SailGP's Brazilian Chapter: The Tale of F50's Wingsail Inspections

Published: 10 Apr 2025
The Brazilian media recently showcased a rare glimpse into the meticulous world of sailing competitions: wingsail checks on F50s.

When it comes to the illustrious sport of sailing, precision is paramount. The competitive edge in a regatta can be a mere breath - fractions of a knot or a trimmed sail. Amid this backdrop of extreme rigor, the most recent SailGP event in Brazil brought to light an intriguing aspect often overlooked: the exacting process of wingsail checks on F50s. Brazilian media underlined the importance of these checks, revealing the irrigorous detail that goes into ensuring a fair and exciting race.

Staged as a high-performance spectacle in the world of sailing, SailGP features the fastest catamarans - called F50s. These feats of engineering are the rockstars of sailing world, with their record-breaking speeds and sleek design. However, the very factor that ensures the F50s’ performance - their wingsails - need periodic checks to safeguard an edge that could make the difference between victory and defeat.

The Brazilian media, privy to these fascinating inspection rituals, painted a vivid picture of the exactitude with which these wingsail checks are performed. Each check is a meticulous dance, performed by trained technicians, synchronizing their efforts in a manner that mirrors the teamwork on the racing boats themselves.

The story of the F50’s wingsail checks provides a captivating glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes at SailGP. It underscores the essence of this sport - a spectacle of speed, precision, and passion, where the line between first and forgotten is as thin as the sail that guides an F50.