Host: Justin Chisholm
Guest: Magnus Wheatley

Episode Summary

Justin and Magnus review SailGP's Bermuda event, widely considered a much-needed reset for the series. With flat water and consistent breeze, Bermuda delivered strong racing — and a dominant performance from the Australian team.

Key Topics

Australia's Dominance Tom Slingsby and the Australian team extended their series lead with a commanding performance. Magnus credits the arrival of Ian Jensen as a transformative signing, freeing Slingsby to focus on tactics and race management. Australia's race six start on Sunday was singled out as a particular masterclass.

Spain's Challenge Spain were the closest rivals to Australia, showing genuine pace and impressive racecraft. Diego Botín and tactician Florian Trittel were praised for excellent layline calls and boat speed. Discussion of whether Spain might choose to keep their current boat rather than take a new one.

Germany Makes the Final A surprise finalist after a strong qualifying series. The team absorbed the loss of Stu Bithell to GBR and integrated Kevin Pepponet from France effectively. Justin and Magnus credit skipper Erik Heil for building a consistent midfield threat.

Great Britain — Better but not 100% GBR recovered from their last-place finish at the previous event to finish fourth, but both hosts note the team doesn't look or sound like their usual selves. Hannah Mills' voice was notably absent from the onboard audio. Still second overall in the championship.

New Zealand's Return The Kiwis are out for the rest of the season standings after their boat was destroyed in a crash (the "repaired" framing in SailGP press releases gets short shrift). Pete Burling is targeting Halifax for a return. Discussion of the development time they've lost and whether a new boat can be brought up to speed quickly.

France's Misfortune Glen Ashby, brought in as a super-sub, suffered a serious leg injury (broken tibia and fibula) crossing the boat on Saturday, putting France out of the event. Both hosts express sympathy — and note that France's two third places on Sunday show where the team's real level is.

Brazil — Crisis deepening? Dead last in the championship. Magnus raises hard questions about Martine Grael's leadership and whether the program is working. Speculation about Paul Goodison's future with the team.

Switzerland Bouncing Back Justin recently interviewed skipper Sebastian Schneider for the YRL website ("The Only Way Is Up"). After a tough start to the season they had a solid Bermuda event, with their sights set on finishing in the top half of the fleet.

USA — A Team Transformed Stormed Saturday but faded on Sunday. Still fourth overall, and both hosts agree the team's commercial operation is the model for SailGP franchises. Magnus reports spotting a major USA SailGP fan activation in Newport, Rhode Island the previous weekend.

SailGP Format Concerns Magnus raises ongoing questions about the repetitive race format — the opening reach, the top-mark carnage — and draws a comparison with Formula One's introduction of sprint races as a response to stagnation. Bermuda delivered good racing, but structural questions remain.

New York Preview The course location has been moved from last year's Governor's Island area. Both hosts expect flukey, unpredictable conditions that could scramble the standings — good news for midfield teams, potentially disruptive for the form book.

Mentioned in This Episode Tom Slingsby, Ian Jensen, Jason Waterhouse, Ryan Reynolds, Diego Botín, Florian Trittel, Dylan Fletcher, Hannah Mills, Stuart Bithell, Pete Burling, Blair Tuke, Glen Ashby, Nathan Outteridge, Ian Percy, Martine Grael, Paul Goodison, Sebastian Schneider, Mike Buckley, Andrew Campbell, Harry Melges, Kevin Pepponet, Kai Lenny, Jimmy Spithill

Links

• Justin's interview with Sebastian Schneider / Switzerland: [YachtRacingLife.com]
• Magnus's Bermuda blog post: [Rule69blog.com]

During the episode the pair discuss:

– the Australians' impressively consistent scoreline that saw them finish in the top three in all but one race over the weekend, including four straight wins on the Sunday
– Black Foils skipper Peter Burling's stellar performance in the commentary booth back in London where he proved surprisingly engaging, articulate, and insightful   
– some slick sailing by the Swedish Season 6 newcomers Artemis Racing who made it to their first event final, but had to settle for third
– how the newly-purchased Spanish Los Gallos syndicate continued to impress over the two days to finish second overall
– another credible result for Taylor Canfield's American outfit who finished the Rio event in fourth and maintain their third place in the overall Season 6 rankings
– flashes of promise from both Phil Robertson's Red Bull Italy crew and Nicolai Sehested's Danish ROCKWOOL Racing
– more disappointing results for Giles Scott's Canadian NorthStar crew and from Sébastien Schneiter's Switzerland

Draper, an Olympic 49er bronze medallist and veteran of multiple Cup campaigns, explains why he chose to step away from the America’s Cup after Bermuda and how a renewed passion for the event drew him back in. He talks candidly about relocating his family to Auckland, the decision-making process behind joining the Kiwi team, and why the opportunity proved impossible to turn down.

The conversation offers a rare insight into the inner workings of Team New Zealand, from the depth of knowledge within the organisation to the culture of efficiency and collective purpose that underpins its success. Draper also reflects on his evolving role within the team, combining sailing, performance input and mentoring the next generation of talent.

On the water, Draper shares his perspective on the latest generation of AC75 foiling monohulls, the scale of technological development since the AC72 era, and the realities of sailing these complex, high-speed boats. He also discusses the removal of cyclors, the introduction of new crew roles, and what these changes mean for the dynamics of an America’s Cup team.

Looking ahead, Draper gives his view on where the next Cup will be won and lost, suggesting that tighter performance margins will place greater emphasis on execution, teamwork and racecraft.

This is a interesting, behind-the-scenes look at life inside the defender, and a timely insight into how the Kiwi's latest America’s Cup campaign is evolving.

After a guided tour of this truly spectacular boat on the dock outside the Gitana team base in Lorient Justin sat down with Sebastien to find out more about the innovation that has gone into this remarkable ocean-going multihull.

Image © Ian Roman / WMRT

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

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. 

Image © Simon Bruty for SailGP

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Venue and vibe

Cádiz impressed. The old city serves up surfy beach culture on one side and a natural stadium on the other, with fans lining a huge sea wall. The media centre sat in the castle at the end of the wall, which gave a drone-like view straight down to the leeward gates. The local crowd were all in for Spain SailGP Team, although the weekend did not go their way.

Tech talk: a new 27.5 m wing

Spain missed the fleet practice after being tasked to help validate the new 27.5 metre wing that SailGP hopes to have available in time for the Abu Dhabi Season 5 Grand Final in Abu Dhabi – a traditionally light air venue. Magnus remains sceptical of the sales pitch around performance benefits of the new light airs foil and rudder packages and suggests that the introduction of the new wing config is driven by safety concerns after a string of rig failures. 

The racing: Britain nail the big moments

Emirates Team GBR delivered a measured, champion’s performance. Starts were cleaner on Saturday than Sunday, yet the hallmark was damage limitation when it went wrong. Twelfths and elevenths became sixths and sevenths, which kept the points tally moving. In the final, Dylan Fletcher and Hannah Mills, with Iain Jensen and Luke Parkinson, executed a smart two-marks-ahead plan in the fleet racing and then stole the final from the Kiwis with an perfectly executed attack at the final turning mark.

Season picture after Cádiz

1. Great Britain 85 pts
2. New Zealand 82 pts
3. Australia 80 pts

Spain on 76 points remain fourth and still in with a shout of making the Grand Final. 

France in fifth look too far back to threaten.

Format and fairness

Justin worries about the winner-takes-all finale. With three elite teams you risk one soft start deciding a season. Magnus counters that jeopardy is sport, simple to explain, and essential for broadcast. Both agree it does not always crown the most complete team across the year, yet within SailGP’s entertainment remit it works.

A separate gripe was the short first downwind. If you stuck the first jibe and were top three at Mark 1 you were gone. Passing lanes were scarce, especially with twelve boats and light air. Magnus would like Russell Coutts to trial split-fleet racing in these conditions. 

