Sailors from 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 classes participate in SailGP Season 5 Kickoff
by Alexia Lahoud / 49er and Nacra 17 Sailing 22 Nov 08:12 PST
Paris Olympic Sailing in Marseille, France on 2 August © World Sailing / Lloyd Images
This weekend in Dubai marks the start of the fifth season of SailGP, featuring 11 national teams and some of the world’s finest sailors.
Many in the lineup began their journeys in the 49er, 49erFX, or Nacra 17 classes, and now display the skills honed in these Olympic fleets at the peak of professional sailing. Here’s a look at the sailors from our classes competing this weekend.
Australia
Jason Waterhouse (Flight Controller) – A silver medalist in Nacra 17 at the Olympics, Jason brings extensive multihull experience to the team.
Chris Draper (Wing Trimmer) – A two-time 49er World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist, Chris adds rich experience and a legacy of wins to the Australian team.
Chris Nicholson (Coach) – A 49er skiff sailing legend, Chris won the first three 49er World Championships and dominated early Olympic events, earning a reputation as one of the most successful skiff sailors of his era.
Tash Bryant (Strategist) – A former competitor in the 49erFX, Tash has transitioned into the innovative realm of foiling catamarans.
Mubadala Brazil
Martine Grael (Driver) – A two-time Olympic gold winner in the 49erFX, Martine arrives with outstanding talent and Olympic success as she joins SailGP as a driver.
Marco Grael (Grinder) – After racing in the 49er, Marco brings his experience and power to the SailGP stage.
Emmett Lazich (Coach) – A well-known coach for the 49er, Emmett led Nathan Outteridge to Olympic gold and has played a crucial role in rising skiff and FX talent development.
Canada
Paul Campbell-James (Wing Trimmer) – As a former 49er sailor, Paul’s early experiences have forged his pathway into a successful career as a professional sailor.
Billy Gooderham (Flight Controller) – Another 49er (and 29er) alumnus, Billy continues to thrive in the foiling competition landscape.
ROCKWOOL Racing (Denmark)
Tom Johnson (Wing Trimmer) – Formerly a 49er sailor, Tom has honed his abilities for the fast-paced SailGP environment.
Ed Powys (Reserve Sailor) – A veteran 49er competitor, Ed adds versatility to Denmark’s team.
Katja Salskov-Iversen (Strategist) – Katja earned a bronze medal in the 49erFX at the Rio Olympics, contributing her Olympic insight and strong tactical acumen to the team.
Francesco Bruni (Coach) – Francesco, who competed in the 49er class, shares his extensive experience as a mentor.
Germany
Erik Heil (Driver) – Erik secured Olympic bronze in the 49er at both the Rio and Tokyo Games and now helms Germany’s SailGP team.
Stuart Bithell (Wing Trimmer) – A Tokyo 49er gold medalist, Stuart brings a champion’s mindset to the crew.
James Wierzbowski (Flight Controller) – Formerly a 49er sailor, James is well-versed in the foiling circuit.
Red Bull Italy
Ruggero Tita (Driver) – A leading sailor in the Nacra 17 class, Ruggero is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time World Champion. He previously raced in the 49er.
Andrea Tesei (Flight Controller) – Andrea contributes his 49er skills to the Italian lineup.
Giulia Fava (Strategist) – A former participant in both the 49erFX and Nacra 17, Giulia is a skilled and adaptable sailor.
Emirates GBR
Dylan Fletcher (Driver) – A 49er gold medalist from Tokyo, Dylan’s achievements in skiff racing and the America’s Cup position him among SailGP’s leading competitors.
Iain Jensen (Wing Trimmer) – An Olympic gold medalist in London and a silver medalist in Rio in the 49er, Iain brings top-tier technical expertise to GBR’s lineup.
Neil Hunter (Grinder) – Another alumnus of the 49er, Neil provides strength and determination to the squad.
