Coaching change for US SailGP Team

Evan Aras

After a new ownership group for United States SailGP Team made significant personnel changes when they took over in December 2023 during Season 4, more changes are coming following the team’s performance in four events.

When the new team leadership did not retain America’s Cup winning coach Philippe Presti (FRA) who had been with the team since Season 2, they instead hired two-time U.S Sailing Coach of the Year and multi-world champion Mark Ivey (USA) as the new coach.

Mike Buckley, U.S. SailGP Team CEO said at the time, “His ability to lead a team is unparalleled and I’ve long admired how he can establish the foundation for a team culture that inspires connection and confidence while striving for success.”

But after finishes of 8-3-9-8 in the ten boat field, Evan Aras (USA) has been named as interim head coach, replacing Ivey. Aras will make his coaching debut at Bermuda SailGP on May 4-5.

“I’ve long respected Evan as a sailor and a talented coach,” said Buckley. “His analytical mindset and coaching style will benefit our team as we focus on the final four races of the Season. He is hungry to prove himself on the biggest stage, and I am confident he will fit right in.”

Aras is a former two-time national champion at Georgetown University. He coached Team USA’s 49er team at the 2016 Olympic Games and more recently coached the American women to qualify for Paris 2024 in the 49erFX.

SailGP information – Bermuda details– YouTube – How to watch

Season 4 Standings (after nine of 13 events; results and total points)
1. New Zealand (Peter Burling), 1-7-8-DNC/6-4-1-1-3-1; 68 points
2. Australia (Tom Slingsby), 2-3-2-2-3-2-7-1-10; 59
3. Spain (Diego Botin), 5-1-3-6-6-10-2-5-4; 55
4. France (Quintin Delapierre), 6-8-6-4-7-4-4-4-2; 54
5. Denmark (Nicolai Sehested), 4-2-4-7-2-6-9-2-9; 50
6. United States (Jimmy Spithill/Taylor Canfield), 9-5-5-3-1-8-3-9-8; 48
7. Canada (Phil Robertson), 3-4-10-5-5-3-6-10-3; 46
8. Great Britain (Ben Ainslie/Giles Scott), 7-6-1-1-8-5-8-7-7; 45
9. Germany (Erik Heil), 10-10-7-8-9-10-9-5-6-5; 27
10. Switzerland (Sebastien Schneiter/Nathan Outteridge), 8-9-9-9-7-10-8-6; 22

For scoring adjustments, click here.

Season 4 – 2023
June 16-17 – United States Sail Grand Prix | Chicago at Navy Pier
July 22-23 – United States Sail Grand Prix | Los Angeles
September 9-10 – France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez
September 23-24 – Italy Sail Grand Prix | Taranto
October 14-15 – Spain Sail Grand Prix | Andalucía- Cádiz
December 9-10 – Dubai Sail Grand Prix | Dubai*

Season 4 – 2024
January 13-14 – Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix | Abu Dhabi
February 24-25 – Australia Sail Grand Prix | Sydney
March 23-24 – New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Auckland
March 23-24 – New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch
May 4-5 – Bermuda Sail Grand Prix
June 1-2 – Canada Sail Grand Prix | Halifax
June 22-23 – United States Sail Grand Prix | New York
July 13-14 – SailGP Season 4 Grand Final | San Francisco
* Added October 3, 2023

Format for Season 4:
• Teams compete in identical F50 catamarans.
• Each event runs across two days.
• Up to seven qualifying fleet races of approximately 15 minutes may be scheduled for each regatta.
• The top three teams from qualifying advance to a final race to be crowned event champion and earn the largest share of the $300,000.00 USD event prize money purse (increases to $400k for Abu Dhabi with the winning team now earning $200k at each event).
• The season ends with the Grand Final, which includes the Championship Final Race for the top three teams in the season standing with the winner claiming the $2 million USD prize.
• The top team on points ahead of the three-boat Championship Final will be awarded $350,000.00.

For competition documents, click here.

Established in 2018, SailGP seeks to be an annual, global sports league featuring fan-centric inshore racing among national teams in some of the iconic harbors around the globe.