Who impressed, who struggled

• Denmark were superb on Saturday. Smooth, tidy manoeuvres, gliding through manoeuvres. A late fall off the foils on Sunday ended their hopes, yet they bank a big confidence block after their performance on the opening day.
• Germany made their second consecutive final – a reward for making attacking decisions.
• United States were improved, with a third, fourth and fifth on the sheet, and finished eighth overall.
• Canada remain ‘ying and yang’ – as skipper Giles Scott previously described them. Moments of front-running class, then the wheels wobble.
• France were sixes and sevens on Saturday, sharp on Sunday. Consistency is the missing piece.
• Italy look lost. Setup, coaching and roles need a hard review.
• Switzerland made poor percentage calls at key gates and paid heavily.
• Australia won a race then faded. If Abu Dhabi is light they are the most vulnerable of the top three to a Spanish surge.
• New Zealand were one tack from the win, so will feel bruised yet reassured about pace.

Looking ahead to Abu Dhabi

History suggests light air, although sailing loves to surprise. If it is marginal, expect Spain to attack with nothing to lose and the Australians to feel the heat. The Brits look the complete package across conditions, while the Kiwis remain highly potent in the breeze.

Final thought

Cádiz was a reminder that even in a manufactured league the sailors’ craft still decides the biggest moments. The British final-mark sequence was world class. Now all eyes turn to Abu Dhabi, where for the top three teams a season’s worth of hard work will be settled in a single race for a very large cheque.

Image © Samo Vidic for SailGP

From Team SCA to a Global Movement

Magenta began when the Team SCA squad realised that, post-campaign, very few of the women had immediate opportunities. The early goal was simple: create teams and seats. The breakthrough, Vicky explains, was recognising that mentoring scales impact far wider than a single campaign. Since 2018, Magenta’s mentoring programme has become its “jewel in the crown”, spawning practical pathways across offshore, inshore, foiling, media, race management, leadership, and — crucially — STEM roles that power the sport and the industry behind it.

What’s Changed — and What Hasn’t

Women’s sport has surged in the last decade and sailing is catching up, but Vicky is candid about where the friction still lives: not so much at the elite level, but at clubs and local events where too many still don’t feel welcome. Magenta’s new 2 x 25 global survey (an update to its 2019 strategic review) shows a big uptick in perceived opportunity — yet persistent themes of discrimination, access, and, above all, confidence remain. (“Opportunity” was the most-used word in 2019; in 2025 it’s “confidence.”)

What Magenta Is Doing Now

• Mentoring at scale: 120+ mentors to date; this year’s intake will double to ~50 mentees across sailing and industry roles, with rising demand in STEM and female leadership.
• Hands-on pathways: Clinics and workshops alongside major events that demystify mechatronics, hydraulics, and performance data for aspiring shore and engineering talent.
• RORC x Magenta Offshore Weekend: 31 women training and racing offshore, tackling the confidence gap with real miles and real teams.
• Mighty Magenta Hub (launching early October): A global community platform where skippers, teams, clubs and companies can post opportunities and connect with candidates — from a spare foredeck spot to a graduate engineering role.
• Industry advocacy: Collaborations (e.g. at METSTRADE Young Professionals Club) to help companies “reverse-engineer” better hiring and retention for women.

Quotas vs Quality — and Why Pathways Matter

Vicky supports mandates that create space (e.g. women on AC75 crews) — but insists the sport must invest in training pipelines so teams pick the best person for the job, not a token. Showcase events like the Women’s America’s Cup help accelerate readiness, but the real test is year-round depth: coaching, seat time, and exposure to the technical systems that decide modern performance.

How You Can Help 

• Skippers/Team Managers: Offer a berth, training day, delivery leg, or shore-side project via the Mighty Magenta Hub (early October).
• Mentors (men and women): Volunteer expertise across sailing, engineering, ops, comms, and leadership.
• Clubs/Classes: Audit your culture. Replace the “members only” mindset with active welcome, clear pathways, and visible role models.
• Sponsors/Employers: Fund seats and internships; co-create entry programmes for STEM roles. The talent is there — help unlock it.

Connect with The Magenta Project

• Email: contact@themagentaproject.org
• Join: Look out for the Mighty Magenta community launch in early October and become a Friend of Magenta to access opportunities, resources, and events.

If we do this right, says Vicky, Magenta will make itself obsolete — because inclusive pathways will be the sport’s default. Until then, they’re building the “village” sailing needs.

The bright spot was Germany’s breakthrough: the team reached their first event final and converted it into a maiden SailGP win. After finishes of 9-7-5 on day one, they surged with 5-1-3 on day two, then held their nerve in a tense, patchy final –staying displacement while Tom Slingsby’s Australia briefly foiled – before catching a line of pressure and closing it out. The result bumps Germany to ninth overall and, more importantly, signals a tangible rise from the midfield.

Technically, Geneva showcased the league’s new light-wind package: big wing (24 m²), high-speed rudders, and long-span light-air foils—tested most by Australia, whose wing trimmer Chris Draper has spoken about the foils’ “glide” profile. When the best teams were up and stable – New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain – their smoothness looked almost majestic. But the winds were fickle, and the weekend’s theme was cruel inconsistency: what worked one race didn’t the next. With three-person crews for such complex boats, coordination and comms became the differentiator. Justin and Magnus highlighted how the top teams shared workload on trimming, flight control, and helm transitions with crisp, encouraging dialogue – particularly audible aboard GBR and AUS.

Germany’s win owed much to Stu Bithell. A double Olympic medallist steeped in fluky lake sailing in northern England, Bithell’s instinct in unstable breeze stood out. His on-board calls and fast jibe at the first downwind mark in the key race popped the boat onto its own private puff – “see ya” – a cheeky line Justin loved as the team sailed away while others sat planted.

Stateside, USA showed modest encouragement – Taylor Canfield tends to look stronger when conditions resemble conventional displacement sailing, and they notched three fourths. The hosts nevertheless examined the broader project: visible commercial wins (e.g. Tommy Hilfiger activations) versus on-water results, Mike Buckley stepping off the boat (a hard but commendable call), and whether tapping the American Magic talent pool – for more names like Mike Menninger and Andrew Campbell – could finally fuse a competitive sailing core with their sponsorship muscle. Magnus stressed SailGP needs a strong U.S. team to crack the American market on broadcast.

A major off-water storyline was Artemis Racing joining as the 13th team, with Ian Percy and Nathan Outteridge returning to the league. Both hosts applauded the move: Artemis brings resources, data savvy (they built SailGP’s simulator through Artemis Technologies), and a pathway for young Swedish sailors fresh from the Youth and Women’s Cups. They also noted the league’s climbdown from earlier chatter about 14 teams—now pushed to 2027—which they view as a PR stumble. Magnus floated a bold alternative for that open slot: an all-women’s team led by Hannah Mills, arguing that with will (and gearing tweaks if needed) the “grinding power” objection could be solved – and the PR upside would be huge.

Looking ahead, the standings picture is sharpening: Australia edges Great Britain, with New Zealand third. France and Spain chase, but a late leap into the top three looks improbable. Cádiz is next – likely thermal and fully foiling – which means the front-runners may play percentages: avoid damage, bank solid scores, and roll into the Abu Dhabi finale (likely light again) ready for the three-boat, shot at $2 million.

Image © Samo Vidic for SailGP

The French event saw Mistral winds wiped out Friday’s practice and cancel Sunday’s racing, leaving Saturday’s four races to decide the outcome.

The British team emerged victorious, not through dazzling dominance but through consistency and resilience. Wheatley hails strategist Hannah Mills as the MVP, noting her sharp, concise communication with helm Dylan Fletcher. Together, they turned potential setbacks into solid results, epitomising the Olympic mindset of avoiding disasters and maximising opportunities. Their ability to read a critical wind shift in the final race secured the event win and valuable season points, keeping them firmly in the hunt for SailGP’s multimillion-dollar prize purse.

Saint-Tropez featured small rigs and new high-speed rudders, whose thinner profiles and longer chords seemed to leave many crews struggling. Boat handling across the fleet looked ragged, with several teams hobby-horsing and nose-diving. Wheatley bluntly describes the overall standard as “bang average,” surprising for this stage of the season. Some teams, like Germany, showed logical progress, while others stagnated mid-fleet.

The Italians drew particular attention after snatching a race win with a bold tack into a private shift. While Chisholm sees this as a potential breakthrough moment, Wheatley is sceptical, pointing out their inconsistent results and rigid tactical playbook. By contrast, he praises the Australians, New Zealanders, and British for their willingness to improvise and push limits, epitomised by Tom Slingsby sailing perilously close to the rules.

