SailGP: More teams, more dynamic

NEW YORK - With more teams, more events, faster boats and new faces on the winners' podiums, the third season of SailGP is showing that this hydrofoiling start-up is putting on world-class sailing.

There are three more events in 2022, for a total of 11 across four continents, and two new teams, Canada and Switzerland, which, following the departure of Japan, brings the total number of boats to nine.

Now, at the season's halfway point, drivers say that the competition has become so close that a single mistake can trigger an insurmountable deficit.

With more of these F50 foiling catamarans travelling at speeds pushing 55 knots, it has become more of a challenge for them to avoid collisions.

"The number of teams is quite a big change," said Phil Robertson, the driver for fifth-placed Canada. "The congestion is huge on the racetrack, and you are always racing with one or two boats within striking distance of each other. There's not one lemon on the start line, so it's all on."

Jimmy Spithill, a two-time America's Cup winner and the driver for the seventh-placed United States team, said with more teams, it is clearly more dynamic.

"Every time you add a team, it changes it up," he added.

While SailGP's courses are becoming more populated, there are also more courses.

"I actually think more venues is a good thing for everyone, especially the teams that are trying to climb up the leaderboard," Spithill said. "There's kind of less time between drinks."

Since the end of July, SailGP has had four events - in England, Denmark, France and Spain - within about 60 days, a first for the series.

The next race is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, starting on Nov 12.

Russell Coutts, a five-time America's Cup winner and SailGP's chief executive officer, feels this kind of regularity is critical for building a fan base, increasing broadcast viewership and improving the quality of racing.

"The more racing you have, the more competitive the teams are getting," Coutts said.

"As we build our calendar out, like any other sport, in between races they will be looking for rest and just recover.

"Which is where we want to get to, because it's hard to commercialise practice."

Talking to the drivers and crews, however, has revealed the strain of the expanded schedule.

"There's a new level of fatigue within the team," Robertson said, adding that it could be tough for them to travel home between events.

"That's having to be managed pretty severely, and, to be honest, I don't think we've quite got it right yet.

"Everyone hides their tiredness pretty well. No one wants to give an inch. Especially as the boats keep getting faster."

From Jan 14-15, 2023, Singapore will be the first country in Asia to host a leg of the SailGP series as part of a three-year deal.

NYTIMES