America’s Cup gun James Spithill backs SailGP’s Martine Grael to fly high, Kyle Langford joins Italy

Multiple America’s Cup winner James Spithill has backed the first female skipper in the SailGP series Martine Grael to be a force, labelling the ground breaking move ‘a cool turning point’.

Multiple America’s Cup winner James Spithill has backed the first female skipper in the SailGP series to be a major force on the international circuit, describing the ground breaking move as “frigging awesome” and “a cool turning point’’ for women sailors.

Grael is a member of one of the world’s best known and successful sailing dynasties with the Brazilian gun one of the most famous Olympic sailors - and fastest.

Now Grael, who was also part of a 24 hour world speed record run in the Volvo ocean race, is poised to become the first woman to head up a foiling F50 crew on the SailGP series which starts in Dubai this weekend.

Recent Australian Sailing Hall of Fame inductee and two-time America’s Cup winning skipper James Spithill has backed Grael to be a major force on the male dominated series.

Spithill has taken a step back from steering to run the new Red Bull Italian team who have poached highly regarded Australian wing trimmer Kyle Langford off the Tom Slingsby skippered Australian boat for the 2024/2025 season.

Martine Grael will con control the Brazilian F50 this season. Picture: SailGP

“It’s frigging awesome,” said Spithill, who grew up on Sydney’s northern beaches and is a fellow ground breaker as the youngest ever America’s Cup skipper at just 19.

“She will definitely be turning heads here. We have been out training with them and have seen the Brazilians in action.

“I reckon this is just such a cool turning point in our sport for women. It’s just a matter of time before we see more. We are going to see plenty more female athletes be inspired by Martine and driving in this series and winning races.’’

The Australian team has Sydney sailor Tash Bryant as a strategist for the 2024/25 season where they are attempting to win a record fourth SailGP crown after finishing runners-up to Spain last season.

The 33-year-old Grael is a double Olympic gold medallist and the daughter of Torben Grael, a five-time Olympic medallist who won a Laser bronze at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Martine Grael will driver a F50 this season. Picture: SailGP

Both her brother Marco and uncle Lars, who won two Olympic medals, are also top-line sailors.

Grael won her golds in the 49erFX at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics, competed in the 2017/18 Volvo ocean race and was part of the crew that sent a 24 hour speed record in the Atlantic Ocean, covering just over 600 nautical miles at an average speed of 46.3km/h.

While women are spotted across the fleet Grael is the first to be given driving rights.

Spithill said his Italian team have been significantly boosted by the inclusion of three-time SailGP champion Langford who he won an America’s Cup with for the US.

James Spithill is a two-time America's Cup winning skipper who also raced the SailGP series for the US in previous series. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images

“Kyle was my No.1 pick,’’ Spithill said.

“He’s clearly one of the best sailors in the world but his personality and character in a team environment, it's the best you ever see.

“He has no ego. He’s got this constant hunger to learn and improve. But he really sets the right atmosphere in a team that in our case is really in a real learning stage.

“He’s just the ultimate team guy to have and so multiskilled from Volvos (round the world races) offshore racing like the Sydney to Hobart, SailGP with the Aussie team, America’s Cup, match-racing. There’s very few athletes in the sailing world that are as well rounded and successful as him.’

“We are very fortunate to have him.’’

Racing in Dubai starts late Saturday night with 11 teams competing, including g the defending champion Spanish team and fellow favourites Australia and New Zealand.

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