Two-time Olympic gold medalist Martine Grael is set to make history as the first woman to helm an F50 foiling catamaran in SailGP, as a new Brazilian team joins the global league in its fifth season. The announcement was made during a news conference in Rio de Janeiro, where a regatta is scheduled to take place on Guanabara Bay on May 3-4, with the iconic Sugarloaf Mountain in the backdrop.
Grael expressed her honor at being the first woman to take on this role, stating that she sees it as a challenge not just for herself as a female athlete but as a competitor in an established circuit. SailGP, founded by Larry Ellison and Russell Coutts, features some of the world's top sailors, including America's Cup champions and Olympic medalists. The upcoming season will see 11 teams competing in 14 regattas.
