Japan excluded from SailGP ‘indefinitely’
The SailGP league has excluded the Japan SailGP team ‘indefinitely’, after the team failed to make the starting line once this season due to a shortage of vessels.
In a brief statement published on the SailGP website, organisers have blamed ‘logisitical and commercial considerations’ for the decision.
The statement reads: “After much deliberation and taking into account logistical and commercial considerations, SailGP has made the difficult decision to pause the participation of Japan SailGP Team indefinitely.
“The league would like to thank Nathan Outteridge and all of the athletes and staff involved in the Team for their outstanding performance in the first two seasons of SailGP and wish them all the very best for the future.
“Season 3 will continue with nine teams racing for the remainder of the season.”
Helmed by New Zealand Olympic champion Nathan Outteridge and backed by British wing trimmer Chris Draper, the Japan SailGP Team comprises top international talent and experienced Japanese sailors.
One of the six original teams to start the championship in 2019, the Japanese had become a formidable competitive force in the hydrofoiling league, racking up a consistently impressive performance record with Sail Grand Prix event wins and competitive championship finals.
The team had proven itself to be one of the only teams in the league that could frequently offer a challenge to the Australian crew led by Tom Slingsby, and had looked to be on course for a third successful SailGP season.
But despite finishing second in both of the organisation’s campaigns to date, the Japanese team has not made the starting line so far this season, and has missed the first two SailGP events of the year, reportedly due to a shortage of vessels.
The announcement was met with dismay by many on Facebook. One commenter says: “This is a sad ending for the entire Japan SailGP Team. From a sport-person’s point of view it’s gutting to see such talented sailors get their knees taken from underneath them. So much work, development and mentoring put in by all. From a spectator’s point of view, it’s devastating as they were exciting, super competitive, and we all knew to watch what they were up to on the course. Hope to see Nathan Outteridge back out there shortly.”
Another commenter praised Outteridge’s talents: “Best helm in the fleet without a ride. A crying shame.”
SailGP replied to this, saying: “Nathan’s talent is absolutely not in question. He is free to speak to any of the existing teams at any time about positions they might have available.”
Several commentators alluded to the undertones of the announcement. “In other words, they’ve found another commercially viable team for season 4,” one poster writes on Facebook.
To this allegation, SailGP replies: “While we are always in conversations with interested parties about future participation in the league, no decisions have been made yet, and if Japan were to find the commercial partners and investment it needs, there’s a chance we could see the team return for Season 4.”
SailGP welcomed two new teams to the series earlier this year — Canada and Switzerland — a move that would have expanded the fleet to 10 teams in total, alongside Japan, Australia, USA, Great Britain, New Zealand, France, Denmark and Spain. The league recently announced its first event in Asia, making it the first Asian location to host a leg of the SailGP series.
