Sail GP is a circuit where elite skippers from around the world race together on high-powered one-design boats, exceeding 50 knots, for a million dollar prize.
Flying catamarans capable of reaching 50 knots
It was on the 35th America's Cup that the AC50s, flying catamarans equipped with foils and a rigid wing, appeared for the first time. But after this edition and the victory of the New Zealanders, they decided to change the support for the 2021 edition.
Larry Elisson and Russel Couts - two America's Cup players - decided to give a second life to these ultra high-performance, 50-knot machines. This is how the Sail GP circuit was born, with a first season launched in 2019.
For the occasion, the boats are renamed F50 (F for Foil) and undergo a few modifications, including a foil servo system, an identical wing and a sufficient energy reserve for the entire race.
Changes for Season 2
For this new season, which runs from April 2021 to March 2020, changes have been made to the boat. For example, the rigid wing is now retractable, allowing the boat to go from a height of 18 to 24 meters (compared to 24 meters in season 1). The teams will be able to sail in wider weather conditions.
The foils have also undergone some changes to their geometry to promote better righting torque and increase the speed of the boat before cavitation. The rudders have also been revised to generate less drag.
8 international crews
At the launch of Sail GP, 6 international teams joined the circuit. They are now 8 for this season 2:
Each team is composed of 6 crew members, whose roles are well defined: a helmsman, a flight controller, a wing trimmer and 3 winchers. All of them have to coordinate to make the adjustments and maneuvers at the same time.
The course of the race
Each event on the Sail GP circuit takes place over two days. Three races are held each day, for a total of six races per event.
The first five fleet races are raced by all teams. The final match is between the two highest ranked teams after the first few races on the water. The season ends with the grand finale.
