SAIL GP reveals the line up for the ‘Great Britain SailGP Team' and an event set to take place in Cowes, UK

• SailGP setting out to redefine sailing with thrilling new fan-centric grand prix racing circuit
• The Great Britain SailGP Team includes Olympic medalists and sailing world champions
• Cowes spectacular event to take place as part of SailGP’s inaugural season on 10 & 11 August 2019

SailGP today set out to redefine sailing with the launch of its new global racing league: five grand prix events featuring six national teams on identical wingsailed F50s – the world’s fastest, most technologically advanced catamarans. Spearheaded by Larry Ellison and Sir Russell Coutts, in season one, SailGP will bring intensely competitive, high-speed inshore racing to fans in Sydney; San Francisco; New York; Cowes, UK; and Marseille, France, as world-class crews compete for the championship trophy and a $1 million prize.

Great Britain SailGP Team is first of six teams to be announced. The team will be managed by world-class sailor Chris Draper, Olympic bronze medalist with two America’s Cup cycles under his belt, most recently as sailing team manager and wing trimmer with SoftBank Team Japan for the 35th America’s Cup. Rio 2016 Olympian, current 49er world champion and world No. 1 in the 49er rankings, Dylan Fletcher will serve as helmsman.

Fletcher said, “It’s awesome to be part of SailGP, which provides such a fantastic opportunity to showcase sailing and produce a series of events that push the limits of what sail racing can look like around the globe. This is one of the greatest challenges I have been personally taken on, and I am ready to show that the Great Britain SailGP Team has what it takes to battle out it with the world’s best. For me, the best part of this will be the UK event taking place during Lendy Cowes Week in August 2019. Racing in front of the home crowd on home waters - it doesn’t get much better than that!”

Today is such an important milestone for the team. To announce the new SailGP league and also be the first team to be revealed here in London is a perfect springboard for us. We have put together a really strong and dynamic team – in my opinion a group of natural born winners, very grounded and real, perhaps raw but also confident and ready to deliver for Great Britain. We are looking forward to a thrilling first season in 2019. Draper, CEO for Great Britain SailGP Team.

One of the best parts will be the UK event taking place during Lendy Cowes week in August 2019, racing in front of the home crowd on home waters, it doesn’t get much better than that! Dylan Fletcher

Great Britain SailGP Team
Dylan Fletcher – Helmsman
Stuart Bithell – Flight Controller
Chris Draper – Wing Trimmer
Richard Mason – Grinder
Matt Gotrel – Grinder

SailGP Cowes event
In addition to a Great Britain SailGP Team, a UK event was also announced today that will take place over the first weekend of Lendy Cowes Week 2019 on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 August 2019. This spectacular race event will take center stage in the Solent – partnering with the already world-famous week-long regatta in Cowes – and promises to deliver amazing racing action to the competitors, fans and visitors.