Sailgp Spanish Team Returns to Sydney Grand Prix Amidst High Expectations

The Spanish SailGP team is feeling confident as they arrive at the Sydney Grand Prix, following a strong performance in Auckland where they finished second. This result has placed them fourth in the overall standings with 16 points, tying them with Australia and leaving them just two points behind the leaders, Great Britain and New Zealand. The Australian team, led by Thom Slingsby, who have won the first three seasons, will be hosting the event this weekend.

For the Australian team, this grand prix is particularly special as it takes place in front of their home crowd. In fact, out of the six grand prix events held in Sydney, they have finished on the podium in all but one and have been crowned champions in three of them. The team’s experience and knowledge of the location will likely give them an edge in the competition.

The Sydney Grand Prix is also a significant event for the Spanish team. It was in this city that the F50 Victoria made its debut in 2020, and in 2023, Diego Botín premiered as the team’s pilot after the crew and management restructuring. This event holds special meaning for the team, with Florian Trittel, the wing trimmer, referring to it as the “event of the first times in Spain.” Trittel, who is the current SailGP champion with Spain and Olympic gold medalist in 49er in Paris 2024, remembers his circuit debut as “a brutal moment and a dream come true.”

Trittel was the first Spaniard to try an F50 and was impressed by its ability to generate apparent wind and speed. The F50 Victoria debuted in the Formula 1 of the sea on February 28, 2020, in Sydney, just before the Covid-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill.

France Joins the Competition

The French team, which missed the first two grand prix events due to the construction of their new ship, will be joining the competition in Sydney with 10 points. They will be a strong contender, having been a major rival to the Spanish team in their quest to reach the grand final in season 4, where the Spanish team ultimately emerged as champions.

The KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix | Sydney can be watched live on Movistar Plus+ Sports 3 this Saturday and Sunday at 5:00 am.