May 5, 2019
Ai-da Auterage!
On Saturday in San Francisco Bay (USA) three races of the second stage of the new international sailing league SailGP took place. And three times the Japanese team celebrated the victory with skipper Nathan Outerriage.
Recall (although we have already written about this more than once) that the initiators of the creation of SailGP are one of the richest people in the world, owner of Oracle Team USA Larry Ellison and five-time winner of the America's Cup, Russell Cutts. An important detail: World Sailing not only declared its full support for the new league, but also included it in the list of the most important sailing competitions in the world.
The races are held on the fastest ships of the world sail – 50-foot winged catamarans of the F50 class, which were specially designed for SailGP and, according to the developers' assurances, are capable of speeding over 50 knots. On the first day, however, such speeds could only dream of.
As already mentioned, the sum of the three races ahead of the team, representing Japan (all teams 6). There is no sensation in this. Three crew members out of five – famous Australian racers. Nathan Outerridge, helmsman – 2012 Olympic champion in 49er class, winner of 19 medals at world championships in different classes, skipper Artemis Racing in two America Cup competitions. In addition, Autteridge was directly involved in the development and testing of F50 fireballs, so he has much more experience managing this catamaran than his other helmsmen.
Trimmer Ian Jensen is also the 2012 Olympic champion and multiple world champion in class 4
9er (along with the same Outteridge). Tactician Luke Parkinson is the bronze medalist of the world championships in the 470 class, and he, like Outteridge and Parkinson, participated in the America's Cup in the Artemis Racing team. As for the grinders – Yugo Yoshida and Yuki Kasatani – they have fewer regalia, of course, but they also played in the America's Cup – as part of the Japanese team. That, you see, says a lot.
So, after the first day and the three races, the table of the stage looks like this:
1. Japan (skipper Nathan Autteridge) – 30 points (parishes 1 – 1 – 1)
2. Australia (Tom Slingsby) 26 (2, 2, 3)
3. United Kingdom (Daylan Fletcher) – 24 (3 – 4 – 2)
4. United States (Rome Kirby) – 22 (4 – 3 – 4)
5. China (Phil Robertson) – 17 (6 – 5 –6)
6. France (Billy Besson) – 16 (5 – 6 – 6)
By the way, at the first stage of the SailGP league, which took place in Sydney in February, after the first three races, Japan was also the leader, and Australia was the second. It was they who met the next day in the super final, where the hosts won – the Australians.
And what will happen this time? We learn tomorrow.
293 May 5, 2019 # 8995
Chief Editor
Aidaauterage
What do you think?