This weekend will see several new faces in SailGP including Paul Goodison stepping in for Sir Ben Ainslie as the helm of the British SailGP Team
Saturday 5 June will see the second regatta in this second season of SailGP. For the first time ever the event will visit Italy with racing throughout the weekend in Taranto.
The opening event of the SailGP season in Bermuda set the stage with familiar rivalries, and some big crashes and capsizes.
All eight of the teams have already been practising in Italy, giving each team a chance to reacquaint themselves with the high-tech, foiling F50 catamarans. Two crews – Great Britain SailGP and New Zealand SailGP Teams – were also putting in some much needed practice time with new faces onboard.
Paul Goodison takes to the water helming the British team’s F50 for the first time
The current leader after the first event – the British SailGP Team – has swapped one Olympic gold medalist for another with Paul Goodison making his debut as the driver for the British team, replacing Ben Ainslie for the next two events. An interim shift, this substitution will have all eyes on the British team as it aims to retain its position at the top of the leaderboard.
Goodison said: “This is my first time ever sailing on the F50 and I was very impressed by the team and the boat and it was just great to get out sailing again. There is a little bit of apprehension for me going into my first event but, to be honest, I am just super excited and just can’t wait to get out there and line up with the other boats and start racing.”
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SailGP: Stunning opening weekend hails return of series
Sir Ben Ainslie’s British team took the opening victory in an action-packed SailGP in Bermuda, which saw close racing, collisions,…
Swiss born Arnaud Psarofaghis also had his first two days in the driving seat. The double European champion in the foiling Moth class, takes the wheel of the New Zealand SailGP Team after the date shift for the Tokyo Olympic Games sees Peter Burling and Blair Tuke step aside into a supporting role for the next two SailGP events in Plymouth and Aarhus.
Additional crew changes on the New Zealand boat include the arrival of James Wierzbowski as flight controller, and Jason Saunders as wing trimmer. The three new team members took to the water for the first time with their sights firmly set on moving up the leaderboard from fifth position.
Team during some warm up racing ahead of the regatta. Photo: Bob Martin / SailGP
Southern Italy will see the reemergence of Jimmy Spithill’s United States SailGP Team and Nathan Outteridge’s Japan SailGP Team after a nearly catastrophic collision in Bermuda that severely damaged both boats and took them out of the running for the event.
After a race against time, both boats returned to the water just in time for some vital training ahead of the season’s second event this weekend.
Japan SailGP Team flight controller Francesco Bruni said: “It is very exciting to be out sailing on the water, especially for me at my home event. I’m really looking forward to seeing a lot of fans. It’s gonna be very good racing in Taranto.”
The wing extension used in light winds and newly introduced for this second season have been used in practise. Photo: Thomas Lovelock / SailGP
Joining the F50s on the water over the weekend are the successful candidates of SailGP’s boundary-breaking and gender equal Inspire Racing program. Fans can expect an on-water showcase of young males and females racing for the future – nine sailors on WASZPs, and 18 sailors on RS Fevas – who will share the racecourse with the supercharged F50 foiling catamarans.
Action at the Italy Sail Grand Prix gets underway at 1:30 p.m. local on both Saturday 5 and Sunday June 6. Fans unable to attend can watch the live broadcast in Italy through official broadcast partners Rai Sport and Sky Italia, and by downloading the award-winning SailGP App. For details on how to watch globally visit SailGP.com/Watch.
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