The 49er and 49erFX are where the world’s best skiff sailors learn to race fast boats under pressure, and SailGP and the America’s Cup are full of them. This page lists every sailor from our classes in a current SailGP or America’s Cup crew, with their team and role. Each name links to their 49er.org team page, with their Olympic and championship results.
SailGP (2026 season)
Artemis SailGP Team (Sweden)
- Nathan Outteridge · Driver
- Chris Draper · Wing trimmer
- Julia Gross · Strategist
Black Foils (New Zealand)
- Leo Takahashi · Flight controller
- Marcus Hansen · Grinder
- Blair Tuke · Wing trimmer and co-CEO
- Peter Burling · Driver and co-CEO
Bonds Flying Roos (Australia)
- Iain Jensen · Wing trimmer
- Tash Bryant · Strategist
Emirates GBR
- Dylan Fletcher · Driver
- Stuart Bithell · Wing trimmer
Explora Swiss
- Arno de Planta · Grinder
- Sébastien Schneiter · Driver
Germany by Deutsche Bank
- Anna Barth · Strategist
- Erik Heil · Driver
Los Gallos (Spain)
- Diego Botín · Driver
- Florian Trittel · Wing trimmer
- Nicole van der Velden · Strategist
- Victoria Travascio · Reserve strategist
Mubadala Brazil
- Marco Grael · Grinder
- Kahena Kunze · Strategist
NorthStar (Canada)
- Ali Ten Hove · Reserve
Red Bull Italy
- Jana Germani · Strategist
- Andrea Tesei · Flight controller
United States SailGP Team
- Hans Henken · Flight controller
- Martine Grael · Stand-in driver (from Geneva, Sep 2026)
America's Cup (38th, Naples 2027)
American Racing Challenger Team USA
- Hans Henken · Trimmer
Emirates Team New Zealand
- Iain Jensen · Trimmer
- Nathan Outteridge · Skipper / co-helm
- Chris Draper · Alternate helm
- Seb Menzies · Co-helm
- Blair Tuke · Executive and speed-development role
GB1
- Andrea Tesei · Trimmer
- Dylan Fletcher · Skipper / helm
La Roche-Posay Racing Team (France)
- Diego Botín · Helm
- Florian Trittel · Trimmer
Luna Rossa
- Umberto Molineris · Trimmer
- Peter Burling · Skipper / co-helm
Team Australia
- Tash Bryant · Sailing team
Pro racing history
Earlier SailGP, America's Cup and ocean racing roles held by sailors from our class.
- Blair Tuke · America's Cup: Emirates Team New Zealand, Flight controller — won 2017, 2021 and 2024 (2017–2024) · The Ocean Race: MAPFRE, Crew — 2nd overall (2014–2015)
- Chris Draper · America's Cup: Team Korea, Sailor (2011) · America's Cup: Luna Rossa, Helm — 2013 Louis Vuitton Cup final (2012–2015) · America's Cup: SoftBank Team Japan, Team manager · America's Cup: Athena Pathway, Head of Performance (2023)
- Dylan Fletcher · America's Cup: INEOS Britannia, Helm (2024)
- Iain Jensen · America's Cup: Artemis Racing, Wing trimmer (2013–2017)
- Kahena Kunze · SailGP: Rockwool Racing (Denmark), Strategist (2026)
- Martine Grael · SailGP: Mubadala Brazil, Driver (2024–2026) · The Ocean Race: Team AkzoNobel, Crew (2017–2018)
- Nathan Outteridge · SailGP: Japan SailGP Team, Driver (2019) · America's Cup: Artemis Racing, Helm (2013–2017) · America's Cup: Emirates Team New Zealand, Co-helm — won 2024 (2024)
- Peter Burling · America's Cup: Emirates Team New Zealand, Helm — won 2017, 2021 and 2024 (2017–2024)
- Stuart Bithell · SailGP: Great Britain SailGP Team, Flight controller (2019) · SailGP: Switzerland SailGP Team, Sailor · SailGP: Germany SailGP Team, Wing trimmer (2023–2025)
Sources
- mediahub.sailgp.com (16 Jun 2026)
- yacht.de (18 Sep 2026)
- yacht.de (24 Sep 2026)
- boatingnz.co.nz (18 Sep 2026)
- americascup.com (30 Oct 2026)
- emirates-team-new-zealand.americascup.com (12 May 2026)
- yachtsandyachting.com (12 May 2026)
- agi.it (14 Sep 2026)
- americascup.com (9 Sep 2026)
- 49er.org (30 Oct 2026)
- 49er.org (30 Oct 2026)
- 49er.org (30 Oct 2026)
- 49er.org (30 Oct 2026)
- 49er.org (30 Oct 2026)
Why the 49er leads to pro racing
SailGP and the America’s Cup both race foiling boats with small crews. They reward the things the 49er has always demanded: handling a boat at full speed, making decisions in a split second, and a crew that can talk while hanging on. A good 49er campaign is four to eight years of exactly that.
The 2026 Canada Sail Grand Prix in Halifax made the point. All three teams on the podium were led by 49er sailors. Read the Halifax story, or see why the 49er will provide the talent SailGP needs.
Nacra 17 sailors in SailGP and the America’s Cup are listed on nacra17.org.