Podcast Ep. 14 - SailGP Rio preview: Tactical breakdown, home pressure, teams out of time

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SailGP heads to Rio de Janeiro for the first time ever this weekend, and the forecast suggests a tactical chess match rather than a foiling sprint. Freddie Carr, Andy Rice and Neil Cole dig into the data, the storylines, and the strategies that will decide who leaves Brazil with points.

Light winds are expected throughout the weekend in Guanabara Bay, so the team looks at exactly what worked in Sydney's H2 conditions. For teams in the bottom half of the standings – Canada, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland – this is a pivotal weekend. Come away with low points and the Grand Final starts to feel very far away.

We also have exclusive interviews with Brazil team owner Alan Adler and driver Martine Grael – both speaking candidly about home pressure, crew rebuilds, and the emotional weight of racing on the same water where Grael won Olympic gold. Plus: Glenn Ashby jumps onto France's SailGP F50, standing in for Leigh McMillan following his shoulder surgery. 

In other news, Italian executive Marzio Pirelli has been appointed CEO of the America's Cup Partnership – but the bigger story is what we still don't know. One AC40 preliminary event is locked in for Cagliari in May. Beyond that, silence until the Cup match itself. As Freddie puts it: "It's tough to be a fan and not have your season laid out ahead of you."

The episode also tackles the new Olympic format – tested at Trofeo Princesa Sofia – and why it has sailors, media, and governing bodies at odds over what competitive fairness should look like heading into LA 2028.

00:00 Start
02:45 Trofeo Princesa Sofia and Olympic format debates
20:34 How the Vakaros starting system works
26:14 America's Cup updates and commercial future
29:42 Breaking news: USA joins America's Cup
32:43 SailGP Rio preview and Team Brazil updates
41:50 Martine Grael on SailGP Rio expectations
50:07 SailGP Rio racecourse analysis and predictions