Five things we're watching out for at the New York SailGP

The final weekend in May sees New York host round six of SailGP season six.

It’s the fourth time the Big Apple plays host to the league. The first time, back in 2019, saw the home team pick up their first ever race win. Canfield and team will be looking to notch up a few more this time around.

There are other things to look out for ahead of the weekend: a third substitute into France’s wing trimmer role; a course that will prove tricky for the strategists; and sailors coming into the weekend with varying mindsets after last weekend’s America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta.

Here are my top five things to look out for…

Moth world champion, Enzo Balanger has been called up to fill the role of DS Automobiles SailGP Team France wing trimmer.

As the team’s reserve sailor, the 25-year-old fills in for an injured Glenn Ashby, who himself was filling in for first-choice wing trimmer Leigh McMillan, who continues his recovery following the dramatic crash between France and the Kiwis back in Auckland.

Balanger spent last weekend as a reserve sailor for the French America’s Cup team alongside Spanish duo, driver Diego Botin and wing trimmer Florian Trittel. This weekend, they become rivals as Balanger goes toe-to-toe with the 2025 New York SailGP winners.

Through circumstance alone, it could be seen as the revolving door role of SailGP at the moment - Balanger is the third inductee in just six rounds. Let’s hope for a weekend free of drama for the debutant. Good luck to him.

The US team will be seeking an excuse for a party following the announcement of their official Vodka partner, Cîroc, on Tuesday. But what kind of result will warrant them cracking a bottle after racing this weekend?

The US team have had a stonking start to the season. They sit just three points off the championship podium, so watch out for the US going all out against Great Britain and Spain in an effort to leapfrog them on the season leaderboard.

Canfield is also becoming well known for his rocket starts. In a venue where we’ve seen a tight starting box in the past, the ability to get off the line well could serve his team very well. Especially in front of home fans.

The US won their first SailGP race in New York and will be looking to do more than just repeat that on the Hudson this time around.

New York is a tough venue. A small race course, strong currents, and a lot of city skyline to play havoc with the wind.

In previous editions, we’ve seen big speed differentials and pressure differences that act like a giant game of snakes and ladders. It’s an exciting watch until boats start lapping one another as the Kiwis did in race three last year.

This weekend’s forecast looks as if it could add to the difficulty. Whilst the wind on Saturday looks good, the long-range prediction for Sunday looks like we could see the return of the 27.5 metre wing that we saw in Rio. If it’s any lighter than it says it is, we could even see the behemoth 29 metre wing make an appearance.

Whatever the configuration, the gust range is likely to be large and the patterns unpredictable. Expect a lot of lead changes and a sweaty brow on the strategists.

The Bonds Flying Roos are flying into the weekend as the team to beat. The event win in Bermuda was the team’s third of the season, and they sit ten points clear of the rest in the championship standings.

Confidence will be sky high.

And compounding that? Slingsby now has his very own skin in the America’s Cup game. With the noise and excitement around the announcement of Team Australia Challenge, Slingsby has everything to smile about.

With Flying Roos’ strategist, Tash Bryant, being named on the Australian America’s Cup team, she’ll be wanting to prove she can maintain her high standards in New York while juggling her new duties, just as Slingsby will.

Will the distraction of building a team for the 38th America’s Cup cloud their vision for the top prize? I expect not. Being exempt from racing at the Preliminary Regatta last weekend in Sardinia may just have kept their minds fresh.

We'll find out.

Despite sitting in second place in the championship standings, Emirates Great Britain will be aiming for a solid weekend free of gremlins to remain ahead of Los Gallos, who sit one point behind them in third.

Much of the Emirates Great Britain staff work for both the British SailGP team and Britain’s America's Cup outfit, GB1 and Athena Pathway.

Those in both camps, including driver Dylan Fletcher and strategist Hannah Mills, are coming straight from the America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta in Sardinia last weekend.

Fletcher’s GB1 finished just three of the eight races sailed due to technical issues. Whereas Mills’ Athena Pathway had a better weekend without major technical hiccups and logged an all-important race win in the process.

It was a mixed weekend for the team with undertones of frustration. They’ll be searching for something more upbeat this weekend in the Big Apple.

New York has a habit of throwing up the unexpected, and with these storylines converging on the Hudson this weekend, round six looks set to deliver.

Australia arrive as the team to beat, but Britain and Spain will be desperate to close the gap. Canfield's team, racing in front of a home crowd with a new sponsor to impress, will fancy their chances of a result. While the US team might have one eye on the crowd this weekend, Balanger will have both eyes in the sky looking to make a strong first impression on wing trim.

If my approach to Newark airport by sky is anything to go by, it's going to be a gusty weekend weather-wise.