One flashpoint was a mark-rounding incident between Australia and New Zealand. Debate centred on whether an overlap existed, with Wheatley emphasising the limitations of broadcast graphics compared to the precise data available to on-water umpires like Craig Mitchell. Both agreed the system is fair overall, though the margins—sometimes as fine as 20 centimetres—highlight how close to the edge these races are.

Starting tactics were another theme. Several chaotic starts, particularly from Canada, the USA, and France, demonstrated the risks of overcrowded lines. Wheatley suggested SailGP’s stadium format, with only a handful of viable starting spots, creates a two-tier fleet dynamic. With 14 teams expected next season, he advocates splitting the fleet to ensure fairer, closer racing.

Beyond performance, the conversation touched on SailGP’s equipment and future. The Southampton tech team earned praise for their rapid repairs, but Wheatley questioned whether the F50 platform remains fit for purpose. He floated the idea of smaller boats or even a wholesale redesign, noting that several designers had told him the current configuration would not be chosen if starting fresh. With Larry Ellison’s huge resources, new boats are theoretically possible, though Russell Coutts currently favours incremental upgrades.

Looking ahead, both pundits anticipate different dynamics in Geneva, where light-wind foils will debut, enabling racing in as little as seven or eight knots. Wheatley sees opportunities for Italy, Britain, and Canada to capitalise, while also keeping an eye on underperformers like Switzerland and the USA, and on Germany’s encouraging rise.

The episode closes with reflections on team dynamics. Wheatley contrasts Canada’s fraught atmosphere with the British team’s harmony, emphasising the crucial role of communication and coaching. He credits coach Rob Wilson’s tactical calls as another factor in the British success. Ultimately, both commentators believe the season finale will boil down to the established trio of Australia, New Zealand, and Britain, with Spain an outside contender after a steady showing.

Despite criticising the spectacle as a “donkey derby” at times, Wheatley acknowledges the intensity and jeopardy that keep SailGP compelling. For Chisholm, the regatta underlined both the flaws and fascination of the format, setting up intriguing battles for the remaining events in Geneva and Cádiz.

Image © Felix Diemer for SailGP

Justin Chisholm is joined by Andy Rice (sailjuice.com and Road To Gold) and Dave Reed (editor at Sailing World Magazine) to dissect what’s gained, what’s lost, and who the big winners could be. From Pete Burling’s shock switch to Italy to the looming SailGP rivalry, this Protocol sets a dramatic course for Naples 2027.

Read the story on the Yacht Racing Life website.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/yacht-racing-life-podcast3387/exclusive-content

From growing up in a tiny Welsh harbour, crashing around in a home‑built dinghy, to standing on start lines against the world’s best, Beckett’s story is one of perseverance, learning, and a relentless drive for self‑improvement. He opens up about the influence of the British Sailing Team and his long‑standing rivalries with squad‑mate Elliot Hanson and Australian Olympic champion Matt Wearn. He shares how those rivalries have pushed him to evolve, both physically and mentally, and why surrounding himself with high‑calibre training partners is essential to his success.

We talk about the pain of Paris 2024, where his medal race unravelled in heartbreaking fashion after a restart and a pair of costly penalties. Beckett reflects with refreshing honesty on the disappointment of finishing sixth and the process of rebuilding his confidence and drive in the months that followed. That journey led to an emphatic statement win at the Trofeo Princesa Sofía in Palma – his fourth successive title there – proving to himself and the fleet that he still belongs at the sharp end of the class.

Listeners will get a fascinating insight into the day‑to‑day life of a full‑time Olympic sailor: the three‑hour training sessions in Weymouth Bay, the gruelling gym work needed to stay competitive in the physically punishing ILCA 7, and the importance of managing recovery to avoid the burnout that comes with life on the campaign trail. Beckett also shares his practical advice for club sailors who want to hike harder, recover faster, and sail smarter.

But this conversation goes beyond racing. Beckett reflects on the independence and resilience he developed as a teenager, sailing alone off the Pembrokeshire coast, and how that mindset carried him through university and into the professional ranks. He speaks about his inspirations – from Sir Steve Redgrave and James Cracknell to Sir Ben Ainslie – and how their stories shaped his own approach to sport.

Finally, we look ahead to his next big goal: the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Beckett outlines his plan to peak at the right time, the work still to be done at the Long Beach venue, and his dream of one day stepping into the America’s Cup or SailGP arena.

Whether you’re a Laser sailor, an Olympic sailing fan, or simply curious about what it takes to compete at the highest level, this is an episode full of insights, inspiration, and no‑nonsense honesty from one of the class’s most thoughtful and determined competitors.

Listen now and join Beckett on his journey from the pain of Paris to the pursuit of perfection in Los Angeles.

In the latest episode of The Yacht Racing Life Podcast, Justin Chisholm sits down with fellow sailing journalist Magnus Wheatley to unpack a packed weekend of world-class racing at last weekend's British SailGP event. From the electric atmosphere in Portsmouth to Britain’s much-needed resurgence, the pair dive deep into the stories behind the racing – from Dylan Fletcher’s standout performance under pressure to the bold new ideas shaping the league’s future.

Key Highlights:

• On-the-water impressions: Why the stadium-style SailGP experience is unlike anything else in sailing.
• Team GB’s bounce back: Dylan Fletcher, Hannah Mills, and the crew deliver under home pressure.
• Big picture SailGP: Russell Coutts’ vision – including a dedicated “tech ship” and propulsion-assisted racing for light venues.
• Women at the wheel? What’s next for female sailors in the league – and is Hannah Mills in line for her own SailGP team?
• Swiss breakthrough & Italian struggles: Which teams impressed and which left questions unanswered.
• Press conference candour: Why SailGP’s media approach still misses the mark.
• Human story: Magnus shares his involvement in helping blind sailor Danny Phipps attempt a solo circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight.

About the Guest:

Magnus Wheatley is a veteran sailing journalist and commentator, best known for his Rule 69 Substack, where he offers sharp insight and candid commentary on the world of professional yacht racing.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to The Yacht Racing Life Podcast on your favourite platform and share it with your sailing friends. For more in-depth coverage, visit YachtRacingLife.com.

We start with the IMOCA class — that wild, high-stakes solo circuit that somehow keeps cranking out close finishes in the middle of nowhere. Kenny was glued to the last Vendée Globe like the rest of us, marvelling at the match race up front and the level of detail behind every campaign. 

From there, we go deep into the design side. Read talks about how the North Sails brain trust has gone full tilt on integrating aerodynamics and hydrodynamics — a shift driven by the America’s Cup but now baked into every serious offshore campaign. “It’s not sails and boats anymore,” he says. “It’s a single system.” And it’s not just designers and sailors in the loop. Software engineers, CFD specialists, VPP gurus — it’s a full-circle design process now, and if you’re not closing that loop, you’re getting left behind.

And what about the ongoing health of the IMOCA class in recent years? Stronger than ever, says Read. The French dominance isn’t a problem – it’s the reason the class works. The culture, the fan base, the sponsors, the European kids who grow up wanting to be offshore sailors — that’s the fuel in the tank. Sure, there’s chatter about needing more international flavour, but as Read puts it: “It’s kicking ass. Don’t mess with it.”

We veer into the age-old mystery of why this style of sailing hasn’t taken off in the States. There’s no simple answer, but Kenny gives it a go. He talks about a missing culture, a lack of aspirational heroes, and the need for more people to “give back” if the next generation is going to get inspired. “We just don’t have a pipeline,” he says. 

Then comes the Ferrari segment. The Hypersail project is everything you’d expect from the Italian supercar maker: fast, sleek, secretive, and a little bit nuts. Read says it’s “IMOCAs on steroids,” with a dream team of designers and engineers (including Guillaume Verdier) and full integration of aero and hydro from the start. And yes, North Sails and Southern Spars are right in the thick of it. There’s even a Ferrari-branded performance clothing line in the works — because why not?

We move on to the Moth World Championship, where a kid named Enzo Balanger came out of nowhere to take down the heavyweights. Read credits Bruno Dubois with spotting the talent early — just as he did with Caudrelier years ago — and says Enzo’s win proves he’s the real deal. The Moth, he adds, remains a bleeding-edge test lab for sail design and control systems. Forget trickle-down from the Cup — the Moth is a two-way street for innovation.

