Another day another deal in the SailGP stratosphere.
Ares Sports, Media and Entertainment Funds—part of the global investment powerhouse Ares Management—has acquired a minority stake in the France SailGP Team. The firm joins an already high-profile ownership group that includes international football superstar Kylian Mbappé through his investment arm Coalition Capital, along with Sportsology Capital Partners.
French sailor Guirec Soudée has just broken a solo, non-stop record that has stood for 22 years for sailing around the world. Actually, strike that, he’s smashed it. Not only that but he’s done so on a boat that many would regard as singularly unsuited for the purpose.
France’s dominance of singlehanded offshore racing can be traced back to one event: the proving ground known as La Solitaire du Figaro. Check the list of Vendée Globe winners and you will struggle to find one that did not establish their singlehanded racing credentials with a win in ‘the Figaro’.
With a new title sponsor and a slew of new talent on the sailing team, the French America’s Cup campaigners are looking to shake off their mantle of plucky underdogs, and have set their sights on going the distance in the Challenger selection series at the 38th America’s Cup.
Sailing’s Olympic classes, SailGP, the America’s Cup and the Vendée Globe, all showcase our sport at its highest level. But they rarely interconnect. Is sailing missing a chance to dramatically grow its audience by failing to align its biggest competitions?
Philippe Presti is known for his unassuming style and easy smile. But when I caught up with him recently in Lorient at the launch of the French America’s Cup challenger La Roche-Posay Racing Team, that trademark smile seemed even broader than usual – and with good reason.
French sailor Guirec Soudée has just broken a solo, non-stop record that has stood for 22 years for sailing around the world. Actually, strike that, he’s smashed it. Not only that but he’s done so on a boat that many would regard as singularly unsuited for the purpose.
The OS1 System is Gill’s ultimate expression of design innovation, fabric performance and build quality, with every seam and panel pushed to perform in extreme lab testing and Arctic ocean conditions.
To race around the world alone non-stop is pretty special and those that succeed enter an elite club. But when it comes to lapping the planet against the prevailing winds and currents, non-stop and alone the list stops way short of double figures.
