SailGP's Russell Coutts on "where to from here" for the League

Please select your home edition

Edition

SailGP's Russell Coutts on "where to from here" for the League

by Sail-World.com/nz 22 Feb 08:51 GMT

Sir Russell Coutts, SailGP CEO, watches Loud Luxury on Race Day 1 of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix in New York, Saturday June 22, 2024 © Adam Warner/SailGP

Mikkel Thommessen, editor of leading Norwegian sailing magazine Seilmagasinet recently conducted a wide ranging interview with SailGP CEO Russell Coutts.

Coutts says that SailGP has become a bigger success than he had dared to hope for, and he now wants to gradually expand to 14 and then 16 teams that will sail in two pools. He also discloses the buy-in price for a SailGP franchise, and the annual running costs of a team.

He also talks about the nationality clauses in the League, hinting that for the expansion to take place further concessions may have to be made. Coutts was less than impressed with the decision of the Canadian team not to race on the final day in Auckland after their Flight Controller was injured.

Related Articles

SailGP: Roger Federer inspires Swiss SailGP team.
Roger Federer joins forces with Switzerland SailGP Team to inspire success One of Switzerland's greatest sporting icons, Roger Federer, features in the newest episode of Racing on the Edge, SailGP's official behind-the-scenes docuseries, produced in partnership with Rolex. Posted on 27 Jun

Rolex SailGP Championship 2026 dates confirmed
Including a return to fan-favorite destination, Auckland SailGP has released further details of forthcoming 2026 Season, including the return of fan-favorite locations, multi-year hosting agreements secured across all regions, and an evolved regional structure to raise the stakes for athletes and fans alike. Posted on 26 Jun

SailGP opens tender process for two new teams
SailGP has confirmed 2026 expansion plans, unveiling details of a tender process to seek investment. SailGP has confirmed 2026 expansion plans, unveiling details of a tender process to seek investment for ownership of two new teams entering the global racing championship next season, alongside available stakes across existing national teams. Posted on 23 Jun

Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix overall
Spain SailGP Team claims second consecutive U.S. win Diego Botin and the Spain SailGP team have punched their way to the top of the Rolex SailGP Championship, taking the win on Sunday in New York. Posted on 9 Jun

SailGP: Spain lead in New York - Day 1
Spain top the leaderboard after the first day of racing in the Mubadala New York Grand Prix Spain top the leaderboard after the first day of racing in the Mubadala New York Grand Prix, after a consistent day's sailing on the murky and rainswept Hudson River. Full replay and leaderboard in this story. Posted on 7 Jun

Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix day 1
Spain overcomes storm clouds, topping the standings Diego Botin's Spain SailGP Team leads the fleet after a stormy and tactical opening day of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix. France, ROCKWOOL Denmark and New Zealand are all hot on his heels for all-important leaderboard points. Posted on 7 Jun

SailGP to Kick Off Summer in New York
With this Weekend's Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix An unforgettable weekend of high-speed, close-to-shore racing and world-class entertainment will take place this weekend when the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix takes place in front of the most famous skyline in the world. Posted on 5 Jun

SailGP: Media Conference concludes in New York
Skippers speak ahead of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix The media conference ahead of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix has concluded, without any special points being revealed, save for Brazil lending a crew member to Germany. Posted on 5 Jun

Should SailGP ditch the wings?
As SailGP resumes in New York this weekend, we ask the question As SailGP resumes in New York this weekend, we ask the question of whether the F50's solid wingsails should be ditched and replaced instead with twin-skin mainsails, in a similar way to what is used on the AC75 and AC40 of the America's Cup. Posted on 5 Jun

SailGP Racing on the Edge Season 5 Episode 5
Los Gallos revisit their SailGP Season 4 triumph Get a behind the scenes look at the inner workings of the SailGP Season 4 Champions as they return to winning territory – facing personal and professional challenges head on. Posted on 3 Jun

Upcoming Events

Royal Torbay YC

Edinburgh Cup - British National Championship for Dragon
Royal Torbay YC- 8 Jul to 11 Jul

Dun Laoghaire Motor YC

UK&I Cup Round 4 for RS21
Dun Laoghaire Motor YC- 10 Jul to 13 Jul

Warnemunde Woche, Germany

German RS Aero 7 Championships for RS Aero 7
Warnemunde Woche, Germany- 11 Jul to 13 Jul

Royal Harwich YC

ILCA Under 21 for ILCA 7
Royal Harwich YC- 12 Jul to 13 Jul

Craftinsure National Circuit - Open Meeting for Wayfarer
Medway YC- 12 Jul to 13 Jul

TT6 Eastern Area Title for Contender
Thorpe Bay YC- 12 Jul to 13 Jul

Royal Findhorn YC

Dinghies and Multihulls

Findhorn Regatta for Dinghies and Multihulls
Royal Findhorn YC- 12 Jul to 13 Jul

Royal Findhorn YC

Monohull dinghies/multihulls

Findhorn Week for Monohull dinghies/multihulls
Royal Findhorn YC- 14 Jul to 17 Jul

Royal Harwich YC

Monohull dinghies

Smuggler's Open Meeting for Monohull dinghies
Royal Harwich YC- 26 Jul to 27 Jul

Fraglia Vela Malcesine

World Championships for Contender
Fraglia Vela Malcesine- 28 Jul to 3 Aug