On the latest episode of the Yacht Racing Life Podcast Justin Chisholm is joined once again by fellow British yachting journalist Magnus Wheatley to chew over the goings on at the third event of SailGP Season 6, which took place in Sydney, Australia over the past weekend.

The racing may not have been as adrenaline-fuelled as the previous two events, but despite the uncharacteristic drifting conditions that prevailed out on Sydney Harbour, Magnus and I still had plenty to talk about, including:

• the two starkly contrasting performances from the event winners, Taylor Canfield's US SailGP Team – who strung together their best ever – and Tom Slingsby's hometown heroes, the BONDS Flying Roos – who sparkled at times but ultimately missed out on a place in the final by some margin.
• the impressive performances of the other two event finallists – Dylan Fletcher's Emirates Team GBR and Diego Botín's Spanish Los Gallos 
• plus, we debated the thorny question of whether SailGP might be losing its appeal to sailing fans and the wider sporting audience – and asked whether a racing format change could help to spice things up?

Image © Felix Diemer for SailGP

On the latest episode of the Yacht Racing Life Podcast I'm joined by Danish SailGP skipper Nicolai Sehested from the ROCKWOOL Racing Team for a catch-up on the Danish team's journey since joining SailGP back in 2020 at the start of the international circuit's second season. 

The pair discuss how SailGP has evolved over that period and touch on the performance upgrades the sailors have experienced aboard their F50 foiling catamarans since those early days. Sehested explains the workings of the close relationship between the sailing team and its long-time naming sponsor, the world-leading stone wool building insulation products manufacturer – ROCKWOOL, and how the company leverages its involvement in SailGP so effectively. Sehested also explains in more detail how the team's recent acquisition by Doug DeVos' American Magic organisation came about and the positive impact it will have on the team going forward. 

The pair also discuss the shocking crash that took place at the previous regatta in Auckland, New Zealand between the Kiwi and French teams that injured two crew members and has put both boats out of action for the foreseeable future. Sehested shares his opinion on whether the New Zealand team's season is effectively over and the duo discuss what might need to happen to keep the sailors safe during racing in windy conditions.

The episode concludes with Sehested taking a look ahead to the upcoming SailGP event in Sydney, Australia where the teams will have to factor in the vagaries of the wind around the notorious Shark Island. 

Justin Chisholm and Magnus Wheatley discuss the recent SailGP regatta in Auckland, New Zealand, which was marred by a serious collision between the Kiwi and French teams. They delve into the implications of the crash, safety concerns in the league, and the need for changes in race formats. The hosts analyze team performances, including the Americans, French, Australians, Italians, and the Spanish, and discuss the impact of technical issues on racing outcomes. They also explore financial aspects of SailGP, including team valuations and potential future developments in the league, and speculate on whether the spilt-fleet format is now here to stay.

Image © Simon Bruty for SailGP

Guest presenter Matt Sheahan from the PlanetSail website catches up with British ocean racing yachtswoman Dee Caffari just over a week since she and the all-women crew aboard The Famous Project CIC 103-foot long trimaran completed a tortuous nonstop lap of the planet.

The Famous Project crew made it around in just under 58 days and although that’s well outside the new 40 day record just set by Thomas Coville’s men aboard the French Sodebo Ultim – who now hold the coveted Jules Verne Trophy – Dee and her crewmates have become the the first all female team to race nonstop around the world.

Matt sat down with Dee as soon as she arrived back in the UK to find out more about what – incredibly – is her seventh time racing around the world.

In this episode of the Yacht Racing Life podcast, host Justin Chisholm speaks with navigator Will Oxley about his recent experience racing the foil-assisted superyacht Raven in a transatlantic race. They discuss the design and features of the boat, the challenges faced during the race, the crew's considerable around-the-world experience, and the significance of their achievements. Oxley shares insights into the performance metrics of the boat, the strategy employed during the race, and the future of foiling technology in yachting. The conversation also touches on recent record attempts in the sailing world and Oxley's upcoming projects.

In this episode of the Yacht Racing Life podcast, British sailing journalists Justin Chisholm and Magnus Wheatley dive into the thrilling opening event of SailGP Season 6 which took place in Perth, Australia over the weekend. 

During their chat the pair break down the racing action from the event’s two days of wild and windy conditions and highlight the standout performances from overall winners Emirates Great Britain and fellow finalists Australia’s BONDS Flying Roos and France’s DS Automobiles, as well as analysing the high speed crash between the Swiss and Kiwi teams that cost boat teams valuable early season points. 

They also discuss the impressive debut of Nathan Outteridge’s Swedish Artemis crew, the much improved performance of Taylor Canfield and the US SailGP Team, and plenty more besides.

Successful dinghy sailor Phil Kennard shares his journey from Olympic campaigning to his roles in Formula One and the PGA Tour, before returning to the world of sailing with SailGP as CEO of the Canadian team NorthStar.

In this episode of the Yacht Racing Life podcast, hosts Justin Chisholm and Magnus Wheatley discuss the final SailGP event of the season held in Abu Dhabi. They analyze the challenges faced by the sailors during the racing, particularly the light wind conditions, and highlight the technological advancements that have allowed for racing in such conditions. 

The conversation shifts to team performances, strategies, and the impact of key figures like Phil Robertson on team dynamics. They reflect on the Grand Final, emphasizing the importance of team cohesion and the future of SailGP in relation to the America's Cup. The episode concludes with thoughts on emerging talents and potential changes in team line-ups for the next season.

Takeaways

• SailGP's final event showcased the challenges of racing in light winds.
• Technological advancements have improved racing capabilities significantly.
• Team cohesion is crucial for success in competitive sailing.
• Phil Robertson's leadership has revitalized the Italian team.
• The Grand Final highlighted strategic decisions that influenced outcomes.
• Emerging talents are essential for the future of sailing competitions.
• The importance of financial backing in hosting events in various locations.
• Cultural factors affect spectator turnout at sailing events.
• The dynamic between SailGP and America's Cup will shape future competitions.
• Next season promises exciting developments and potential team changes.

Image © Felix Diemer for SailGP

Justin Chisholm's guest this time is British triple-Olympic medallist Ian Percy, CEO of Artemis Technologies and the newly announced Swedish Artemis SailGP team – which will be skippered by Nathan Outteridge in Season 6 of the global high-performance circuit.

During their chat the pair discuss Iain's role at Artemis Technologies, the reasons for Artemis joining SailGP, his thoughts on the relative merits of the America’s Cup and SailGP – and Iain gives fans a clue into just what they can expect from the new kids on the block when the new season gets underway next year.

Image © Felix Diemer for SailGP

Justin Chisholm's guest is British dinghy sailor Andrew Mills, a past Olympic campaigner in the Finn class who recently won the International OK World Championship after topping a fleet of 212 boats during a week-long series on Lake Garda, Italy.

Anyone looking for tips on how to put together a major championship campaign of their own, will find plenty of interest in what is discussed during the interview.