Excitement at fever pitch as SailGP returns to Dubai

 

As the season approaches the halfway point, SailGP is preparing for a show-stopping weekend when the league returns to the UAE for the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas, taking place December 9-10 at Mina Rashid.

The build up to the sixth event of Season 4 reads like a script from one of the Hollywood stars involved in the historic purchase of the USA SailGP Team. Jimmy Spithill is out as driver - less than two months after delivering the USA's first win of the season in Cádiz-Andalucía - and in his place, sits Taylor Canfield.

Campbell-James has been involved in SailGP since its inception and, not just that, Phil Robertson's Canada will show off another USA recruit. Philippe Presti, one of the world's most renowned foiling coaches, is Canada's new coach, replacing Joe Glanfield who is focussing on his role with the British Olympic team.

Canada hasn't reached a final since the Season 4 opener in Chicago and is currently seventh in the standings, eight points off the three teams that share third place ? USA, Spain and Emirates GBR. Rather than Finals, Robertson has twice found himself colliding with Spain's Diego Botín.

New Zealand returned to racing at the Spain Sail Grand Prix for the first time since its wing collapse and had to make do with fourth after the incident. They are however just two points off the top three in the championship standings.

Burling said: "I think what happens on the playing field stays out there. We enjoy that rivalry we have with the British. It almost feels like there's a bit of a restart mid season. The pressure to get good results and consolidate that place in the top three or at the top of the leaderboard is on now more than ever. It's an exciting time to do a push into the back half of the season. It's incredibly tight on points."

Ainslie said: "The social media teams have certainly had a great time replaying that clip. In the heat of the battle things get said. I think the great thing about Cádiz was you just saw how much it meant to us as sailors. It gave everyone a bit of a laugh but it shows how much emotionally we invested in it."

The Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas gets under way at 2.00 p.m. local time,  December 9, and can be seen on Dubai Sports. For details on how to watch around the globe visit SailGP.com/watch

For fans in Dubai, tickets are still available to have a seat right in the heart of the action. Head to sailgp.com/Dubai for more information.

SAILGP SEASON 4 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (after five events):

1 // Australia // 43 points

2 // ROCKWOOL Denmark // 36 points

3 // United States // 32 points

4 // Spain // 32 points*

5 // Emirates GBR // 32 points

6 // New Zealand // 30 points**

7 // Canada // 24 points***

8 // France // 24 points

9 // Switzerland // 11 points

10 // Germany // 8 points****

SAILGP SEASON 4 IMPACT LEAGUE STANDINGS:

1 // Australia // 203 points

2 // Switzerland // 188 points

3 // Emirates GBR // 177 points

4 // France // 175 points

5 // New Zealand // 172 points

6 // United States // 162 points

7 // Canada // 160 points

8 // Germany // 159 points

9 // ROCKWOOL Denmark // 158 points

10 // Spain // 147 points