United States SailGP Team

United States SailGP Team is an American sailing team which participates in the SailGP international sailing competition.

United States SailGP Team
United States SailGP Team
Career
Established2019
Nation United States
Team principal(s)Ryan & Margaret McKillen
CEOMike Buckley
SkipperTaylor Canfield
Yachts
Sail no.Boat name

History

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United States SailGP Team was established in 2019 by F50 League LLC as a part of the inaugural season of the SailGP competition.[1][2] America has a long history in sailing, and many former Americas Cup races sailors are on the team.[2][3] In 2023 Jimmy Spithill announced his departure from the United States SailGP team, which he had led since 2020.[4] He plans to work on setting up a SailGP team in Italy.[5] For the rest of the season the team appointed Evan Aras as the interim CEO.[6]

In 2021 the team started a diversity program to help funnel more people into the sport.[7] Before the start of the fifth season the team took part in a training session in Bermuda with teams from Brazil, Denmark, and Germany.[8] In 2024 Lindsey Vonn joined the team's board of directors.[9]

Team

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United States SailGP Team was originally headed by skipper Rome Kirby.[10] Beginning in 2021, it was headed by skipper Jimmy Spithill, who also serves as the team's chief executive officer.[11][12]

Current crew:[13]

  • Mike Buckley   (USA) - CEO[14]
  • Taylor Canfield    (USA) - Pilot[15] * Appointed midway through 4th season, just prior to the Dubai race
  • Paul Campbell-James    (GBR) - Wing Trimmer
  • Rome Kirby    (USA) - Flight Controller
  • Hans Henken    (USA) - Flight Controller
  • Andrew Campbell    (USA) - Grinder/Tactician
  • Cooper Dressler    (USA) - Grinder
  • Alex Sinclair    (USA) - Grinder
  • Daniela Moroz    (USA) - Strategist
  • CJ Perez    (USA) - Strategist
  • Anna Weis    (USA) - Strategist

Season 1[16]

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The US SailGP Team was among the six founding teams in SailGP, and with Rome Kirby at the helm, they placed 6th in that first season. They had their best result of a 3rd at their home race in New York. They also placed 4th in another race based in the US in San Francisco.

Location Event Result Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 4 Race 5 Race 6 Race 7 The Final
Sydney 6th 5th 3rd 5th 5th 6th - - -
San Francisco 4th 4th 3rd 4th 4th 3rd - - -
New York 3rd 4th 4th 5th 4th 1st - - -
Cowes 5th 6th 4th 5th - - - - -
Marseille - Grand Final 6th 6th 6th 6th 5th 5th 5th 3rd -
Season Result 6th - - - - - - - -

Season 2[17]

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The US F50 sailing with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background

Season 2 was a more successful season for the States, with a best finish of 2nd in Saint Tropez, Cádiz, and in Sydney. They finished the season in 3rd, behind Australia and Japan.

Location Event Result Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 4 Race 5 The Final
Bermuda 8th 4th 6th 3rd 7th 8th -
Taranto 3rd 1st 4th 1st 2nd 8th 3rd
Plymouth 3rd 2nd 5th 1st 4th 6th 3rd
Aarhus 4th 7th 1st 3rd 5th 5th -
Saint Tropez 2nd 5th 1st 1st 7th 4th 2nd
Andalucia-Cadiz 2nd 3rd 5th 1st 3rd 5th 2nd
Sydney 2nd 6th 3rd 2nd 3rd 4th 2nd
San Francisco 6th 5th 7th 5th 5th 7th 3rd
Season Result 3rd - - - - - -

Season 3[18]

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Season 3 has taken a similar shape to the first season in the competition for the United States. They have a one event win at Saint-Tropez. This season featured the first time the race was held on freshwater.[19]

Location Event Result Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 4 Race 5 Race 6 The Final
Bermuda 5th 3rd 7th 7th 6th 2nd - -
Chicago 8th 8th 9th 7th 7th 3rd - -
Plymouth 7th 9th 6th 7th 6th 5th - -
Copenhagen 5th 2nd 6th 6th - - - -
Saint Tropez 1st 3rd 2nd 3rd 1st - - 1s
Andalucia-Cadiz 2nd 3rd 5th 4th 6th 4th - -
Dubai 6th 7th 4th 2nd 9th 2nd 7th -
Singapore 7th 8th 1st 8th 8th - - -
Sydney - - - - - - - -
Christchurch - - - - - - - -
San Francisco - - - - - - - -
Season Result 7th - - - - - - -

References

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  1. ^ Lee, Chang W.; Museler, Chris (June 23, 2019). "Sailing Into Uncharted Waters". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Wilson, Bernie (May 4, 2019). "SailGP makes US debut". The Hanford Sentinel. Associated Press. pp. C1. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  3. ^ "Paul Campbell-James - United States SailGP Team". SailGP. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  4. ^ Wilson, Bernie (December 9, 2020). "America's Cup star Spithill to lead US SailGP team". Napa Valley Register. Napa, California, United States of America. Associated Press. pp. B3. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  5. ^ Wilson, Bernie (November 26, 2023). "Spithill to start Italian team". LNP Always Lancaster. AP. pp. C8. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  6. ^ "Coaching change for US SailGP Team". Scuttlebutt Sailing News: Providing sailing news for sailors. April 24, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  7. ^ "US SailGP team launches diversity program". The Index-Journal. Greenwood, South Carolina. Associated Press. June 5, 2021. p. 16. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  8. ^ "SailGP: We're talking about practice". Scuttlebutt Sailing News: Providing sailing news for sailors. August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  9. ^ "Lindsey Vonn supports US SailGP Team". Scuttlebutt Sailing News: Providing sailing news for sailors. April 29, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  10. ^ "Rome Kirby – Sail Sport Talk". Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  11. ^ "United States SailGP Team's Season 3 rollercoaster ride continues". www.sail-world.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  12. ^ "Spithill takes positives from US SailGP team's new crew combo going into Season 4". www.sail-world.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  13. ^ "United States USA SailGP Team News, Features, Exclusives, Athletes, Stats". SailGP. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  14. ^ Reed, David (May 21, 2024). "The Rebirth of SailGP's US Squad | Sailing World". Sailing World. Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States of America. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  15. ^ "Canfield joins U.S. in SailGP league". The Star-Democrat. Easton, Maryland, United States of America. Associated Press. February 5, 2019. pp. B3. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  16. ^ "SailGP Season 1 | Results, Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  17. ^ "SailGP Season 2 - Results, Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  18. ^ "SailGP Season 3 - Results, Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  19. ^ Wilson, Bernie (June 18, 2022). "Spithill, USA look for SailGP win in home waters off Chicago". The Day. New London, Connecticut, United States of America. AP. pp. D3. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
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