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January 18, 2025 6 mins

Italian SailGP CEO Jimmy Spithill is pleasantly surprised at how competitive the newcomers are.

Despite having a new team and limited time to get to grips with the SailGP yachts, the Italians are 5th heading into this afternoon's final stanza of the season's second regatta in Auckland.

Spithill was rapt with their two 3rds and two 7ths on Day One- and told Piney being competitive so early in the season is a major first step.

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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
I think it really came from, you know, having lived
in Italy for the past two America's Cup cycles, competing
for them, and just saying firsthand, you know, I'm in
the talent that's out there, the guys and girls, this
next generational talent that's coming through, and that was really
evident if you look at the Female America's Cup and
the Youth America's Cup, Italy won both of those. Italy

(00:33):
has always been quite a strong sailing nation. But the
other side, it's just the fan base and the commercial upside.
I mean, man, they are passionate fans, really loyal and
just a big following for the sport of sailing.

Speaker 3 (00:47):
So when you started thinking about putting the team together,
what were the logistics, what were the challenges of that?

Speaker 2 (00:53):
Yeah, I mean it really started. At first I was
involved with the US team, you know, running that, and
then we ended up selling the team to Ryan mckillan,
and that really was the catalyst to opening the door
for Italy, you know. And at that stage, you know,
we worked it out, spoke with Larry and Russell and
then the opportunity come up, so I will why not
take on the Italian team? And so at that stage,

(01:14):
I was, you know, in the midst of a campaign
with Leona Rossa, and again it just lived and breathed
the Italian lifestyle and seen it all firsthand. Plus, even
when I was representing the American team, we would go
to the Italian event and it was one it was
like this event. It was completely sold out, fans everywhere,
and there was no Italian team at that stage. So
I just knew as soon as we got a national

(01:36):
team together, it would, you know one. I think it
eventually will get there competitively, just like any team, but
the support they will get, both commercially and from a
fan base will be one of the best. I reckon.

Speaker 3 (01:48):
Yeah, I don't want to jump too far ahead, but
when you think of eventeen, I think it is in Toronto.
I mean, can you imagine the scenes there when there
is an Italy team there?

Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah, exactly, I mean it'll be it'll be crazy. I
mean the Italian fans, I can tell you some of
the it's like a religion following their sporting teams. And yeah,
so already if we look at some of the stars.
You know, we've got in our team here like Riggeiro,
who's our driver, double gold medalists. You know, he's got
a real following already in Italy and as long as

(02:18):
as well as some of our other athletes. So yeah,
there's no doubt in my mind that once we get
back to the European sector of the of the tour especially,
it'll it'll, it'll really it'll blow it up.

Speaker 3 (02:28):
And you've got Kyle Langford the cross as well. How
did that conversation play out?

Speaker 2 (02:32):
Yeah, that was I knew straight away we needed an
experienced athlete from sale GP. You look at what I mean.
Kyle and I have had a lot of history together.
We've won America's Cups and World Championships and stuff together.
One of the top athletes in sale GP, and let's
face it, he's won every season but one and they
were a close second last season when the Spanish one.

(02:54):
So to be able to secure Kyle was huge because
this is a new team. You know, it's all about
ours and there's no shortcut in the top end of
the sport, nor that there should be. But you know,
we have we understand that we have to follow this process.
But the unique thing with soldierrps you don't get the boats.
You can't just go and train because as soon as
there regata ends, it's just like Motor Dude P or

(03:15):
Formula One, it's full pack up mode. Everything's packed up,
all these tents. They go straight in the ship and
we're onto the next event. So for for new teams,
that makes it a little more challenging because you can't
just get out on the boat and train.

Speaker 3 (03:29):
You got a key as well. Brad fair and along
for the ride this weekend. How did that come about?

Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah, I mean Brad's been an awesome addition. You know,
we look, we knew we had to supplement some experience
and some youth and sort of next generational talent, and
I think the addition of Brad has been huge for
the team. Very very experienced salor very you know from
all aspects of a sport, you know, offshore, Grand Prix insure.

(03:57):
But not only that, it's really his attitude as a
team player that really stood out to us. And so yeah,
really stoked to have Brad in the group.

Speaker 3 (04:05):
Well, at least talk about this weekend and it's day
one went well, a couple of thirds, couple of sevenths.
I'm off the back of you know, results, perhaps that
went quite as impressive, and do buy what went well
for you yesterday?

Speaker 2 (04:14):
Yeah, I think it was really important for the team.
I mean, look again, this is an hour's game and
we have the least amount of hours out of anyone.
Not only that, but this team is a group, so
the first time they've ever sailed together, all work together.
And look, we've got English speakers, we've got Italian speakers,
so it's you know, i'd even argue that the Kiwi
language is a little bit different than really real English.

(04:35):
So so yeah, I mean it's it's just going to
take time, and you know the team understands that. But
what's important after yesterday is just that sort of mental
side that the team has the confidence now to know
they can go out there and mix it up. So look,
it's all about keeping the mistakes down. But as we've seen,
there are a lot of opportunities on this racetrack and
given the forecast today, it'll be yeah, it'll be right

(04:58):
on the edge.

Speaker 3 (04:59):
What did you make of the overall sailing on the
New t foils yesterday? But from all of the boats.

Speaker 2 (05:04):
I think they are a big step forward one from
in terms of speeds. Reliability is a huge thing as
well for the fleet. But what you really want is
equipment that can cover a big range. And one thing
those two foils have done. We have two sets of foils.
We have a lighter air foil and we have a
heavy air foil. But now we've really got some scope

(05:24):
where if we get caught down range with the heavy
airfoils on or vice versa, you know we're covered and
we can go foiling. And that's really what you want
is to be able to get out there and make
sure you can deliver. Because look, get with all the
weather modeling and sophistication you still got you've got to
deal with mother nature and it can throw some curveballs.
So having that flexibility I think is very important.

Speaker 3 (05:46):
Right and from a global point of you, I guess
an overall point of view, what does success look like
for the Italy sale GP team in your first season?

Speaker 2 (05:54):
I think the first season is really being able to
show that we can mix it up and be competitive,
and I think we ticked that box much of it,
and I thought we would, and that was yesterday. You know,
to be going get a couple of podium place finishes,
really been mixing it up at the top. That's a
huge step for the team. But I think for us
it's to really try and get into a Super Sunday Final,
you know, That's what we'd really love to do. I'd

(06:16):
love to see us get a race win, you know,
in one of these heats. But yeah, if we can
get into one of the Super Sunday Finals, I think
that will really be a great achievement for a new team,
and I think that we'd be looking at that hopefully
by the sort of second half of the season.

Speaker 3 (06:30):
Jim's being out there.

Speaker 2 (06:32):
Mate, It's the hardest thing in the world, just sitting
on the side on and watching. I don't know how
people do it. It's just so I've never been so
stressed in my life.

Speaker 3 (06:39):
Yeah, Jimmy, great to tear. TMV made all the bits
for the rest of the season with Italy.

Speaker 2 (06:44):
Thanks very much.

Speaker 1 (06:46):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talk z'd be weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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