So what about the rest of us non-foilers? Read says traditional sailing’s still alive and well — for now. But fast forward ten years, and don’t be surprised if kids are foiling on everything. “They’re not going to want to go back in the water,” he says.

Then there’s the offshore shift to sailing from inside — driven, Read says, by one thing: the violence of the waves, rather than the wind. “You get hit by a wall of water and find yourself in the back of the boat with half the wheel in your hand,” he recalls from his Volvo Ocean Race days. Safety is now the top priority, and he doesn’t see anyone going back outside anytime soon.

Is there still room for big boats like Comanche? Absolutely, says Read. Under IRC, there’s a thriving maxi scene, and boats like V (formerly Tango), which he’s now helping to campaign, are keeping the sport accessible for owner-drivers who want to race hard and have fun....

While neither of them got the call-up from Russell Coutts to attend in person (again), Justin and Magnus were watching intently online and had plenty to say about a weekend of unpredictable conditions, inconsistent performances, and some curious tactical decisions.

Magnus begins with heaps of praise for the SailGP tech team for getting the boats racing at all after the major repair operation that has taken place in the last 12 weeks.

The pair talk about the impact of the light-air LAB foils—and how some of the fleet looked like they were back in Season 1—and question the wisdom of requiring just three crew for the first race on Saturday. Spain were worthy winners, but nobody really dominated. Even the mighty Aussies looked rattled, perhaps distracted by their new A-list ownership?

Justin and Magnus tip their hats to the Brazilians, with Martine Grael looking more relaxed and effective at the helm—clearly benefiting from the support of Paul Goodison, Leigh McMillan, and Andy Maloney.

Off the water, they tackle the booming commercial side of SailGP. Celebrity investors, eyewatering valuations, and a media machine that’s clearly focused on global reach more than just the core sailing fan. They speculate on American Magic’s rumoured interest in the US team, discuss where the real value lies in these franchises, and whether Russell Coutts' high-stakes game could reshape sailing’s professional landscape.

The duo finish with a few bold season-winner predictions. Listen to the end to find out who they each back.

Goodchild recently fulfilled a 14 -year dream to compete in the Vendée Globe solo, nonstop, around-the-world race. Racing as part of Thomas Ruyant’s two boat TR Racing campaign and on a previous generation IMOCA he led the race several times in the early stages heading down the Atlantic and entered the final fortnight of the race in a battle for fourth place with Vendée veteran Jérémie Beyou on his new generation boat Charral.

Disappointingly catastrophic mainsail damage in a storm on the approach to Cape Finisterre at the entrance to the Bay of Biscay saw him split his mainsail in two. Ever resourceful Goodchild somehow managed to glue the sail back together on the rolling pitching wave-washed deck of his 60-foot yacht and get back in the race to finish a highly credible ninth overall.

Justin caught up with him recently at his home in Lorient where he lives with his wife and two children.

Image © Pierre Bouras

Frankie – as she is best known – has had an amazing career in sailing since having been introduced to the sport by her parents when she was a young child growing up in Trieste, Italy.  

She has won world and European titles, twice represented Italy at the Olympic Games, is the first Italian to sailor win The Ocean Race, and competed at last year's Women's America's Cup. If all that isn’t enough – she’s also a CrossFit Coach, a triathlete, and ski instructor, too. 

Despite having achieved so much, Frankie is far from ready to rest on her laurels and last month announced her campaign to compete in the 2028 edition of the world’s toughest yacht race – the singlehanded, nonstop, around the world Vendée Globe. 

Frankie spoke to us from her home in Park City, Utah where she lives with her professional sailor wife Sally Barkow and their young daughter Harriet.

[Image © Eloi Stichelbaut - polaRYSE / 11th Hour Racing]

Croom had an illustrious career as a track cyclist in the US National Team before switching sports to bring his physique and fitness to bear in the America’s Cup, where he raced as a ‘cyclor’ aboard the New York Yacht Club American Magic AC75 at the 38th Cup in Barcelona last year.

During what turned out to be a wide ranging and fast paced interview we find out how John’s tried football and wrestling before becoming hooked on cycling – as well as taking a deep dive into his time with American Magic to discover what life is really like for an America’s Cup cyclor.

Anderson has just returned home with his family to Newport Rhode Island after a two year assignment in Barcelona, Spain where he headed up the data analytics unit at the US America’s Cup syndicate NYYC American Magic.

During their chat they discuss the increasing importance of data analysis and Artificial Intelligence in the America’s Cup but we begin by hearing how Anderson and his family enjoyed their extended sojourn in Barcelona.

As well as diving into the relative performances of the top three teams – event winners Emirates GBR, skippered by Dylan Fletcher; second-placed Northstar Canada, led by Giles Scott; and Tom Slingsby’s home town favourites, third-placed Australia – the pair also take a close individual look at each of the other nine international crews. 

Cover image © Jon Buckle for SailGP

As well as his AC and Olympic achievements Glenn also holds the wind-powered land speed record with an incredible run of 222.4 kilometres per hour.

For the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona last year Glen was drafted in to provide some expert punditry as part of the TV commentary team working along side Shirley Robertson and Stephen McIvor.

During the interview Glenn is quizzed him about his commentary booth experience and shares his expert breakdown of the six competing teams and the technology behind their respective boats. 

The interview rounds out with some chat about what it’s like to pilot a craft at 222.4 kph before Glenn reveals his exciting plans for a new sail-powered speed record attempt.

Aside from his Olympic triumphs Giles is also an multiple America’s Cup veteran – including taking part in the last three consecutive British challenges –  and recently stepped into the role of skipper of the Northstar Canada team for the fifth season of SailGP.

During the interview – recorded in early January 2025 – Giles talks about his earliest days in sailing as a youngster who initially had no interest in racing and had to be bribed to compete by his mum. 

He also discuss his approach to Olympic campaigning and talks through his very different run ups to his two Olympic gold medal victories at the Rio and Tokyo Games, as well as diving into his experiences with INEOS Britannia in last year’s 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona, before closing the interview with some chat about his high profile SailGP transfer from the British Emirates GBR squad to the Canadians.

Cover image © Felix Diemer for SailGP

During the interview Tom shares his thoughts on the relative merits of the Shared Reconnaissance programme, explains the key elements of his role as the American syndicate’s head coach, describes what goes on aboard the coach boat during a typical training day, as well as giving his assessment of how AC37 played out between the six teams on the waters of the Mediterranean off Barcelona last summer.

All this plus loads more fascinating insight makes it an interview that America’s Cup fans absolutely won’t want to miss. 

Ricardo is one of the most prolific shooters in the business right now and his work from around the world at our sport’s keystone regattas will be familiar to anyone following professional sailboat racing.

From the ocean going IMOCAs of the Vendée Globe and The Ocean Race, to the supercharged fast foilers of Sail GP and the America’s Cup, Ricardo’s stunning images help bring these events to life for sailing fans everywhere.

Ricardo’s pure passion – both for sailing and his chosen profession – shines through throughout the interview where he illustrates the skill, hard work and dedication that goes into becoming one of the world’s best yachting photographers.

Justin Chisholm’s guest on this episode of the Yacht Racing Life Podcast is Tony Quinn – chase boat driver for the British INEOS Britannia America’s Cup syndicate that last year in Barcelona Spain won the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Selection Series and took on the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand in the 37th America’s Cup Match.

In the interview Tony shares what the high pressure chase boat driver role is all about and gives us a behind the scenes look at real life inside the highly professional environment of an America’s Cup team.

Goodison needs very little introduction to most sailing fans. He is an Olympic gold medal winner in the Laser class, a three time Moth world champion and a veteran now of three America’s Cup campaigns – the latest of which was his second go around with the New York Yacht Club’s American Magic syndicate at the 37th Cup in Barcelona last year.

Sadly things did not go as planned for him, as a serious accident aboard the American AC75 after racing early in the competition – in which he broke five ribs – ruled him out of any further participation. 

Despite this setback he was quickly back at the American Magic base doing whatever he could to help the team’s progress through the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Series.

The interview features some fantastic insider insight into American Magic’s Barcelona campaign – including Goodison's working and personal relationship with co-helmsman and previous fierce Olympic rival Tom Slingsby – but begins with an update on his recovery and an explanation of exactly how the accident happened.

