US SailGP Team shifts, adds Menninger

The United States SailGP Team has been struggling to improve, which has prompted observations for how the crew is short on high performance experience. While social media comments pushed for change, helm Taylor Canfield wanted to trust their current plan.

“We have picked an incredibly talented group of people to sail on this team and we’ve got to let time play its role here,” he said. “Things are not going to happen overnight. The worst thing we can do is bring in a bunch of new people and try to have another fresh start.”

However, after finishing last on the water during the most recent event, the US team reports that they have “strengthened its roster by adding Michael Menninger ahead of the New York Sail Grand Prix.”

Menninger boasts an impressive resume, including racing in the 37th edition of the America’s Cup in 2024 as a wing trimmer. An alumnus of St. Mary’s College, Menninger was a three-time All American, two-time National Champion, as well as a finalist for Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ISCA) College Sailor of the Year.

A former helmsman of the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup, Menninger is a Match Racing World Champion, Team Racing World Champion, and four-time Etchells World Champion. He is also a two-time Governor’s Cup winner.

“Michael brings valuable experience and relevant skills from the America’s Cup that we believe will be a great addition to the team,” said CEO, Co-Owner and Strategist Mike Buckley.

While not mentioning his role, Menninger could be replacing current wing trimmer Jeremy Wilmot. Menninger will miss the next event in Brazil but will officially start with the team for the New York SailGP on June 7-8.

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Season 5 Leaderboard (after 4 of 14 events)
1. Australia – Tom Slingsby, 39 points
2. Great Britain – Dylan Fletcher, 38 points
3. Spain – Diego Botin, 36 points
4. New Zealand – Peter Burling, 35 points
5. Canada – Giles Scott, 34 points
6. France – Quintin Delapierre, 28 points*
7. Switzerland – Sebastien Schneiter, 18 points
8. Italy – Ruggero Tita, 13 points
9. Denmark – Nicolai Sehested, 9 points**
10. Brazil – Martine Grael, 2 point**
11. United States – Taylor Canfield, 2 points**
12. Germany – Erik Heil, -1 points**
* France was awarded points for the first two events as their F50 was not available
**Teams receive season penalty points for incidents during practice or racing

Season 5 Schedule – 14 events
2024
November 23-24 – Dubai, UAE

2025
January 18-19 – Auckland, New Zealand
February 8-9 – Sydney, Australia
March 15-16 – Los Angeles, USA
March 22-23 – San Francisco, USA
May 3-4 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
June 7-8 – New York City, USA
July 19-20 – Portsmouth, Great Britain
August 16-17 – Sassnitz, Germany
September 6-7 – Taranto, Italy
September 12-13 – Saint-Tropez, France
September 20-21 – Geneva, Switzerland
October 4-5 – Andalucía – Cádiz, Spain
November 7-8 – Middle East *
November 29-30 – Grand Final – Abu Dhabi, UAE
* Venue to be announced

Format for Season 5:
• Teams compete in identical F50 catamarans.
• Each event runs across two days.
• Five qualifying fleet races of approximately 15 minutes may be scheduled for each regatta.
• The top three teams from qualifying advance to a final race to be crowned event champion and earn the largest share of the prize purse (amount not confirmed; Season 4 had $400,000.00 USD prize purse with winning team earning $200k at each event).
• The season ends with the Grand Final, which includes the Championship Final Race for the top three teams in the season standing with the winner claiming a monetary award (amount not confirmed; Season 4 had $2 million USD prize).
• The top team on points ahead of the three-boat Championship Final will get a monetary award (amount not confirmed; Season 4 had a $350,000.00 prize).
• Ten of the 12 teams are privately owned, with the league having ownership of New Zealand and Spain.

For competition documents, click here.

Established in 2018, SailGP seeks to be an annual, global sports league featuring fan-centric inshore racing among national teams in some of the iconic harbors around the globe.

Source: US SailGP Team