New York: A whole season in one weekend?
Here we are in New York City, so why was the name of another city – Auckland – on the lips of all the sailors I interviewed this morning? Because Saturday is looking like it’s going to be windy, with the potential for heinous...
What 2027 calendar tells us about SailGP’s future
It is impressive to see how early SailGP is starting to announce its annual calendar. Pulling the venues together and creating a cohesive global roadshow is no mean feat. For me, travelling to all the events throughout the...
Ranking the Fleet: Ricey's verdicts on SailGP Bermuda
Finished: 1st Even if the Bonds Flying Roos couldn’t quite match that perfect Sunday in Rio - their dominant performance throughout the Bermuda weekend was outstanding. When Hollywood star and co-owner of the team Ryan Reynolds...
Waterspeed: using data for more speed, more fun, and more community
In the high-stakes world of grand prix racing, from the 50-knot flying machines of SailGP and the America’s Cup, data has become one of the key drivers of performance. The modern professional operates in an era where there is...
No Auckland return for SailGP in 2027
There will be no Auckland event on the 2027 SailGP calendar after the New Zealand government declined to contribute sufficient funding to make it happen. “We can confirm that the New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland will not...
Ferrari Hypersail unveiled in Milan (and it’s not red)
Has there been a more ambitious project than Ferrari Hypersail? Quite possibly, because even I wasn’t around long enough ago to witness the launch of those magnificent J-Class yachts of their day. But that was then and this is...
Referee! The devil in the detail between French and Aussie penalties
At the SailGP Grand Prix in Rio there were some late chargers making a late but very fast run into the start box, hoping for a gap to appear in front of them. Sometimes this late charge paid off big time, like the Bonds Flying...
How the Flying Roos swept the minefield of Guanabara Bay
If you had told Tom Slingsby on Sunday morning that the Bonds Flying Roos would sweep every single race on the final day in Rio de Janeiro, he’d have laughed you off the beach. The Guanabara Bay conditions were a minefield. A...
Rio SailGP practice day leaves backmarkers still searching for clues
Practice racing on Guanabara Bay delivered a familiar picture at the front of the SailGP fleet - and offered little comfort to those looking to raise their game after a slow start to the season. The fleets were divided into two...
Dash for (not very much) Cash
It was only €100, but Philipp Buhl looked delighted to grab the cash all the same. He’d just finished first in an experimental race, the start of a new project called the Sailing Energy Series, and it involved eight of the...
Ineos vs Athena: What happens when you make Ben Ainslie angry
“They’ve made a big mistake. They’ve made me angry; you don’t want to make me angry.” The words of Ben Ainslie after a controversial race 8 of the Olympic Regatta at London 2012. The Danish and Dutch competitors in the Finn...
Luca Rizzotti bought a Moth in 2007 and accidentally started a movement
When we launched The Foil at the start of this year, it was understandable that quite a few people incorrectly jumped to the conclusion that it must be a Luca Rizzotti project. After all, this passionate Italian has become...
Trouble in the Strait of Hormuz points to sailing's future
A fortnight ago, had you even heard of the Strait of Hormuz? Until the Middle East blew up, this narrow stretch of water that connects the Arabian Gulf with the Indian Ocean was barely known to most of us. Now it seems like the...
Low-breeze Sydney still a welcome distraction from reality
It is amazing how being in the bubble of SailGP can distract you from all that is going on in the world, not least the proliferation of hostilities in the Middle East. As soon as SailGP’s podium presentation was complete, and the...
Lightning threat calls off SailGP practice – again
No practice racing for the second event running. Normally sailors aren’t that bothered about missing a practice race, especially if it’s chucking down with rain like it has been in Sydney for the past 24 hours. But lost time in...