His achievement is all the more impressive given that he did not come from a sailing family or grow up close to the sea. 

In fact, Tom was brought up on a farm in the middle of Ireland and his first sailing experience was on a shallow lake aboard a battered old wooden dinghy on which he and his father taught themselves to sail.

An inauspicious start to a professional sailing career perhaps, but Tom had been well and truly bitten by the sailing bug. 

Despite studying agricultural science at college he soon felt the pull of the sea and that led him to a bold move to Concarneau in northern France – the epicentre of the French offshore racing scene.

After teaching himself French and cutting his teeth in the Mini class he moved up onto the Figaro circuit where he set his sights on one day winning the Solitaire du Figaro trophy – one of yacht racing’s landmark events.

We caught up with Tom to find out the full story of his auspicious victory.

During a wide-ranging conversation Luke talks about his early days as a young sailor, his aspirations of following in the footsteps of his Olympic gold medal winning sister Tessa, his ongoing passion for ocean racing, his first experience in of racing around the world, as well as his thoughts on the America's Cup and SailGP.

On this crossover episode – which will be jointly published on The Yacht Business Podcast, (available on all major podcasting platforms) – the pair discuss how various technologies are having an effect on the professional yacht racing world. 

Hannah won silver in the women’s 470 class at the London 2012 Olympics and followed that victory up with back to back gold medals at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 making her the most successful female Olympic sailor of all time.

She called time on her Olympic campaigning after the last Games, but was snapped up by Sir Ben Ainslie’s Great Britain SailGP Team where she has raced in the strategist role on the British F50 foiling catamaran, as well as spearheading the team’s initiatives around the SailGP Women’s Pathway Programme and indulging her passion for sustainability with the the team’s Protect Our Future climate education platform recently launched with its charity partner, 1851 Trust.

As you will hear in the interview, the young Dutch sailor has a fantastic back story. Whereas lots of people just dream of being a professional sailor and racing around the world Rosie came up with a plan and went out on her own into the world and made it happen.

Aside from his racing skills Freddie has also carved out a sailing media career for himself and is well known to high-performance sailing fans for his role as a mainstay of the SailGP commentary team.

The interview turned into a wide ranging discussion that spanned Freddie’s illustrious career in the America’s Cup, his thoughts on SailGP, as well as a debate over the relative merits of cycling versus grinding in the next America’s Cup – and much more besides.

Reeser won a silver medal in the 470 class at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona sailing with the legendary Kevin Burnham and has since coached the Greek women’s and British men’s pairings to Olympic gold and silver respectively and established himself as a sought after performance coach across a range of classes from small one-design keelboats to the TP52 circuit.

Unsurprisingly, he has a treasure chest of great stories from his long career in yachting and is always keen to share his enthusiasm for the sport that has served him so well throughout his life.

Damian grew up on a farm in Ireland close to the water and spent his childhood and teenage years on the water with his friends sailing a range of craft from windsurfers to dinghies.

Over the last few years, as the Sustainability Programme Manager for the 11th Hour Racing Team he has been instrumental in demonstrating how performance, sustainability, and business can merge into a successful and replicable model for the marine industry and beyond.  

Justin Chisholm’s guest this time is the prolific Australian skipper Tom Slingsby who as well as leading the SailGP rankings with his Australia SailGP team, has also in recent months won the Moth World Championship and line honours in the Middle Sea Race aboard Comanche – to say nothing of mixing it with the top teams at his first ever TP52 Worlds.

Slingsby has a mainstay of the SailGP movement from its inception and is very enthusiastic about its future. However he is also an past Americas’ Cup winner, and – as he reveals in the interview – he has not ruled out getting involved with the 37th America’s Cup.

Gotrel comes from a sailing family and began his career crewing in dinghies on lakes in the south of England. He quickly progressed through the 29er class and into the 49er to join the British Olympic Sailing Team before putting his sailing on hold to go to university

That’s where he was lured into the world of competitive rowing – a sport in which he worked his way up to Olympic selection and won the gold in the Men’s 8 at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

But Gotrel wasn’t done with sailing yet and joined Ineos Britannia for the British syndicate’s 36th America’s Cup campaign. Now he is back for another try at winning sailing’s oldest and most prestigious trophy.

The first Cowes Week regatta was back in 1826 and it now takes place every year on The Solent – that narrow tidal waterway between the English south coast and the nearby Isle of Wight.

Laurence – who took over at Cowes Week in 2018 – is an accomplished sailor in his own right, having competed internationally in the Etchells class and on World Match Racing Tour, as well as at the Admiral’s Cup and in the Sydney Hobart.

During the interview the pair discuss the unique experience of competing at Cowes Week and Laurence gives a glimpse behind the scenes of what goes into running an annual week of racing for around 600 boats and 5000 sailors.

Robertson made his name as a professional sailor on the international match racing circuit where he twice won the World Match Racing Tour World Championship.

Now though he is fully fledged disciple of the high performance foiling revolution and best known for his role as a helmsman and skipper on the SailGP regatta circuit – where he specialises in developing new teams as they join the circuit.

After working with the Chinese and Spanish teams to good effect in the first two seasons of SailGP Robertson has just been announced as skipper and helmsman of the newly announced Canada SailGP Team for Season 3.

She was sailing on one of the oldest and least technologically advanced boats in the fleet and faced a raft of issues along the way. But she made it around and finished in 19th place – the first British skipper home.

As you will hear in the interview – Pip had to overcome plenty of hurdles just to get to the start line. The Covid pandemic didn’t help, and financially it was touch and go for a while.

But – just as she was beginning to doubt whether she would make it – an email from a prospective sponsor changed everything.

Justin caught up with John just before Christmas and shortly after he and Anna had returned from kicking off their Paris 2024 Olympic campaign by defending their Nacra 17 World Championship title in Oman.

He made his first attempt in 2004 but damage to his boat put him out of that race and the following edition in 2008-09, but he went on to finish third in the 2012-13 edition and second in the 2016-17. 

Despite starting the 2020-21 edition as a firm favourite to become the first ever non-French Vendée Globe winner, Thomson was again forced out of the race after first having to effect running repairs to the bow of his state of the art ultra high tech IMOCA 60 and then suffering catastrophic damage to one of his rudders in a collision with floating ocean debris. 

The British skipper shocked the sailing world recently with the announcement that he would not be competing in the 2024-25 Vendée Globe.

Ed was instrumental in introducing two British sailing legends – Dame Ellen MacArthur and Sir Ben Ainslie – to the mainstream public and has reported from a multitude of America’s Cups, Olympic regattas, and around the world race stopovers.

As well as reporting on the America’s Cup and SailGP for The Times – Ed’s latest project is helping the French–centric IMOCA 60 class spread it’s message to the English speaking world.

Sam is no stranger to the professional yacht racing scene having been involved in Vendee Globe campaigns for British skippers Mike Golding and Mirranda Merron, as well as helping to run successful Class 40 events like The Atlantic Cup and The Pineapple Cup. Although the Race Around start isn’t until 2023, interest from potential competitors is strong – and, as Sam explains in the interview, he and his small but growing team are working flat out to get everything in place.

Andy is a veteran Olympic sailing correspondent so well positioned to comment on just how different things were for the sailors in Japan as they coped not only with the pressure of Olympic competition out on the water bit also strict Covid 19 restrictions back ashore.

That record still stands and in our interview Paul mulls over the idea of dusting off Sailrocket 2 to try to defend his record against two new projects: one French and one Swiss aimed at reaching 80 knots.

We also find out how Paul became very first became interested in sailing as a youngster back in Australia, and we step our way along his timeline since then to tick off the multitude of projects he has been involved in along the way.

Leon headed up a production team of almost 80 people during the Cup down in New Zealand, but as we learn in the interview his work to make the TV coverage of AC36 the best ever actually began several years earlier.

The pair discuss the technology and logistical challenges that Leon and his team faced putting trying to capture the excitement and thrilling action of the AC75 racing on the Hauraki Gulf. They also discuss why good quality audio is just as important as video, and speculate whether a Netflix  documentary series could do for the America’s Cup what ‘Drive to Survive’ has done for Formula 1.

As well as spending many years with the British Sailing Team on the Olympic campaign trail in a range of classes Hannah also raced the 2017-18 edition of The Ocean Race as part of the Vestas 11th Hour Racing crew.

