Los Gallos have been eagerly looking forward to the SailGP debut in Valencia for weeks now. What the recent Sassnitz summit meant for the Germany SailGP Team, the Valencia event is a home race for the Spanish team – comprising helmsman Diego Botin, wing trimmer Flo Trittel, strategist Nicole van der Velden and their crew – in front of what is expected to be a roaring crowd.
After almost two decades: from America’s Cup sensation to the pinnacle of SailGP
Organisers, teams and fans are gathering once again at the Marina de Valencia, a good 19 years after the 32nd America’s Cup. In the maritime centre of this Mediterranean metropolis, there are still many buildings that served as headquarters for the America’s Cup teams back then. Whether it’s manhole covers embossed with the America’s Cup logo, the striking clock tower (Edificio del Río) or the award-winning Veles e Vents building – co-designed by star architect David Chipperfield and now a landmark of the marina: there are still many reminders here of the 2007 Cup final, which featured twelve teams from nine nations at the time.
This weekend, a breath of fresh air is set to blow just off the coast of Valencia. The SailGP World League is making its debut here. From the Australian league leaders, the Bonds Flying Roos, to Spain’s co-favourites, Los Gallos, and Germany’s SailGP Team, right down to the Brazilian teams at the bottom of the league table: all 13 teams from 13 nations are already in Valencia and are hoping for good training conditions today. Click here for the current standings in the season’s championship.
At this time of year, it’s still warm in Valencia. Temperatures are rising to just under 30 degrees. Team Germany’s coach, Lennart Briesenick, said: “We’re preparing for lighter conditions, even though things might look a bit different on Sunday.” The expected light-wind conditions mean all teams will have to adapt.
From “Flashnitz” to slow-motion sailing in Valencia?
Lennart Briesenick explained: “We’re focusing on switching from the small wing and Ballermann to a configuration that we haven’t actually sailed in race mode yet: 4 POB (Ed.: four people/sailors on board), with Anna or Victoria at the back.” Briesenick was thus referring to a new SailGP rule under which strategists are no longer permitted to grind.
The reason behind the new rule is that, following the triple crash in New York, amongst other things, the league no longer wishes to do without the watchful eyes of strategists in future, in order to prevent collisions. However, when strategists are busy at the grinder, they can no longer keep a proper watch. This is said to have been one of the problems during the start-line crash in New York.
Under the new rule, in a four-crew configuration in lighter winds, the remaining three sailors on board are assigned more tasks. All 13 SailGP teams now also need to ensure these tasks are distributed as effectively as possible. For example, flight controller James Wierzbowski will sometimes have to move up to the bow. The strategist may also help trim the jib. “We have been working intensively on this new configuration and will continue to do so,” said Lennart Briesenick.
“We’ll see which teams can adapt well to the change from Sassnitz: from high speed, strong winds, a small wing and full speed to an event with four people on board and marginal conditions. It really is a different world.” Lennart Briesenick
Briesenick compared the task ahead, as he sees it, a little to sailing on monohulls, saying: “It’s actually almost a bit like sailing a large boat when you’ve got both hulls in the water. You’re still dealing with three tonnes, after all. Managing the boat along the line and round the marks, whilst still sailing it with finesse – ensuring you always maintain momentum and avoid stalling in light conditions – is a major challenge.”
SailGP in Valencia: very light winds on Saturday – more wind on Sunday?
Unlike at the 32nd America’s Cup in 2007, the SailGP races will – as usual – be held close to the shore in front of the grandstands. According to Briesenick, there is hardly any “real prior experience” of the race course. The main task, he said, is to focus on adapting to light winds. The German team had another simulator session scheduled for Thursday. “We’ll use that as a dry run. Then we’ve got the practice races on Friday.”
From Briesenick’s point of view, it could well be that there will be more pressure for Sunday’s races. “As far as the wind is concerned, Sunday doesn’t look too bad at the moment – well at the upper end of the sea breeze range. In that respect, it could be a very interesting weekend: lighter on Saturday, with a bit more wind on Sunday.”
This assessment was echoed by SailGP meteorologist Chris Bedford, who said: “I think it’s going to be fairly calm in Valencia compared to what we’ve experienced at the last few events. It’s an interesting venue because we can get a very light sea breeze here.” However, Bedford is also aware that: “We’re already quite late in the sea breeze season. The sea breeze is stronger here earlier in the summer, when the land warms up but the water is still colder due to the season.”
Spain’s gold medallists with home advantage?
According to Bedford, the forecast suggests that Saturday will be very light-winded in the run-up to the Valencia SailGP summit. On Sunday, however, a light to moderate sea breeze is expected. Even though Bedford does not anticipate completely calm conditions, there could be periods when the F50s find themselves right on the cusp between displacement sailing and foiling. This could mean that entirely different capabilities become decisive.
"Given the conditions in Germany, this change might feel like ‘a bit of a shock’ to the crews." Chris Bedford
Bedford went on to explain: “We don’t have any major weather systems like the ones we had in Sassnitz. We don’t have a strong, relatively fresh sea breeze like in Portsmouth, and we don’t have weather as changeable as in New York and Halifax. This will present a very different challenge for the crews to the one they’ve been used to for some time.” His tip: keep an eye on the Spanish. Bedford said: “I believe they have the ability to find opportunities in unusual conditions.”
A profile of Spain’s 49er Olympic champion and SailGP sailor Diego Botín ahead of the home race in Valencia. With comments from Florian Trittel and Nicole van der Velden. Botin’s father once inspired him as a Mini Transat sailor. In 2024, his son achieved golden successes such as the SailGP championship and Olympic triumph alongside Flo Trittel:
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter