The tighter the course the better the show. SailGP comes to Sydney where home-favourite and three-time series champion Tom Slingsby (left) didn’t win… for once. Conversely, it was Dylan Fletcher’s UK team who took the victory; the new skipper of Ben Ainslie’s Emirates-backed team has only raced three rounds of SailGP and has yet to finish off the podium. In Barcelona the 49er gold medallist and Moth World Champion was called off the bench at the very last minute to take the second wheel of the Ineos AC75 alongside Ainslie, the two quickly settling into a faster rhythm. Everyone expects future Cup crews to be dominated by sailors brought up flying not floating; but for 174 years the displacement experts have after all had sailing’s biggest event all to themselves
Also, SailGP racing is not without danger and requires a fitness that will rarely be found once over 40.
That each TP52 is a unique craft is one of the main attractions for the owners who race the 52 Super Series. Not just planning the design and construction of the boat, but also the timing of when to launch and how to optimise for the competition and venues ahead is a serious part of the fun. For the owners and crews but also for those following the racing, like the readers of this magazine. TP52 owners racing in the 52 Super Series prefer 50-minute or so windward-leeward courses run in conditions that are as fair as possible. Hence often quite some distance from the coast and cer- tainly not being frustrated by media or spectator boats blocking their way or spoiling the breeze or waves. TP52 racing is close but hitting each other is certainly not considered a media bonus. SailGP races are around 15 minutes and run at short intervals. The courses are as close as possible to the fans on the shore. There is non-stop entertainment, food and merchandise. It must be a great experience as tickets are not that cheap, but nowadays the stands usually look packed.
SailGP recently set a limit on annual operating costs of US$10 - million per team in an attempt to level the competition. Right now the max six-crew F50s race about 12 two-day events of seven races each per season, which results in a total of about 21 hours of racing a year. So let’s call that US$475,000 per hour of racing. Pretty impressive for a 50ft boat.
TP52s in the 52 Super Series carry max 13 crew and on average will race 40 hours over the five Super Series events a year. Excluding other regattas in which they compete.
52 Super Series has no budget cap but I estimate that top teams spend US$4million each year, or about US$100,000 per hour racing. Still impressive and if I do the same calculation in miles raced I guess we end up much closer. Of course on the income side there is no prizemoney in the 52 Super Series, nor the option to sell your team – as in to sell the rights to participate in the series. Again apples and pears. But at this level of spending, if within your reach I hope you foremost enjoy the action. The two circuits differ enormously in their marketing as their goals are so different. There is a big difference between owning a team, and marketing your team and competition as a product, com- pared with being both owner as well as actively racing your boat and enjoying racing it as part of your team. Most 52 Super Series owners treasure their privacy, but they will still go along with occa- sionally being interviewed and filmed to support the competition they are a part of. Hero videos are, however, pro sailor territory… As at the greengrocer’s market stall, there is a place for both apples and pears. And many more veggies and fruits too. Otherwise it would soon be a very boring diet. Rob Weiland, TP52 Class Manager
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