SailGP 101: What Do The Crew Carry?
Ever wondered what the crew on board the U.S. SailGP Team F50 carry during a race? We’ve got the answer
Published 04/16/2025
It’s not just the fleet of F50 catamarans that are high-tech and stocked with gadgets and gizmos – our U.S. SailGP Team crew members are, too!
Hitting top speed of 60 miles an hour means the crew need to be properly prepared for the conditions and all eventualities across the race weekend, with safety the No.1 priority for everyone involved in SailGP.
We’ll start with the obvious stuff: the kit. This varies by crew member depending on their personal preferences and role on the F50. So while the rash vest each member of the team wears is broadly the same, the Grinders typically prefer short sleeves to avoid any clinging to their forearms while working hard. For the same reason, Grinders often don’t wear the neoprene long johns seen on other members of the team. However, if the conditions are particularly cold, they may choose to layer up!
Naturally when you’re at sea, you are beholden to the conditions and therefore team members will usually wear some pretty serious dry suits to ensure they remain dry and, therefore, warm.
Helmets with built-in communications enable the crew to converse with each other and the shore while on the F50. Simply shouting to one another, even when feet apart, isn’t enough! You will often see teams wearing what look like ski goggles too. There’s a practical reason for this: keeping water out of your eyes when it’s mercilessly spraying in your direction!
An impact vest/buoyancy aid completes the look, just in case anyone ends up in the water. Another integral piece of kit relating to crew safety is the harness, which keeps everyone attached to the boat at all times. Everyone is attached which goes some way toward mitigating risk when crossing the vessel. But theory and practice rarely align in any sport and there are a number of safety measures taken as a result which we’ll get onto later.
In terms of the remaining items kept on their person, crew members each carry two knives. One straight-bladed for ropes, the other with a hooked blade if required to cut netting. There’s also a personal air supply to enable breathing underwater if required.
The F50 is, unsurprisingly, packed with kit to ensure crew safety. This includes a man overboard alarm system to alert the crew if one of their team-mates is thrown overboard. Grab handles provide secure points to be held onto and there are also spare knives and air supplies if required.
Extensive training from SailGP’s experts is provided to all crew members on every team and the US Team takes these sessions extremely seriously. A big emphasis is placed on lowering the athletes’ heart rates in the event of going overboard or a capsize. This is especially important for Grinders, who operate with higher heart rates than most due to the physically strenuous nature of their roles.
During race weekends there are always Safety Boats on hand to assist in any moments of distress. Thankfully, these are not common occurrences.
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