Team guide
Tom Slingsby’s Australia is the team to beat, having won both the inaugural season and Season 2. He faces competition from Sir Ben Ainslie’s Great Britain Team, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke’s New Zealand team as well as Jimmy Spithill’s USA team. There will also be some new faces this season, with Canada and Switzerland joining the team line-up.
Australia Driver: Tom Slingsby
Australia enters Season 3 as two-time SailGP Champions, after dramatic victory in the recent Grand Final in San Francisco in March. Undoubtedly the team to beat.
Canada Driver: Phil Robertson
Having sailed with the Spanish team last season, Phil Robertson is creating history in Season 3 leading Canada’s first-ever fully pro sailing team.
Denmark Driver: Nicolai Sehested
The Denmark SailGP Team presented by ROCKWOOL, led by multi-time round the world racer Nicolai Sehested, includes multiple Olympic and world champions. They finished sixth in Season 2.
Spain Driver: Jordi Xammar
The Spanish team is the youngest to compete in SailGP, known for its high risk approach, receiving the first ever black flag in SailGP at the British event last year.
France Driver: Quentin Delapierre
Season 2 saw ups and downs for the French team, who changed drivers mid-way after disappointing results from Billy Besson. They will now be looking to build their form.
Great Britain Driver: Sir Ben Ainslie
Sir Ben Ainslie’s team was in contention for Season 2’s Grand Final up until the penultimate event, where a crash with Japan saw qualification slip from reach. A more conservative approach to Season 3 could well see them top the podium.
Japan Driver: Nathan Outteridge
Aussie Nathan Outteridge and Brit Chris Draper lead Japan's rising stars in a slick team with a podium record in Seasons 1 and 2. Logistical challenges mean they'll be absent from Plymouth; their boat is on loan to Canada.
New Zealand Driver: Peter Burling
No longer the new kids on the block, Peter Burling and long-term partner Blair Tuke lead a formidable team with an impressive skill set honed in high performance sailing. Hotly tipped as one to watch.
Switzerland Driver: Sébastien Schneiter
This newly formed team is led by GC32 world champion and double Olympian Sébastien Schneiter, the youngest driver in the series. Brits Stu Bithell and Rich Mason are also bolstering a team of next-gen talent.
USA Driver: Jimmy Spithill
The American team is led by twotime America’s Cup winner Jimmy Spithill, who saw plans to claim the Season 2 trophy from Australia evaporate after a dramatic final day collision. The team is ready to exact revenge in Season 3.