New Zealand
Peter Burling (Driver) & Blair Tuke (Wing Trimmer) – This celebrated pair has excelled in the 49er class, winning Olympic gold in Rio and silver in both London and Tokyo, now bringing their extraordinary collaboration to the New Zealand SailGP team.
Leo Takahashi (Flight Controller) – A former 49er sailor, Leo enhances the team’s foiling operations with his accuracy.
Marcus Hansen (Grinder) – Another 49er competitor, Marcus adds his skills and fitness to the Kiwi efforts.
Liv Mackay (Strategist) – A former Nacra 17 competitor, Liv offers her tactical and technical prowess to the squad.
Spain
Diego Botin (Driver) & Florian Trittel (Wing Trimmer) – Fresh off their gold medal victory in the 49er at the Paris Olympics and the triumph in SailGP season 4, this energetic pair confidently leads the Spanish SailGP team.
Bernardo Freitas (Grinder) – A previous 49er sailor, Bernardo adds strength and stamina to the lineup.
Nicole van der Velden (Strategist) – Having raced in both the 49erFX with Odile Van Aanholt and the Nacra 17, Nicole is well-versed in elite sailing. Rumor has it she intends to return to the Nacra 17 to pursue the LA Olympics 2028! Also, she was part of the victorious squad in SailGP Season 4.
Switzerland
Sebastien Schneiter (Driver) – Competing in the 49er, Sebastien now spearheads Switzerland’s SailGP efforts.
Arnaud Psarofaghis & Bryan Mettraux (Wing Trimmer and Flight Controller) – Both are former 49er sailors, bringing valuable skiff insight to the team.
Arno de Planta (Reserve) – Another sailor from the 49er, Arno is associated with Switzerland’s promising SailGP lineup.
United States
Hans Henken (Flight Controller) – A 49er bronze medalist from Paris, Hans applies his tactical instincts to SailGP competition.
Anna Weis (Grinder) – A competitor in the Nacra 17, Anna’s adaptability is vital for Team USA’s tactics.
Mac Agnese (Grinder) – A former 49er sailor, Mac offers strength and resilience to the team.
Evan Aras (Coach) – A past 49er competitor, Evan contributes extensive coaching knowledge, having steered Team USA’s 49er squad at the Rio Olympics.
As SailGP’s new season kicks off, the 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 classes are prominently featured. These high-performance skiffs and mixed multihulls serve as exceptional training arenas for sailors, demanding precision, tactical acumen, and rapid decision-making—skills that transition effectively to professional racing in any competitive format. Stay tuned as these sailors display their skill in one of the world’s most thrilling sailing events!
Interesting stats and figures:
The Dubai SailGP lineup comprises a total of 92 crew members (including coaches).
Of these 92, 41 hail from the 49er, 49erFX, or Nacra 17 (44.57%)
49er sailors: 27
49erFX sailors: 6
Nacra 17 sailors: 8
1) Total Drivers from 49er, 49erFX, or Nacra 17
7 out of 11 or 63.64% of the drivers originate from the 49er, 49erFX, or Nacra 17 backgrounds.
Nacra 17 drivers: 1 (Ruggero Tita)
49erFX drivers: 1 (Martine Grael)
49er drivers: 5 (Erik Heil, Dylan Fletcher, Peter Burling, Diego Botin, Sebastien Schneiter)
2) Wing Trimmers with 49er, 49erFX, or Nacra 17 experience:
9 out of 11 wing trimmers come from 49er, 49erFX, or Nacra 17 backgrounds (81.82%).
3) Flight controllers with 49er/49erFX/Nacra 17 knowledge:
54.55% of the flight controllers have origins in the 49er, 49erFX, or Nacra 17 classes (6/11).
4) Number of women with 49er/49erFX/Nacra 17 experience:
10 out of 12 women in the complete crew list have backgrounds in either the 49erFX or Nacra 17 (83.33%)
