YORKTON - When you write two sports columns a week, finding something a little different to delve into is refreshing as a writer and hopefully interesting for readers too.
So recently while surfing the ‘Net I came upon a video of a SailGP race and it happened to feature a ‘Team Canada’ boat.
My curiosity was peaked and I did some digging, even though I would not suggest I am much of a ‘race’ sport fan.
So to start what is SailGP?
Well it is an international sailing competition featuring high performance F50 foiling catamarans, where teams compete across a season of multiple grand prix' around the world.
From Wikipedia, the F50 is a one-design foiling catamaran used in the SailGP race series. The name is an abbreviation of "Foiling" and "a hull length of 50 feet. The boats have wing-like foils mounted under the hull. As the craft increases its speed the hydrofoils lift the hull up and out of the water, resulting in decreased drag and increased speed. A sailing hydrofoil can achieve speeds exceeding double and in some cases triple the wind speed. The F50 flirts with speeds of 100 kph in ideal conditions.
So basically you have crews racing very fast sail boats around a course at sites around the world.
The Canadian entry is only in its second season of racing – although SailGP itself is only in year four, explained Team Canada member Jareese Finch - one of the team’s grinders who is based in Halifax.
For the record, again thanks to Wikipedia, “a grinder is a crew member on a yacht whose duties include operating manual winches (called ‘coffee grinders’) that raise and trim the sails and move the boom. It is a physically demanding role with a significant impact on a racing yacht's overall performance.”
I was able to catch up with Finch for an online web interview for some insights into the sport.
“It’s getting a lot of attention right now,” he said, a statement supported by a highlights show on races from Abu Dhabi being on TSN.
The series currently has 10 nation-based teams competing – Canada was eighth after Abu Dhabi.
“You need three nationals on the boat when sailing,” explained Finch, adding on Team Canada it’s a very international crew including driver Phil Robertson from New Zealand and wing trimmer Paul Campbell-James from the UK. Finch himself was born in Antigua.
With a full crew of 10, success in SailGP can come down to a cohesive effort on the water.
“It’s very much a team-driven activity,” said Finch, adding “there are so many different factors on the boat.”
Each member of the crew has a specific job, but what each does must mesh with what others are doing to achieve the best result.
“It’s a beautiful dream of everything happening at once to even make a turn,” offered Finch.
In year one Team Canada did not fare particularly well, but this season have managed a third and fourth finish.
“Europe wasn’t as smooth as we’d have liked it to be,” said Finch, adding since then the team has raced more consistently. “. . . As in all sports it doesn’t take much to spin the turn around.”
Team Canada has been “by some private investors even though it’s a national team it’s privately funded,” said Finch.
The investors though recently dropped their support leaving Team Canada operated by SailGP.
“They’re looking for new ownership currently,” said Finch.
The big news of the season has the race series making a stop in Halifax, June 1 and 2.
“This is the first time anything like this has ever come to Canada,” said Finch, adding the races will be great for attendees. “The venue is one of the best ones for viewers we’ve ever had.”
Living in Victoria now Finch said having Canadian race dates is huge.
“It’s been talked about for such a long time . . . To just have it happening is just surreal,” he said.
Of course it wasn’t long ago being part of a Team Canada effort was only a dream.
Finch noted he has sailed professionally for more than a decade, but had never really thought he would have the opportunity to be part of a boat carrying Team Canada.
“It’s so exciting. We finally get to show the (sailing) talent we have in Canada,” he said,
Into the future Finch said he sees a lot of potential for growth for SailGP, adding the first step in that is just getting the high tech boats built. That said he added there is a likelihood of a Team Italy joining for season five, and talk of a joint-country team Caribbean too.
The next races will be held in Sydney, Aus. Feb. 24 and 25.
