Fairy tale finish

Nathan Outteridge and the Japan SailGP Team have been declared the winners of the second stage of SailGP Season 2.

07 June 2021

Sailing fans were out in full force this weekend in Taranto, with both a sold-out onshore crowd and almost 1000 registered boats lining the racecourse to witness the second stage of SailGP.

The weekend of competition began with an unexpected alteration however, lighter conditions on the Mar Grande resulting in a decision that only three crew members will be on board each F50. Organisers also decided that the course be moved further away from shore to achieve better winds.

But despite Japan and the US team facing a cataclysmic start to this season, the Italian setting proved to be a platform for redemption as both sides brought their best form in Day 1 – skipper Jimmy Spithill and his SailGP US Team winning the first and third, and Japan winning the second; results that left both sides tied on 21 points.

“When you are sailing three-up, you’ve got all the jobs of five crew members going essentially to two guys, as the driver doesn’t do a whole lot else,” said Spithill on his side’s Day 1 success.

SailGP Season 2, Taranto, Day 1. (Credit: Thomas Lovelock/SailGP.)

SailGP Season 2, Taranto, Day 1. (Credit: Ricardo Pinto/SailGP.)

SailGP Season 2, Taranto, Day 2. (Credit: Bob Martin/SailGP.)

“So full credit to [Paul Campbell-James] and Rome [Kirby] today. We were just trying to stay clean and get away from the pack behind us. The main thing is we finished all three races, and that’s a good feeling.”

“We made a few mistakes in the first race, but the second one was well sailed,” explained Japan’s skipper and helmsman Nathan Outteridge on his side’s performance.

“It is really hard with three people on board; there was a lot of multi-tasking onboard today and it was a great job by Chris [Draper] and Tim [Morishima] picking the wind and executing some manoeuvres. I’m very happy with how the day has gone.”

Other results during the first day of racing saw the Spain SailGP Team round out three top three positions, while hydraulic problems, followed by poor performances, resulted in a forgettable day for Australia.

But it was the final podium race on Day 2 saw Japan reign supreme, securing a home victory for flight controller Francesco Bruni in Italy’s first-ever Sail Grand Prix.

Japan SailGP Team celebrates victory. (Credit: Bob Martin/SailGP.)

“It’s been an incredible event. We are super happy. It couldn’t get any better! We deserved some luck in the last race,” said Bruni.

Due to light winds again on the second day, the final podium race saw crew members return to three on board, forcing Bruni to be repositioned onto the chase boat.

“I think we all sailed very well during the week, especially Nathan, Chris [Draper], and Tim [Morishima]. It’s really a prize for how good we sailed all week,” he added.

Sunday’s two races were won by New Zealand and Japan respectively, before the final race seeing a neck-a-neck battle between Spain, Japan and the US – the latter facing a broken rudder that ruled them out of competition.

Rounding out the event standings were Japan, Spain and the US, followed by New Zealand in fourth, Denmark in fifth, Great Britain in sixth, France in seventh, and Australia taking eighth spot.

Following this second stage, Spain now leads SailGP Season 2, with Great Britain and Japan in second and third place.

“Taranto has been a spectacular venue to host our second event in SailGP Season 2,” said SailGP CEO Russell Coutts.

“The city has really embraced SailGP, and it has been fantastic to see the crowds turn out every day to support the teams – on and off the water – and in particular Francesco Bruni and the Japan SailGP Team, who I must congratulate on a fantastic win here this weekend.”

The next stage of SailGP will take to the waters next month in UK’s Plymouth from 17–18 July. For more information about Stage 2, click here.