‘Are you taking the p***?’: Aussie ‘wind whisperer’ lands new SailGP gig

An Aussie star nicknamed the “wind whisperer” has landed a new gig in the SailGP league after years of being the resident fill-in guy.

Nathan Outteridge has landed a new SailGP gig. Handout image supplied by SailGP

Australian sailing star Nathan Outteridge has landed a semi-permanent gig at the helm of a SailGP team for the remainder of the league’s fourth season.

After leading the Japanese team to runner-up in the first two seasons of SailGP behind Australia, Outteridge has become SailGP’s unofficial gun for hire.

He’s served as an advisor to Switzerland’s Sebastian Schneiter and filled in for several teams this season when their skippers missed an event to be at the birth of a child.

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Now Schneiter has made the decision to focus on sailing in the 49er class at the Paris Olympics in late July, Outteridge will take over as the driver on Switzerland’s boat for the remaining five races this season.

Switzerland sit last in the standings out of the 10-team fleet and realistically won’t qualify for the three-boat season final in San Francisco in July.

But Outteridge welcomed the chance to have some much needed continuinity with one team.

The 38-year-old has has driven for Switzerland, Denmark and New Zealand — steering the Kiwis to a second placed finish behind Australia at last month’s SailGP event in Sydney.

“Seb’s decided he’s just going to fully focus on the Olympics now and he’s asked if I can fill in for the five remaining events of the season and drive the boat,” Outteridge told news.com.au.

“I know the team really well and it’ll be great to be back in the driver’s seat.

“I don’t think it’ll roll into next season. There’s nothing on the horizon for me for season five but if I can get some good results that might change things.”

In latest episode of SailGP’s Racing On The Edge documentary, Outteridge revealed he received an offer from a team after his impressive performance in Sydney.

Speaking to his wife Emma on the phone, Outteridge said: “Obviously that’s the end of New Zealand but I got another offer while I was here this weekend.

“I can’t tell you til I get home though.”

His wife replies: “Are you taking the piss?” as the episode ends on a cliffhanger.

Nathan Outteridge stitches up his wife. Photo: Racing On The Edge.

“I feel the pressure, I understand the pressure – and it’s like asking a driver who doesn’t have a seat in F1 to come and drive a Mercedes or Red Bull, have some fun and do some hot laps and see how you go,” he said in the documentary.

Outteridge said it has been “a very hard couple of years for me to be honest, to be in a supporting role when you are in the prime of your career”.

He added: “It’s hard to do that, and you hope you will be able to find a drive again in the future. But for one reason or another it’s not happening at the moment.”

When questioned on his plan for the next season, and if he will go sailing around the world if nothing comes forward, Outteridge explains that “if I don’t get a good opportunity in SailGP for Season 5, then we have some ideas what we will do as a family.”

Nicknamed the “wind whisperer”, Outteridge grew up with Australian driver Tom Slingsby and the duo’s careers have followed similar paths.

Both Aussies won gold medals at the London 2012 Olympics, and Outteridge won silver in 2016 to go with a slew of world sailing titles.

Slingsby and Outteridge could go head-to-head in this year’s America’s Cup if Slingsby’s American Magic team qualify for the two-boat final against two-time defending champions New Zealand, of which Outteridge is a member of the crew.

Nathan Outteridge has worn plenty of hats in the world of sailing. Photo: Felix Diemer for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP

But it could have easily been a different story for Outteridge.

Aged 18, he suffered a near catastrophic car accident driving to Melbourne after sailing “20 days straight” when he fell asleep at the wheel and hit a tree.

He lost consciousness and a heap of blood while he was treated by surgeons.

Outteridge’s mum tells the documentary: “After, they still weren’t sure he was going to walk again.”

“I was in the hospital recovering and when I told the surgeon what I wanted to do with my life, I showed him a boat I wanted to sail,” Outteridge recalled.

“He smiled at me and said ‘It’s good to have ambitious goals’.

“Now we’re here almost 20 years later being able to race at the top of the sport against the best in the world. This little tingle in my back doesn’t hold me back at all.”

The Australian said the accident has given him perspective on life and his sailing career.

“Twenty years ago I could have not ever sailed again,” he said.

“So when I win, I’m stoked. When I don’t win, I get frustrated. But what an opportunity I’ve had to come and sail these boats and absolutely let it rip.

“To race against the best, get to know the best in the world, be friends with everyone — that’s what I live for. Sure, I’d love a drive in future seasons. But there’s a lot more to life than racing and winning. I have a huge appreciation for the sport.”

The Aussie sailing champ has landed a new gig. Photo: Adam Warner for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP

Juggling SailGP and America’s Cup campaigns

Outteridge is working full-time as part of New Zealand’s crew that will defend the Americas Cup in October.

The historic competition is all about each team’s unique boat design, whereas every team in SailGP has the exact same F50 and access to the other teams’ on-board data.

“In general for the sport of sailing, having these two competitions and being involved in them is pretty amazing,” he told news.com.au.

“There’s only a handful of us who get to work across both circuits. They work really well together, you can’t say one’s more important than the other. They’re just different circuits.

“Looking forward to the last five events of the season and following that, the Cup’s going to be pretty exciting.

“Seeing the best ‘one-design’ sailors from SailGP show up with their custom boats and go against each other is going to be cool.”

There are five events left in the SailGP season before the grand final in San Francisco in July.

The ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix gets underway in just over one week’s time in Ōtautahi Christchurch, March 23-24, 2024.

Watch the latest episodes of SailGP’s Racing On The Edge documentary on Kayo Sports.

Originally published as ‘Are you taking the p***?’: Aussie ‘wind whisperer’ lands new SailGP gig