Having set her Olympic aspirations aside – at least for now – Hannah splits her time between gigs as a pro-sailor, campaign coach, and sailing media contributor.

As revealed in the podcast, from May 2021 as we build up to the Tokyo Olympics you will be able to read Hannah’s Olympic sailing column exclusively here on the Yacht Racing Life website.

McDonald is perhaps best known for his ocean racing achievements in the Whitbread and Volvo Ocean Race, but he is also an Olympic campaigner and won world and European dinghy titles in his time – as well as spending eight years campaigning on the Australian 18-foot skiff circuit.

As well as six Whitbread and Volvo Ocean appearances as a sailor – including twice as a skipper – Neal coached Ian Walker’s Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Team to victory in the 2014-15 edition, and took on the same role with the Spanish Mapfre team in the 2017-18 race.

Away from the fully crewed racing Neal has put his technical analysis skills to good use as part of Alex Thomson’s last two Hugo Boss Vendee Globe campaigns.

Neal is one of professional yacht racing’s great characters and always great to chat to, so this was a fun interview to record and one we are sure our listeners will enjoy.

Dalin hit the headlines earlier this year after he claimed the line honours victory in the Vendee Globe 2020-21 singlehanded non-stop around-the-world race.

Despite being first home Charlie was not the overall winner.

The time allowance awarded to fellow Frenchman Yannick Bestaven for his part in the search and rescue operation to save PRB skipper Kevin Escoffier put Dalin down to second place in the overall rankings. Nevertheless, to lead the Vendee Globe fleet home at his first attempt at sailing’s toughest around-the-world race is an incredible achievement.

During the interview Dalin shares his insight on what it is like to race around the world alone on a state-of-the-art foiling IMOCA 60. He shares the highs and the low points of his race and explains what it is like to race through the Southern Ocean – arguably the world’s most inhospitable environment – for the first time.

We also find out about the extra pressure Dalin felt being amongst the leaders in the most tightly fought Vendee Globe race ever, and discover just how tough that foil bearing repair was to carry out – all alone at the bottom of the world.

As well as having been instrumental in introducing the original concept of a foiling monohull that so successfully evolved into the astonishing AC75s that the teams raced in the 36th America’s Cup, Ray was also in charge of the Team New Zealand sailing programme – including driving the team’s chase boat in mock match races to help hone Peter Burling’s pre-start tactics.

During the more than an hour long interview the pair discuss:

- how the AC75 concept first saw the light of day and how it subsequently evolved into a high-performance match racing boat

- the various design paths taken by the four teams with their two AC75s

- how the AC75 rule might evolve now for the next edition of the America’s Cup and beyond

- the importance of attracting more teams to future editions of the America’s Cup

Ray also explains how he saw the 36th America’s Cup Match against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli play out from his unique vantage point on the Team New Zealand chase boat; and how – despite having the weight of responsibility of an entire nation on their shoulders – the Kiwi team tried their best to make each race day “just another day on the water”.

As an added bonus Davies also revealed what the timescales might be before we find out more about the format of the 37th America’s Cup.

Kyle won the 34th America’s Cup as wing trimmer for Jimmy Spithill with Oracle Team UK and also won the first season of the SailGP international series as wing trimmer for Tom Slingsby’s Australian SailGP Team.

He is now based in Gothenburg, Sweden but the conversation takes him all the way back to his first experiences of sailing as a demanding four-year-old in Australia on Lake Macquarie, his early years of dinghy sailing, and an aborted Olympic campaign in the Tornado class that turned out to be the trigger for him to set his sights on somehow finding a route into the America’s Cup through the World Match Racing Tour.

It’s a long interview in which the pair dig into Kyle's two America’s Cup cycles with Oracle Team USA, his first ever ocean racing experience on the last edition of The Ocean Race, as well as his new found love for ice boating which he tried his hand at in Sweden earlier this year.

With the points so far having been shared equally between the teams at two points apiece, Justin quizzes Ian for his expert analysis of the races and asks him to breakdown the pre-start strategies, tactics and mistakes that ultimately led to both teams’ victories.

Andy and Justin mull over the happenings of the last few weeks on the international sailing scene, including: the unusually close racing in the Vendee Globe; whether a fully crewed IMOCA 60 will be the best solution from a communications point of view for the next edition of The Ocean Race; the quality of the TV coverage emanating from Auckland for the 36th America’s Cup; the prospects for the British and Italian teams in the upcoming Prada Cup Final.

The pair also get into the detail of the Road to Gold 12 step course on how to put together a world class sailing campaign that Andy recently launched in conjunction with renowned New Zealand sailor Hamish Wilcox – the coach to Olympic stars Peter Burling and Blair Tuke and to Emirates Team New Zealand in the 36th America’s Cup.

After more than 11 weeks of racing the leading group have finally made it back to Les Sables D’Olonne and Yannick Bestaven has been confirmed as the winner of the ninth edition of the Vendee Globe.

But Bestaven's Maitre Coq IV was not the first boat home – in fact he finished after line honours winner Charlie Dalin on Apivia, Louis Burton on Bureau Vallee, and Thomas Ruyant on LinkedOut.

So how did he win? Conrad and Justin talk through how the leaders' final week at sea played out as they each closed in on the finish of their epic marathon circumnavigations of the planet. There was plenty of action on the night the leading group finished – not least including some major drama for German skipper Boris Herrmann.

All that and lots more besides...

Giles is of course calling tactics for Ben Ainslie’s so far all-conquering Ineos Team UK syndicate who last weekend secured a berth in the Prada Cup Challenger Series final.

They did so with a hard-fought victory in a breathtaking race against the Italian Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team.

It was an amazing race in which after no less than nine lead changes was decided on the final port and starboard cross within a few hundred metres of the finish.

Amongst other things discussed in the interview Scott gives his personal account of how he saw that final cross play out and explains why the team’s Cunningham issues made it all the closer.

Among the topics discussed:

–  How the last week played out to set up such a tightly fought race so close to the finish

– A tip of the hat for a bold strategy from Louis Burton to split from his rivals – and has it paid off?

– A recap of how the race has played out for each of the top three skippers

– Why a massive storm system coming across the Atlantic will likely play a huge role in deciding the winner

– Which of the three skippers might cope best with the pressure of such a close race?

– Put your money where your mouth is time – who do Justin and Conrad think are going to win, and why?

Herrmann has an impressive track record that includes competing in two double handed around the world races – the Global Ocean Race in 2014 (which he won with Felix Oehme) and the Barcelona World Race with Ryan Breymaier in 2010/11 when they finished fifth.

He racked up over 80,000 miles sailing with Italian legend Giovanni Soldini aboard his supercharged VO70 Maserati and set a bagful of ocean passage records along the way. He has also sailed as part of Francis Joyon’s crew on the maxi trimaran IDEC and led the Team Malizia campaign on the GC32 foiling catamaran circuit.

Last year he made major mainstream media headlines when he and co-skipper Pierre Casiraghi ferried the high-profile teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg across the Atlantic from the UK to New York aboard his IMOCA 60 so that she could take part in the UN Climate Action Summit.

Justin Chisholm – Yacht Racing Life editor and host of The Yacht Racing Podcast – caught up with Herrmann via Zoom at his home in Hamburg, at the end of another long day of Vendee Globe planning.

As well as producing all the excellent content we enjoy from the PlanetSail YouTube channel Matt is also part of the TV production team at the 36th America’s Cup.

In his many years as a sailing journalist Matt has covered more America’s Cups than he might care to mention and so knows all the protagonists and is pretty much a guru on all things America’s Cup.

So, with the official racing at the Prada Cup scheduled to start in just a few days, who better to quiz about the current state of play amongst the teams in Auckland?

Amongst the topics discussed are:

– Pip Hare’s daring and heroic mid-ocean rudder replacement

– Should Alex Thomson have packed a spare rudder?

– The needle match going on between Charlie Dalin and Thomas Ruyant for second place

– Will Yannick Bestaven’s lead dwindle away over coming days?

– Hats off to Damien Seguin and Louis Burton for their performances so far on non-foiling boats: at the time of recording they are fourth and fifth respectively

Full disclosure, this interview was recorded at the beginning of December and we had hoped to bring it to you before Christmas – but with all the Vendee Globe and America’s Cup activity unfortunately it has taken until now to edit and publish.

