The personnel carousel at the SailGP is spinning faster and faster. Now the Germany SailGP team is also facing changes that have already been announced. Wing trimmer Stuart Bithell, who has been fighting for the German promotion alongside Erik Kosegarten-Heil since the German entry into the sailing Formula 1, is following the call from home. The 2021 Olympic 49er champion is switching to the British team, where he will compete for points for Team Emirates GBR alongside his Olympic gold medallist helmsman Dylan Fletcher.
Olympic champion Bithell leaves Team Germany
At the Olympic Games, Dylan Fletcher and Stu Bithell relegated their current SailGP competitors Peter Burling and Blair Tuke and Erik Kosegarten-Heil with Thomas Plößel to silver and bronze in the thriller final in Enoshima. Stu Bithell is one of the SailGP athletes from the very beginning and has competed in four of the five SailGP seasons. He had already worked for the British team in season one before taking time out to pursue his Olympic ambitions. Bithell's comeback with the Swiss team came in the third season, before working for Team Germany for the past two years.
The British team announced the 39-year-old's return as a "reunion". Stu Bithell himself said: "I'm absolutely thrilled to be joining the team. It will be special to be sailing with Dylan and Hannah again after racing with them as team-mates at the Olympics." On his future ambitions with the "home team", Bithell said briefly: "To keep on winning."
The Brit knows that in his new role in the top team that has just stormed to the season championship in Abu Dhabi faces a major challenge. Bithell said: "I'm replacing a great sailor in 'Goobs' (ed.: Iain Jensen). I know I have big shoes to fill after winning the championship last season. But I live for the pressure and can't wait to take on the challenge." Stu Bithell has not worked in the same boat as his Gold co-skipper since winning the 2021 Olympics.
SailGP: Sir Ainslie welcomes the newcomer
Sir Ben Ainslie, the most successful sailor in Olympic history with four gold medals, CEO and co-owner of Emirates GBR, said: "Firstly, we wish Iain Jensen all the best on his return to Australia to compete for his country. We all understand and support his desire to compete for his country again. Iain has been an incredible member of our team for many years, but we have found a suitable replacement in Stuart Bithell, especially as he knows Dylan very well from their time together as competitors and racers."
For the Germany SailGP Team, Bithell's move to Team Emirates GBR initially brings an interruption to the team dynamic that has been built up and realised with growing success. With Erik Kosegarten-Heil and the German racing team, Stuart Bithell has successfully fought for promotion in the Super League. This year, the Germany SailGP team achieved its historic first event victory on Lake Geneva. Now, the team of entrepreneur Thomas Riedel, four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel and other shareholders are looking to the future without Bithell.
However, Team Germany has long since reacted to the change and has already signed a new wing trimmer, whose name the team will not officially announce until Thursday. It is already clear that it is an experienced SailGP player. And this change of personnel is not the only one for black, red and gold. It is already known that Jonathan Knottnerus-Meyer is leaving the team at his own request to concentrate on his medical career on land. YACHT online had already reported on this.
SailGP: Felix van den Hövel remains an anchor in the team
It is also known that grinder Felix van den Hövel will leave the active sailing team at the end of the year. Just under a year after his first race in February 2024, the Bavarian boat builder will be taking on other roles in the team. Most recently, Felix van den Hövel has increasingly shown his talent as a TV co-commentator for television appearances and ZDF broadcasts. His work for "the coolest team in the league" fulfils him in many different areas.
Linov Scheel from Kiel has already experienced his first outings for the Germany SailGP Team in the recently completed season. The business psychologist joined the team this season as a grinder, had his first assignment in Saint-Tropezwhere Team Germany achieved one of the strong performances in the second half of the season with fourth place. "The first time was mega fun, but also mega hard," said the 49er sailor, summarising the essence of his premiere.
Grinder Julian Hampe is also part of the sailing team. The Hamburg native with a penchant for crossfit sports has been working in the German racing team's three-man shore team since 2024, but also impresses with his sailing skills. Once working for Team New Zealand for two years, the tech and sailing pro has long been working in various areas for the team, which has announced further new additions but will not announce them until 11 December.
13 teams ready: SailGP season six starts in January
The sixth SailGP season begins on 17 and 18 January with the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix on Australia's west coast. Sailors and fans can expect a post-New Year's Eve blast, as the sailing area of Perth and Fremantle is known as a strong wind stage. This means that the 13 teams arriving for the new season have to be prepared for things to get tough when the infamous "Fremantle Doctor" blows.
There will no longer be twelve teams competing in the new season, but thirteen. The Swedish team Artemis Racing will start the new season with CEO and Olympic champion Iain Percy, comeback driver Nathan Outteridge and a crew peppered with top SailGP players. The blue and yellows are likely to be among the co-favourites in the battle for the season championship.
"I'm super excited to be sailing in the Union Jack again," said Stu Bithell about his move from Germany SailGP Team by Deutsche Bank to Team Emirates GBR. Here is the latest interview:
