SailGP: Transfer fee eases transition for British skipper moving to Canadian team
by Richard Gladwell 14 Nov 15:20 PST
A delighted Giles Scott – Head of Sailing – INEOS Britannia – Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, Race Day 4 – October 16, 2024 © Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup
Ben Ainslie, CEO of Emirates GBR and former driver, informed SailGP Media that Scott’s offer from the Canadian team arrived during a ‘busy time’ as INEOS Britannia prepared for its significant 37th America’s Cup campaign.
However, Ainslie notes, ‘these situations are rarely ideal’. “It was definitely a fantastic opportunity for him, one he viewed as a pivotal moment in his career,” he adds. “I wanted to back him and his choice.”
The Canadian team’s proposal came soon after Scott was not included in INEOS Britannia’s starting line-up for the America’s Cup, but Ainslie praises him for handling that ‘challenging decision (…) remarkably well’. The transfer request was similarly well-managed. “We’ve developed a strong relationship over numerous years of trust and respect, and we navigated this scenario in SailGP effectively together,” he states.
Scott’s viewpoint on switching from America’s Cup helm to the chase boat was detailed in an interview with the Telegraph UK last month.
Notably, Ainslie also confirmed in the same SailGP media discussion that the British team received a transfer fee to mitigate Scott’s departure.
When the SailGP League began with six teams in 2019, each startup team was initially granted USD5 million in Season 1; today, those same teams trade for USD40-60 million plus operational expenses, high salaries, and transfer fees. Scott appears to be the first to have a transfer fee paid for his move.
It is perhaps unsurprising that this initial transfer payment occurred with a British SailGP team, considering that Manchester United, partly owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Ainslie’s America’s Cup supporter, has invested an astonishing £600 million on 21 new players over four years. In this context, Scott’s transfer fee, whatever its amount, is likely to be minuscule.
Weeks prior to the start of the 2024 Louis Vuitton Cup, Scott was suddenly removed from the British America’s Cup co-helm role, replaced once again by Tokyo 2020 Gold medalist Dylan Fletcher. This transition took a while to stabilize, but the Brits ultimately triumphed in most of their races, became the Challenger, and won two races against the Defender in the 37th Match.
Fletcher has now been appointed the helmsman of the British SailGP team.
The excellent post-race program “Inside Tack” provided insights into the performance of the British America’s Cup team and others. In these discussions, Scott, as the newly appointed Head of Sailing, represented the decisive authority within the team—from his position in the chase boat to dialogues on land. He displayed a sharp ability to pinpoint critical performance issues and tackle them succinctly.
It will be fascinating to observe whether he can apply the same skills with the Canadian SailGP team and how the British team performs against Scott at the helm of their rivals during the races.
Additionally, it remains uncertain how, or if, Scott’s SailGP obligations can overlap with the British (or any other) America’s Cup team as preparations progress for the 2027 Cup. It is unclear whether Scott will be bound to the British team due to an upcoming nationality clause in the yet-to-be-announced Protocol for the America’s Cup.
Considering Scott’s role as Head of Sailing, he qualifies as a free agent under the 2024 Protocol to join any team without transfer fees required.
The pre-season transfer activities will culminate on November 23 with the premiere race of Season 5 in Dubai, featuring 11 of the 12 teams competing.
These will consist of the new Brazilian team led by Martine Grael, accompanied by three America’s Cup veterans. Emirates GBR with its new skipper/helmsman and the elusive Italian team, which has only disclosed that their twice America’s Cup champion helmsman will not be at the helm but likely in the chase boat. Australian SailGP and America’s Cup victor Kyle Langford will also join the Italians.
As previously mentioned, the Canadian team will bring in a new helmsman. The 12th team, the French – which sailed under Orient Express sponsorship last season, will forgo participation in Dubai, opting instead to await the arrival of their new F50 in Auckland come January. The Swiss team is set to participate with two crucial members from the Alinghi Red Bull Racing team, Arnaud Psarofaghis and Bryan Mettraux, alongside Kiwi grinder Stu Dodson acquired from the Spanish SailGP squad.
The irony remains, in a league seemingly plentiful with financial resources, it appears to be divided between the “Haves” – those with private investors able to offer financial incentives to recruit sailors from top teams to graciously assist lower-ranked teams; and the “Have Nots” – teams with limited private sponsorship, such as the Black Foils, which lack the financial capacity to provide hefty salaries, transfer fees, etc., and must therefore implement robust development plans and promote from within to fill the gaps left by departing members.
How all of this plays out in the Event and Season 5 standings promises to be particularly interesting.