If one thing is certain at the SailGP sailing stadium in New York, it's this: nothing is certain. The compact course on the Hudson River is notorious for its unpredictability, its sometimes strong currents, the extremely fast-changing winds and the constant swell caused by the many tourist boats on the way to the Statue of Liberty and back. For the flight controllers in particular, the New York SailGP course is "the final boss", as Erik Heil once put it.
SailGP in New York: can the British turn things around?
Twelve SailGP teams are ready for the fourth New York Summit after the premiere in 2019 and the most recent two editions in 2024 and 2025. The Germany SailGP team has already gained experience in the Big Apple area twice. With ninth place (2024) and tenth place (2025), the results were not quite what the black, red and gold team is aiming for this year. Fresh Inspired by third place on the podium in Bermudawants the crew around Erik Kosegarten-Heil will also be fighting for a top position next weekend (30/31 May).
However, this also applies to the eleven opponents, each of whom will turn up in New York with their own unique motivation. For example, Emirates GBR. In 2019, they were the historic first team to capsize at a SailGP event in New York - at the time half an hour before the first race. The overnight lightning repair could only improve the British team's record a little. The fact that Dylan Fletcher, Hannah Mills and their crew finished last in the penultimate event in Rio as reigning SailGP champions this season was a recent low blow. The fact that they then missed out on reaching the final off Bermuda, which the Germany SailGP Team by Deutsche Bank managed instead, also upset the English crew of Olympic champions.
In the end, we know that we haven't performed at the level expected of us in the last two events." Dylan Fletcher
However, the British helmsman was a combative reminder of last season's title win ahead of the first New York strong shot: "We had ups and downs last year too, but we delivered when it mattered most." Currently second in the standings behind Tom Slingsby's Binds Flying Roos (45 points), the Brits (35 points) don't have to worry too much. Neither do Spain's Los Gallos (34 points) in third place. In the overall standings, Team Germany (23 points) recently moved up to sixth place in the season championship after successfully reaching the final off Bermuda.
France's young star Enzo Balanger ahead of his first SailGP outing
Martine Grael and her team Mubadala Brazil have fond memories of their first outing in New York last year. They rewarded themselves for all the typical setbacks and hardships experienced by a newcomer to the SailGP with their first race win. It also went down in the history of the Rolex Sail Grand Prix as the first victory for a female helmswoman.
Afterwards, the 49erFX double Olympic champion said what still applies to the New York area, which the league itself describes as having "chaos potential": "I think there are more overtaking opportunities in changeable conditions than anywhere else. If you can keep an overview, there are some overtaking opportunities." As one of the best catch-up teams in the league, this should suit the Germany SailGP team.
A young Frenchman will make his SailGP debut in the impressive US sailing stadium: Moth world champion Enzo Balanger, also part of the newly formed French America's Cup team La Roche-Posay Racing, is looking forward to his first SailGP outing. He has prepared most of theon his Spanish team-mate Flo Trittel with whom he trains together in the French America's Cup team in France. However, Trittel (Los Gallos) and Balanger (DS Automobiles France) are now competing against each other at the Mubadala New York SailGP.
From the team's own academy to the A-Team
Enzo Balanger comes from the in-house "Académie" of the by the German-Frenchman Stephan Kandler and Bruno Dubois, which forms the umbrella for the SailGP and America's Cup activities. He said before his debut in New York: "I have been working for the team in a development and training role for several months now, several years in fact. I know what level this team can reach when everything is working 100 per cent and I know what it is capable of. I've definitely spent a lot of time with Flo and tried to get good tips from him. He's already mastered the path I'm on now. And he's given me advice."
Flo Trittel is a great guy, a great sailor and also a great person." Enzo Balanger
Guadeloupe-born 25-year-old Enzo Balanger also has his eye on the situation of his French SailGP team DS Automobiles France following the injuries to Leigh McMillan and his prominent replacement Glenn Ashby: "The season has not been easy for the team due to the many injuries, so it is obviously a great honour for me to now have the opportunity to step in as wing trimmer while Leigh McMillan recovers. It's certainly one of the biggest challenges of my career so far and I honestly can't wait."
At the same time, the Mott maestro knows: "We won't have a training day in New York, which makes things even more challenging, but I've been working towards this moment for months. I've been training even harder in the last few days to be as well prepared as possible and to give my all at the first Grand Prix."
SailGP live on ZDF streaming
ZDF will be streaming the races live on both weekends (30/31 May) from 9.30 pm onwards in his SailGP channel. Commentator is Nils Kaben together with on-site reporter Felix van den Hövel on his SailGP
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