The good news is that it is well worth the wait, as it’s a great open and honest interview in which Elliot really shares a lot and helps us understand what it must be like campaigning to win an Olympic medal in the sport of sailing.

Amongst other topics, the pair discuss:

– what it is like to spend Christmas Day isolated and alone on a 60-foot yacht at the very bottom of the world

– Louis Burton’s daring mast climbs to effect the repairs that have got him back in the race

– how the skippers feel about passing Point Nemo – officially the most inaccessible location on the planet

– why the race has been so slow compared to last time and how that might be affecting the sailors’ stomach and minds

– Conrad’s take on who might fare best at the front of the fleet over the Christmas period

All this and plenty more besides….

As the Vendee Globe fleet goes into the final weekend of its sixth week at sea Justin and Conrad break down the on the water action over the last seven days, including:

- a lead change (or two) after long-time leader Charlie Dalin suffered his first major breakdown of the race so far

- a scary incident for second-placed Thomas Ruyant that, happily, works out OK in the end

- some insight into the background of new race leader – Yannick Bestaven on Maître Coq IV

- Sam Davies’ exit from Cape Town to continue her circumnavigation outside the race

All this and plenty more besides…

On this latest Vendee Globe special episode of The Yacht Racing Podcast 2016-17 Vendee Globe skipper Conrad Colman joins Yacht Racing Life website editor Justin Chisholm to pore over the key points of what’s been going on out on the Southern Ocean, including: 

– How the skippers have been dealing with the Southern Ocean storms

– Charlie Dalin’s composure continues to impress

– Le Cam sails on alone after Escoffier extraction

– Sam Davies’ plans to complete her circumnavigation outside the race

– Why this edition is unexpectedly proving to be much slower than the last one

– In the Jules Verne Trophy – Conrad wonders about the slowdown he witnessed today on the tracker for Sodebo and ponders what it might mean for the team's around the world record attempt

All this and more besides…

An Olympic gold medallist in the Laser Class and a three-time Moth world champion, Goodison is in the thick of the onboard action as the controller of the gigantic double-skinned mainsail that powers the American AC75.

All the teams are understandably generally pretty tight lipped about what’s going on behind the fences of their team bases down in Auckland – this is the America’s Cup after all – but Yacht racing Life website editor Justin Chisholm has been lucky enough to speak to two members of the American Magic squad – Testing Manager Anderson Reggio and mainsail trimmer Paul Goodison.

In this first episode we find out from Anderson exactly what the role of testing manager is all about and what it is like to spend your days chasing the American Magic AC75 around the waters of the Hauraki Gulf.

In the second episode – also out now – Justin catches up with British sailor Paul Goodison who is in the thick of the onboard action as mainsail trimmer aboard the American AC75.

Now 34, Torvar has been competing on the World Match Racing Tour on and off since 2006 and was crowned champion in 2017.

He has been based in Europe for the last several years and happily that meant Yacht Racing Life editor Justin Chisholm was able to record this interview in person in Palma, Mallorca

Justin sat down with Torvar not long after he had returned from the 2020 Match Racing World Championship at the Bermuda Gold Cup and as you will hear it’s a really insightful interview in which there is plenty of chat about the art of Match Racing – but also lots more besides.

Discussed during the interview:

– the atmosphere in and around the America’s Cup race village in Auckland

– the impact of this year’s Covid 19 restrictions on the campaign

– the ratio of time the sailors have spent on the simulator and on the water

– the performance potential of the Kiwi’s second generation AC75

– what it is like to sail an AC75 in race mode

– what we can expect from the Auckland America’s Cup World Series and Christmas Cup regattas

All this and plenty more besides….

Amongst other things the pair discuss:

– Alex Thomson's shock withdrawal from the race, including speculation on what the British skipper might do next 

– Kevin Escoffier's spectacular mid-ocean sinking and equally amazing night time liferaft rescue by fellow competitor Jean Le cam

– The repair prospects for Sam Davies and Sebastien Simon as they both head towards Cape Town in search of calmer conditions

– Louis Burton's impressive surge into second place on a tried and trusted boat that won the previous edition

– A quick update from Conrad on the Sodebo Ultim crew's progress on their Jules Verne Trophy record attempt

•How leader Charlie Dalin managed to wriggle his way through the frustratingly light winds of the Saint Helena high pressure system and into the stronger winds of the Southern Ocean

•Alex Thomson’s damage discovery and his remarkable one-man repair programme that has kept him in the race – albeit hundreds of miles behind the leader

•How the damage to the port foil on second-placed Thomas Ruyant’s LinkedOut may impact his chances of a podium result

•Justin quizzes Conrad on exactly what it is like to race solo through the Southern Ocean    

•The pair’s excitement over the Gitana and Sodebo Ultim crews setting off on their quest to complete a lap of the world in under 40 days

All this and more besides…

– a dismasting for Nicolas Troussel on Corum

– a badly torn mainsail for Japanese skipper Kojiro Shiraishi on DMG Mori

– the restart of Jérémie Beyou on Charal

Plus, the leading pack led by Alex Thomson have crossed the equator and are into the Southern Hemisphere.

Also on the podcast:

– why the skippers of the other new boats may well be feeling nervous after Troussel’s dismasting

– what – if anything – we learned about the extent of the damage to Charal and how Beyou might fare as he tries to chase down the fleet

– Doldrums? What Doldrums?

– why the foilers are coming to the fore

– why Alex Thomson’s lead may not really be as narrow as it seems

– How the weather scenario over the next few days could have a race changing impact – or not – on the leading trio

The biggest news of the week of course is that one of the hottest tipped race favourites Jérémie Beyou on Charal has been forced to return to Les Sables D’Olonne after suffering damage which the French skipper felt he could not effectively repair on his own.

It’s a crushing blow for a skipper who had only one goal – to win the race – and had spent the last four years in painstaking preparation to be as competitive as he possibly could.

What is going through Beyou’s mind now as he sails the lonely 600 nautical miles back to France? Is he focused solely on making as fast a turn-around as he can to get back in the race? Or might his spirit have been broken by the stark reality that lifting the Vendee Globe trophy may now be beyond his grasp?

Conrad – who knows Beyou and his team well – lays out the options available and shares his personal view on which decision Beyou might make.

Also on the show:

* Justin and Conrad pay due respect to the wily skills of French veteran Vendee Globe campaigner Jean Le Cam who aboard his daggerboard IMOCA 60 has been duking it out for the lead with the modern foilers

* We find out just how AlexThomson managed to wriggle his way from mid-fleet to leading the race – and it was not all about raw boat speed

* Conrad answers a listener question about how the solo skippers generate the electrical power they need to run all their instruments aboard their IMOCA 60s as they race around the world

* We find out from Conrad what all the fuss is about Tropical Storm Theta – how it might impact the race and what route he expects the skippers to take when they get close to it

All that and lots more besides.

With just one more night left to sleep ashore in a comfortable bed for the 33 solo skippers assembled in the start port of Les Sables D'Olonne Conrad describes what it is likely to be going through their minds as they count down the hours to the start.

Speaking from his own personal experience Conrad explains some of the daunting challenges the skippers are likely to face and relates just how brutal his own Vendee Globe experience was in the last edition – including dealing with an on board fire, a severely malfunctioning autohelm, multiple knockdowns, being washed overboard, and ultimately dismasting in the final 1000 miles of the race.

As well as winning nine world championship titles, taking part in multiple campaigns in the America’s Cup and The Ocean Race – Ken has also skippered iconic race boats like the record setting 100-footer Comanche and the stunning J-Class Hanuman. 

Aside from all that racing he also has one of the best jobs in sailing – as the President of the global North Sails empire. 

And if that were not enough, Read has also done a fantastic job providing expert  commentary at the last two editions of the America’s Cup.

Who better then to take stock of the current professional yacht racing scene?

The conversation was wide ranging – from the impact of Covid 19 on professional yacht racing and the business of sailing, to the increasing popularity of double-handed sailing, the upcoming start of the Vendee Globe, Read’s thoughts on The Ocean Race, Sail GP, the America’s Cup, and a few other topics too.

SiFi – as he is universally known – is one of the world’s most well respected and best liked professional sailors and is very much sought after on the international Grand Prix racing circuit. 

He is though perhaps best known for around the world racing exploits which feature no less than five Volvo Ocean Race campaigns – including of course a resounding victory in the 2014-15 edition with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing. 

And now he is back for campaign number six, having signed up for The Ocean Race 2022=-23 with the American 11th Hour Racing Team led by Charlie Enright and Mark Towill , with whom SiFi finished fifth in the 2017-18 edition.

Justin caught up with SiFi on Zoom in Newport where – while their new boat is under construction in France – the 11th Hour Racing Team is currently in training mode aboard what used to be Alex Thomson’s Hugo Boss IMOCA 60.

Speaking to Yacht Racing Life website editor and podcast host Justin Chisholm via Zoom from his home in Annapolis, Maryland on Memorial Day in the United States Hutchinson gives a characteristically frank and open assessment of the American campaign’s current status. 

During the fast paced 50-minute conversation the pair cover off a wide range of topics, including: 

 the support he received from team’s three principals – Doug Devos, Hap Fauth and Roger Penske – when formulating the team’s response to the pandemic

 the impact on the team of the cancellation of the Italian and American America's Cup World Series events

 what Hutchinson thinks of the four teams’ differing first generation AC75 designs – and which one of his rivals' boats he likes the look of most

 how the American Magic sailors have tried to offset lost on the water time with in-house two boat sparring on the simulator and the ensuing banter between him and principal helmsman Dean Barker

 why Hutchinson says his own role on the boat as tactician/strategist is not guaranteed

 some fascinating insight into what racing the revolutionary AC75s might actually be like

 latest details of the team’s second AC75 and why Hutchinson is yet to see it in the flesh

 the timetable for the team's ongoing move to Auckland and their action plan for once they get there

 whether the lack of ACWS racing prior to the Challenger Selection Series might well be to the advantage of the three Challengers?

All this and much more...

Bekking is best known as an around-the-world race campaigner and has eight Whitbread and Volvo Ocean Races to his name. Even more impressive is his track record of results which features six top three overall finishes.

2017-18 Brunel – 3rd

2014-15 Brunel – 2nd 

2008-09 Telefónica Blue – 3rd

2005-06 movistar – 6th

2001-02 Amer Sports One – 3rd  

1997-98 Merit Cup – 2nd 

1993-94 Winston  – 4th 

1985-86 Philips Innovator – 2nd 

Away from round the world racing Bekking is highly active on the international regatta circuit skippering the J Class Lionheart as well as several other top flight big boat or superyacht programmes. 

However, as you will hear on the podcast this Dutchman may not yet be finished with around-the-world racing, as he has hopes of mounting a Swedish-flagged entry in the 2021-22 edition of The Ocean Race, to help promote the work of the World Childhood Foundation.

Justin Chisholm – host of The Yacht Racing Podcast – spoke to Bekking on Zoom at his family home in Denmark.

Last year he made major mainstream media headlines when he and co-skipper Pierre Casiraghi ferried the high-profile teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg across the Atlantic from the UK to New York aboard his IMOCA 60 so that she could take part in the UN Climate Action Summit.

Justin Chisholm – host of The Yacht Racing Podcast – caught up with Herrmann via Zoom at his home in Hamburg, at the end of another long day of Vendee Globe planning.

Although he does not come from classic sailing family, Sehested began his competitive sailing career in Optimists before making his professional debut as a skipper on the World Match Racing Tour. 

From there he leapfrogged to ocean racing with two notable round the world Ocean Race campaigns – first with Team Vestas Wind and then with team AkzoNobel – before this season joining the heady high-octane world of the SailGP circuit, as helmsman of the Danish Rockwool team.

Justin Chisholm spoke to Sehested via Zoom from his family’s farm in Denmark – where like the rest of us he was waiting for an end to the COVID19 lockdown.

Burnham is an ex-Olympic campaigner who has been involved in four America’s Cup challenges – one with Young America, twice with Luna Rossa and once as head coach with Artemis Racing

He has also won multiple world championships in the Swan 45, TP52, and RC 44 classes and as a match racer.

Kirby meanwhile is renowned in the professional yacht racing world as an America’s Cup winner, a Volvo Ocean Race competitor and a regular on several top-flight grand prix raceboat campaigns. As well as steering the American SailGP catamaran he is also the team’s CEO.

With the third event of the inaugural SailGP season in New York looming Justin Chisholm spoke to Rome and Tom on Skype at breakfast time from their nearby homes in Newport, Rhode Island prior to another busy day of preparation.

In the eighties Baird won the Laser and the J24 world championships and in 1995 he won the World Match Racing Championships, and was named the US's Yachtsman of the Year.

In recent years Baird has been a regular on the TP52 circuit. As skipper of the American Quantum Racing team he won four seasons of the Audi MedCup and 52 Super Series along with three TP52 World Championships.

Now Baird has returned to lead the Quantum Racing crew for the 2019 season and I caught up with him in Mahon, Spain during the warm up training session for the first 52 Super Series event of the year.

Colman is probably best known for his participation in the last Vendee Globe around the world race, when – despite being dismasted with fewer than a thousand miles to go – he jury rigged his stricken boat and made it to the finish line.

In doing so he became the first person to complete the race using only renewable energy sources like hydro and solar power.

Now, Colman is hoping for the chance to take another crack at the Vendee Globe in 2020 and has partnered with British renewable energy company Ethical Power to help him get there.

As well as winning the 49er World Championship in 2017 and being one of the hot favourites to represent Great Britian at Tokyo 2020, this dynamic duo are also a key part of the British SailGP crew – with Dylan on the wheel and Stu in the role of flight controller.

Yacht Racing Podcast host Justin Chisholm caught up with the two of them on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca where they had just arrived for a month of training ahead of the Olympic Classes Princess Sofia Trophy regatta at the beginning of April.

Ainslie knows better than most what it is like to experience the highs and lows of the America’s Cup. 

He was an integral part of Oracle Team USA’s amazing comeback victory at the 34th Cup in San Francisco, but came home from the 35th Cup in Bermuda a disappointed man after his Land Rover BAR syndicate failed to make it past the Louis Vuitton challenger series.

Now for AC36 edition Ainslie is back with a fully funded campaign bankrolled by patriotic British businessman Jim Ratcliffe and he is more determined than ever to bring the America’s Cup back to the UK.

It’s hardly surprising then that when DeVos, Fauth and fellow business titan Roger Penske joined forces with the New York Yacht Club to mount a challenge for the America’s Cup, it was Hutchinson they turned to lead the all-new American Magic syndicate.

Speaking to Yacht Racing Podcast host Justin Chisholm from the race’s HQ in Alicante in Spain are: Ocean Race executive director Richard Mason; IMOCA 60 class president Antoine Mermod; and race director at the Ocean Race, Phil Lawrence.

Topics they discuss include: 

– why rumours circulating recently of a 12-month delay to the next edition of the race are unfounded

– what the course for the next race might be and when it will be announced

– how many teams the race organisers are hoping for in both the VO65 and IMOCA 60 fleets

– what sort of budgets are being sought for by the IMOCA 60 teams

– the possibility of an Around Europe Race in 2023 to mark the-around-the-world race’s 50th anniversary

All that and very much more…

Walker has had a broad and illustrious career in professional sailing having won two Olympic silver medals – one as crew and one as helmsman – and having skippered Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing to victory in the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race around the world. 

Walker has also led America's Cup campaigns and coached fellow Brit Shirley Robertson and her Yngling crew to an Olympic gold medal – as well as successfully plying his trade as an inshore tactician for many years on the international Grand Prix racing circuit.

More recently Walker has taken on a new land-based challenge as director of racing at Britain's Royal Yachting Association where, amongst many other responsibilities, he is in charge of the British Sailing Team's Olympic prospects.

– British solo skipper Will Harris who recently announced that he has secured a sponsorship deal with British clean energy company Hive Energy to compete on the French dominated Figaro circuit in 2019

– Emirates Team New Zealand sailor and coach Ray Davies about the current state of play as the current America’s Cup holders prepare to defend it on home waters in Auckland in 2021

– young American sailors Taylor Canfield and Mike Buckley, the co-founders of Stars and Stripes Team USA – the second American campaign to challenge for the 36th America’s Cup

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