SailGP who’s who

Know your Flight Controller from your Wing Trimmer? How about your Driver from your Grinder?

Photography by Brett Costello and Beau Outteridge for SailGP

25 January 2022

Even for the seasoned sailor, it can be tough to keep up with the crew and their strategies aboard the amazing F50 catamarans as they fly across the water.

SailGP’s cutting-edge F50 catamaran is a technological marvel and only the most elite athletes can fly one of these boats, which hit speeds of nearly 100-kilometres per hour (62 miles per hour) in the perfect conditions.

The crew have to be at the top of their game each time they race the F50, but do you actually know what each of the people onboard is doing on the boat to ensure it flies across the waves?

For those SailGP fans not up to speed with the intricacies of the F50, we join Japan SailGP Team Driver Nathan Outteridge for a brief explanation of each role on the F50.

Nathan Outteridge, CEO & driver of Japan SailGP Team, stands next to the F50 catamaran that sustained damage in a collision with Great Britain SailGP Team during previous days racing. Race Day 2. Australia Sail Grand Prix presented by KPMG. 18 December 2021. Photo: Brett Costello for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP

Nathan Outteridge, CEO & driver of Japan SailGP Team looks on as his F50 catamaran receives support after a collision with Great Britain SailGP Team on Race Day 1. Australia Sail Grand Prix presented by KPMG. 17 December 2021. Photo: Beau Outteridge for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP

Francois Morvan, flight controller of France SailGP Team, in action during a practice session ahead of Sydney SailGP, Event 1 Season 2 in Sydney Harbour, Sydney, Australia. 23 February 2020. Photo: Eloi Stichelbaut for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP

Florian Trittel, wing trimmer, runs across the Spain SailGP Team F50 catamaran during a practice session prior to Sydney SailGP, Event 1 Season 2 in Sydney Harbour, Sydney, Australia. 24 February, 2020, Training day. Photo: Ugo Fonolla for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP

Nicolai Sehested, helmsman of Denmark SailGP Team, in action alongside Tom Johnson, wing trimmer of Denmark SailGP Team, during a practice session ahead of Spain SailGP, Event 6, Season 2 in Cádiz, Spain. 07 October 2021. Photo: Ricardo Pinto for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP

Driver

“The main thing the Driver does on the boat is make the decision where to go on the racecourse,” says Outteridge. “They communicate to the crew what the plan is.

“Furthermore, most of the skippers in the teams, myself included, are heavily involved in the logistics of the event.”

Flight Controller

Outteridge continues: “The Flight Controller is responsible for keeping the boat in the air. Every time the boat touches the water is a time the Flight Controller has made a mistake.

“He needs to keep the boat flat and keep the boat locked in going fast. He needs to have a very good relationship with the Driver and Wing Trimmer to make sure the boat is locked in and going quick.”

Wing Trimmer

“The Wing Trimmer needs to have a really good understanding of how to generate power, and how to distribute that power on the boat,” says Outteridge.

Japan teammate Chris Draper, who trims the wing on the F50, adds: “I can basically control all the power in the boat at any one moment.

“I have to put the wing in the right shape and communicate to Nathan the best modes to sail to get to the goal as quickly as possible.”

Japan SailGP Team grinders Leo Takahashi and Yuki Kasatani in action as Japan SailGP Team practise on The Solent ahead of Event 4 Season 1 SailGP event in Cowes, Isle of Wight, England, United Kingdom. 8 August 2019: Photo Beau Outteridge for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP

Ben Bardwell, grinder, in action as Helmsman Rome Kirby pilots the United States SailGP Team F50 during official practice racing ahead of Sydney SailGP, Event 1 Season 2 in Sydney Harbour, Sydney, Australia. 27 February 2020. Photo: Matt Knighton for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP

Grinder

“At the front of the boat we have two Grinders positioned,” finishes Outteridge. “One Grinder faces forward and one Grinder faces backwards. Both of the Grinders at the front are turning the handle for the winch to make sure we can trim the wing sheet as effectively as possible.

“Leo Takahashi is our primary No 1 Grinder and he faces forward, and Yuki Kasatani is grinding facing backwards. He’s looking at [Wing Trimmer] Chris Draper in the eyes and making sure he knows what Chris needs in terms of the amount of power.

“He also has to be very brave, because he’s going round the racecourse extremely fast facing backwards, so he has to have a lot of trust in the guys behind him.”

SailGP returns to San Francisco on 26 & 27 March for the final event of Season 2 and the championship-deciding Grand Final.

sailgp.com

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