Taylor Canfield has been announced as the new driver of the United States SailGP Team following the sale of the team.
Canfield, who will take the wheel for the first time at next week’s Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix, replaces outgoing driver Jimmy Spithill. Spithill announced he was departing the team last week, revealing his intention to set up an Italy SailGP Team to enter the league in Season 5.
Canfield is no stranger to the SailGP circuit, and most recently subbed in to replace the team’s injured flight controller Hans Henken at last month's Spain Sail Grand Prix in Cadiz.
He has previously raced with both the United States SailGP Team in the role of flight controller with former driver Rome Kirby in Season 1, and with the Spain SailGP Team in Season 2.
Speaking about his appointment, Canfield said he had ‘always dreamed of racing in SailGP with an all-American team’.
“I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I have been preparing for this moment since I was a child,” he said. He added that ‘the notion that there is not enough talent in the U.S. gives us all a little more fuel to our fire as we prepare for a long fight’.
Canfield will take charge of the American F50 for the first time at next week’s Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas, where he will go to battle against the nine other national teams in the bid for glory.
The full line-up of the U.S. crew will be announced in the lead up to the event.
