Building female depth for Canada SailGP

When the Canadian SailGP Team entered the league in 2022, they filled the required female crew slot with homegrown talent such as Georgia Lewin-Lafrance and Isabella Bertold, but it is American Annie Haeger (above) – whose married to a Canadian – that has gotten the most reps in Season 5.

Hoping to turn the spotlight back on the red and white, the NorthStar SailGP Team will select two Canadian female athletes to join the team during Season 6 in 2026.

Based on feedback gained from the team’s mentor program which connected 17 Canadian women with a team member, this initiative is designed to accelerate the pathway for women in professional sailing while showcasing Canadian talent on the world stage.

The selected athletes will have the chance to travel with the team to a series of SailGP Season 6 events, gaining hands-on experience both on and off the water. This opportunity will provide unique exposure to high-performance sport, fitness training, and the inner workings of a professional sports team.

About the Opportunity
• Participate in approximately 50% of Season 6 events, including team briefings and debriefings.
• Train on the simulator and onboard the F50 in roles such as strategist and grinder, preparing as a ready-to-race reserve athlete.
• Contribute to NorthStar’s long-term vision by pursuing a development path toward becoming a future first-team sailor.
• Represent Canada globally as part of a team that prioritizes performance, wellness, and social impact.

Key Responsibilities
• Serve as a female reserve athlete for the NorthStar SailGP Team.
• Support the shore crew in preparing the F50 to be race-ready.
• Maintain elite physical and mental fitness as part of the team’s performance programs.
• Act as an ambassador for NorthStar, promoting excellence, well-being, and pathways for Canadian women in sport.

Requirements
Candidates must be Canadian nationals with proven success at the international level—such as Olympic, offshore, match racing, or other high-performance sailing experience. They should demonstrate strong communication skills, independence, resilience, and commitment to both personal development and team culture.

Application Details
• Deadline to Apply: September 29
• Selection Process: September 29 – October 14 (including interviews)
• Announcement of Selected Athletes: October 20

Apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeRY3N_X3Q6jNjxCUq6f7qns9EVpDYHilhC8SFMtJcg5PH3WA/viewform

SailGP details: sailgp.com/about

Season 5 Leaderboard (after 10 events)
1. Australia – Tom Slingsby, 76 points
2. Great Britain – Dylan Fletcher, 75 points
3. New Zealand – Peter Burling, 73 points
4. Spain – Diego Botin, 70 points
5. France – Quintin Delapierre, 56 points*
6. Canada – Giles Scott, 47 points
7. Switzerland – Sebastien Schneiter, 38 points
8. Denmark – Nicolai Sehested, 31 points**
9. Germany – Erik Heil, 23 points**
10. Italy – Ruggero Tita, 22 points
11. Brazil – Martine Grael, 14 points**
12. United States – Taylor Canfield, -7 points**
* France was awarded points for the first two events as their F50 was not available
**Teams receive season penalty points for incidents during practice or racing

Season 5 Schedule – 14 events*
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 22-23 – San Francisco, USA
May 3-4 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
June 7-8 – New York City, USA
July 19-20 – Portsmouth, Great Britain
August 16-17 – Sassnitz, Germany
September 6-7 – Taranto, Italy
September 12-13 – Saint-Tropez, France
September 20-21 – Geneva, Switzerland
October 4-5 – Andalucía – Cádiz, Spain
November 7-8 – Middle East
November 29-30 – Grand Final – Abu Dhabi, UAE
* The season began with 14 events but Tranto was replaced with Saint-Tropez, while Rio and Middle East were cancelled.

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 of $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).
• The league still owns the New Zealand and Spain teams and are looking at how they can bring new investment into them.

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