Interim Switzerland driver and two-time Championship runner-up Nathan Outteridge has said this weekend’s Grand Final in San Francisco marks the ‘end of an era’.
Outteridge, who previously led the now defunct Japanese team, is currently standing in for permanent driver Sebastien Schneiter who will return to lead the squad next season. This means San Francisco marks Outteridge’s last event for the foreseeable.
Speaking at a pre-event press conference, Outteridge revealed he had ‘nothing lined up for next season’ and had made the decision to take a year off from the sport to go sailing with his family.
He spoke about the difficulty of not having a place in the league when the 2024/2025 Season begins in Dubai this November.
“When you’re staring down the barrel of not having a drive next season, it’s tough (…) the last few years have been really difficult for me.”
He added that he hopes an opportunity ‘presents itself again’ in the future. “I’d love to do that, but for next season that doesn’t look like an option, so rather than sitting in a coaching booth or trying to find another drive, I took it in my own hands to go and do my own sailing.”
Outteridge predicts Grand Final line up
Outteridge, who took part in two previous Grand Final battles with the Japanese team, predicted Diego Botin’s Spain to beat France in fleet racing and secure its position in the $2 million, three boat shootout.
“I think Diego will get there - the Spanish have shown huge progression and the win they had in Bermuda [against Australia and New Zealand] was pretty impressive,” Outteridge said.
He added that if Botin can ‘stay out of trouble in fleet racing’, he and the Spanish team will be ‘the underdog trying to cause an upset’.
Triple Champions Australia is yet to secure its place in the Grand Final, but it looks likely both the Aussies and Kiwis will proceed in the final showdown.
Outteridge added that if any other team beats Australia in the three-boat race, ‘it will be a big mark in the calendar’ and even ‘change the future of the sport’.
SailGP’s Season 4 Grand Final in San Francisco takes place on July 13/14, with racing from 2.30pm PDT.