Sailors from 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 classes compete in SailGP Season 5 Opener
by Alexia Lahoud / 49er and Nacra 17 Sailing 23 Nov 05:12 NZDT
Paris Olympic Sailing in Marseille, France on 2 August © World Sailing / Lloyd Images
The fifth season of SailGP launches this weekend in Dubai, bringing together 11 national teams and some of the world's best sailors.
Many competitors on the start line began their careers in the 49er, 49erFX, or Nacra 17 classes, and they now showcase the skills developed in these Olympic fleets at the pinnacle of professional sailing. Here's a look at the sailors from our classes competing this weekend.
Australia
- Jason Waterhouse (Flight Controller) - A Nacra 17 Olympic silver medalist, Jason brings a wealth of multihull expertise to the team.
- Chris Draper (Wing Trimmer) - A two-time 49er World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist, Chris brings both experience and winning pedigree to the Australian squad.
- Chris Nicholson (Coach) - A legend in 49er skiff sailing, Chris won the first three 49er World Championships and dominated early Olympic campaigns, earning a reputation as one of the most successful skiff sailors of his time.
- Tash Bryant (Strategist) - A former 49erFX competitor, Tash has transitioned to the cutting-edge world of foiling catamarans.
Mubadala Brazil
- Martine Grael (Driver) - A two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 49erFX, Martine brings her exceptional talent and Olympic-winning experience from the 49erFX to her debut as a SailGP driver.
- Marco Grael (Grinder) - Following his stint in the 49er, Marco brings his experience and strength to the SailGP circuit.
- Emmett Lazich (Coach) - A renowned 49er coach, Emmett guided Nathan Outteridge to Olympic gold and has been pivotal in developing world-class skiff and FX talent.
Canada
- Paul Campbell-James (Wing Trimmer) - A former 49er sailor, Paul's early experiences shaped his career as a successful professional sailor.
- Billy Gooderham (Flight Controller) - Another 49er (and 29er) alumnus, Billy continues to make his mark in foiling competitions.
ROCKWOOL Racing (Denmark)
- Tom Johnson (Wing Trimmer) - Formerly a 49er sailor, Tom has adapted his skills to the high-speed SailGP arena.
- Ed Powys (Reserve Sailor) - A seasoned 49er campaigner, Ed brings versatility to Denmark's squad.
- Katja Salskov-Iversen (Strategist) - Katja, who earned a bronze medal in the 49erFX at the Rio Olympics, brings her Olympic experience and sharp tactical skills to the team.
- Francesco Bruni (Coach) - Francesco competed in the 49er class and now shares his extensive experience as a coach.
Germany
- Erik Heil (Driver) - Erik claimed Olympic bronze medals in the 49er at both Rio and Tokyo, and now leads Germany's SailGP team.
- Stuart Bithell (Wing Trimmer) - A 49er gold medalist from Tokyo, Stuart brings a champion's mentality to the team.
- James Wierzbowski (Flight Controller) - Formerly a 49er sailor, James is at home on the foiling circuit.
Red Bull Italy
- Ruggero Tita (Driver) - One of the Nacra 17's most decorated sailors, Ruggero is a two-time Nacra 17 Olympic gold medalist and four-time World Champion. Tita also previously sailed in the 49er.
- Andrea Tesei (Flight Controller) - Andrea brings his 49er expertise to the Italian squad.
- Giulia Fava (Strategist) - A former competitor in both the 49erFX and Nacra 17, Giulia is a versatile and experienced sailor.
Emirates GBR
- Dylan Fletcher (Driver) - A 49er gold medalist from Tokyo, Dylan's achievements in skiff and the America's Cup sailing have propelled him to the forefront of SailGP.
- Iain Jensen (Wing Trimmer) - An Olympic gold medalist in London and silver medalist in Rio in the 49er, Iain brings world-class technical expertise to GBR's performance.
- Neil Hunter (Grinder) - Another 49er alumnus, Neil brings strength and determination to the team.
New Zealand
- Peter Burling (Driver) & Blair Tuke (Wing Trimmer) - This iconic duo has dominated the 49er class with Olympic gold in Rio and silver in both London and Tokyo. They now bring their exceptional teamwork to the New Zealand SailGP team.
- Leo Takahashi (Flight Controller) - A former 49er sailor, Leo adds precision to the team's foiling setup.
- Marcus Hansen (Grinder) - Another 49er sailor, Marcus contributes his skills and fitness to the Kiwi squad.
- Liv Mackay (Strategist) - A Nacra 17 competitor, Liv brings her tactical and technical expertise to the team.
Spain
- Diego Botin (Driver) & Florian Trittel (Wing Trimmer) - Fresh off their gold medal in the 49er at the Paris Olympics and Victory in SailGP season 4, this dynamic duo leads Spain's SailGP team with confidence.
- Bernardo Freitas (Grinder) - A former 49er sailor, Bernardo contributes to Spain's strength and stamina.
- Nicole van der Velden (Strategist) - Having competed in both the 49erFX with Odile Van Aanholt and in the Nacra 17, Nicole is no stranger to high-level sailing. Rumor has it she will be back in the Nacra 17 to campaign for the LA Olympics 2028! Oh and, yes, she was also part of the winning team in SailGP Season 4.
Switzerland
- Sebastien Schneiter (Driver) - Sebastien, who competes in the 49er, now leads Switzerland's SailGP campaign.
- Arnaud Psarofaghis & Bryan Mettraux (Wing Trimmer and Flight Controller) - Both former 49er sailors, they bring valuable skiff experience to the team.
- Arno de Planta (Reserve) - Another 49er sailor, Arno is part of Switzerland's promising SailGP squad.
United States
- Hans Henken (Flight Controller) - A 49er bronze medalist from Paris, Hans applies his sharp instincts to SailGP racing.
- Anna Weis (Grinder) - A Nacra 17 competitor, Anna's versatility is key to Team USA's strategy.
- Mac Agnese (Grinder) - Another 49er sailor, Mac provides strength and resilience.
- Evan Aras (Coach) - Evan, a former 49er sailor, brings extensive coaching experience, having guided Team USA's 49er team at the Rio Olympics.
The 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 classes are well-represented as SailGP's new season begins. These high-performance skiffs and mixed multihulls are the perfect training grounds for sailors, demanding precision, tactical decision-making, and lightning-fast thinking—skills that translate seamlessly to professional competition in any class. Stay tuned as these sailors showcase their expertise in one of the world's most exciting sailing competitions!
Interesting stats and numbers:
There are 92 crew members in total in the Dubai SailGP line-up (including coaches).
Of these 92, 41 come 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 come 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:
Since 9 out of 11 wing trimmers come from 49er, 49erFX, or Nacra 17 backgrounds (81.82%).
3) Number of flight controllers with 49er/49erFX/Nacra 17 experience:
54.55% of the flight controllers come from the 49er, 49erFX, or Nacra 17 backgrounds (6/11)
4) Number of women with 49er/49erFX/Nacra 17 experience:
10 out of 12 women in the full crew list come from the 49erFX, or Nacra 17 backgrounds (83.33%)