and longevity.”

Bailey is joined by Phil Kennard, Team Principal and CEO. No stranger to elite racing, Kennard is a former UK champion (2004) in the 49er Class and his background includes commercial roles with the PGA TOUR and teams competing in both the 35th America’s Cup and Formula One.

“SailGP continues to attract interest from a range of different investors and ownership groups,” reports SailGP Managing Director Andrew Thompson. “In many ways, this transaction validates the business model – a professional sports team has acquired new ownership and in doing so, retains position in the league; to my knowledge that’s not happened in sailing before.”

SailGP also confirms the return of a Canadian SailGP event in 2026 (Season 6). A sellout success, SailGP’s Canadian debut during Season 4 attracted more than 50,000 spectators along the Halifax shoreline.

Adds Thompson, “Canada is one of SailGP’s fastest-growing emerging markets, and we’re excited to bolster this passionate fanbase with a now-confirmed Canadian team and a home event to look forward to in 2026.”

The final 2024-25 Season team line-up will be named imminently, along with additional team sale announcements.

SailGP information – YouTube – Facebook

Season 5 Schedule
2024
November 23-24 – Dubai, UAE

2025
January 18-19 – Auckland, New Zealand
February 8-9 – Sydney, Australia
March 15-16 – Los Angeles, USA
March 22-26 – San Francisco, USA
May 3-4 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
June 7-8 – New York City, USA
July 19-20 – Great Britain *
August 16-17 – Sassnitz, Germany
September 6-7 – Taranto, Italy
September 20-21 – Geneva, Switzerland
October 4-5 – Andalucía – Cádiz, Spain
November 7-8 – Middle East *
November 29-30 – Grand Final – Abu Dhabi, UAE
* Venue to be announced

Format for Season 4:
• Teams compete in identical F50 catamarans.
• Each event runs across two days.
• Up to seven qualifying fleet races of approximately 15 minutes may be scheduled for each regatta.
• The top three teams from qualifying advance to a final race to be crowned event champion and earn the largest share of the $300,000.00 USD event prize money purse (increases to $400k for Abu Dhabi with the winning team now earning $200k at each event).
• The season ends with the Grand Final, which includes the Championship Final Race for the top three teams in the season standing with the winner claiming the $2 million USD prize.
• The top team on points ahead of the three-boat Championship Final will be awarded $350,000.00.

For competition documents, click here.

Established in 2018, SailGP seeks to be an annual, global sports league featuring fan-centric inshore racing among national teams in some of the iconic harbors around the globe.

Source: SailGP, Scuttlebutt