Sail GP, uphill start in Dubai for Italian team helmed by Ruggero Tita

Uphill start for the Red Bull Italy SailGP Team, which in the inaugural leg in Dubai finished in last position discounting the debut with the F50s conditioned by lack of experience. A weekend characterized by very light wind on the Sail GP race course, with few continuous foil moments concentrated especially in the second day with a bit more breeze. The Dubai leg was won by New Zealand, second place for the British team, third the Australians.

Red Bull Italy SailGP Team, difficult debut

Some interesting insights of the Sail GP race were seen from the Italian crew such as the excellent start of the opening race and some moments when the much quality of the sailors aboard the Red Bull-branded catamaran, helmed by two-time Olympic gold medalist in the Nacra 17s Ruggero Tita. What seemed to be lacking was speed; the Italian F50 was on average a bit slower than the top teams. They were after all adaptation races also from a strategic point of view, to get into the dynamics of these narrow-field fleet races, where the waste for those who finish behind is devastating. The Italian team had less than 20 days of training on the F50s, a complex boat given its wing sail, and certainly not the easiest to sail in the semi Foiling conditions encountered in Dubai over the weekend. Andrea Tesei himself, trimmer of the Red Bull Italy SailGP Team, in a comment on his own social pages described it as the most complicated boat he has sailed on. In short, the margins for improvement will undoubtedly be there, and probably already from the next leg we expect a leap forward for the Italian team.

Team and schedule

Red Bull Italy SailGP Team is in good company, as it will have to contend with crews from Australia, Switzerland, Brazil, Grand Britain, Germany, Canada, France, Spain, Denmark, New Zealand and the United States. Crews where there will be numerous America’s Cup protagonists, starting with several members of Britannia and Team New Zealand, the protagonists of the Barcelona final. After Dubai it’s back to Auckland on January 18 and 19; Sydney February 8 and 9; Los Angeles March 15 and 16; and San Francisco March 22 and 23, before returning to Europe on July 19 and 20. It then continues with Sassinz on August 16 and 17, Taranto September 6 and 7, Geneva September 20 and 21, Cadiz October 4 and 5, with another location for November 7 and 8, 2025 yet to be announced, and the finale scheduled for Abu Dhabi November 29 and 30.

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Winning a world championship in your own land is a crazy thrill. Right Magdalena?