New Nationality rules for SailGP

For the first season of the SailGP league in 2019, teams from established sailing nations needed 100% nationality for the crew while developing teams could start with a 40% nationality requirement, which would then increase by 20% annually. But as the league expanded beyond the initial six teams,  new teams struggled with an experience deficit.

For the fifth season to start November 23-24, the nationality rules have evolved and apply equally to all twelve teams, regardless of how long they’ve been racing in the league.

Depending on the size of the crew, this season calls for at least three nationals to be on board in a six person crew, dropping to two nationals in a five person crew, two nationals in a four person crew, and one national in a three person crew.

Changes began last season when all countries were brought to the same level regarding national requirements.

In Season 4, teams racing in their first and second seasons were permitted a total of 3 non nationals, but this dropped down to 2 non nationals once a team progressed into its third season. Teams in their fourth season meanwhile were only allowed one non-national on board.

The new rules look to have influenced the confirmed crew line-ups of the upcoming season. Brazil, for example, has unveiled a crew of three nationals and three non-nationals.

Driver Martine Grael and grinders Marco Grael and Mateus Isaac are all Brazilian nationals, while flight controller Andy Maloney is from New Zealand, and wing trimmer Leigh McMillan and strategist Richard Mason are both from the United Kingdom. The latter three make up the team’s non-national quota.

Twelve Teams for Season 5
• Australia
• Brazil
• Canada
• Denmark
• France
• Germany
• Great Britain
• Italy
• New Zealand
• Spain
• Switzerland
• United States

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 5:
• Teams compete in identical F50 catamarans.
• Each event runs across two days.
• Five 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 prize purse (amount not confirmed; Season 4 had $400,000.00 USD prize purse with winning team 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 a monetary award (amount not confirmed; Season 4 had $2 million USD prize).
• The top team on points ahead of the three-boat Championship Final will get a monetary award (amount not confirmed; Season 4 had a $350,000.00 prize).

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, SSN